Top 50 Highest Paying Jobs in South Africa

Emerging economies like South Africa are offering high-paying jobs that are not only simple to join but also pay a handsome amount on retirement day. Those who are at the beginning of their careers but find themselves uncertain and confused because of multiple opinions should clear their minds and come with me because today, I have gathered the 50 top jobs for South Africans with brief details. Spare your 10 minutes to save your 40 years.

Top 50 Highest Paying Jobs In South Africa

1. Surgeons: A surgeon is a highly trained person who deals with surgical procedures in medical settings. The earning of a surgeon is R68,251, and to become a surgeon, one should have a National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
2. Judges: A judge is the person who deals with the court’s procedures, for example, hearing a case and making legal decisions. The salary of a judge is R24,526, and to become a judge, one should have a Bachelor of Law LLB plus 10 years of experience as an attorney, magistrate, and advocate.
3. Lawyer: A lawyer is a person who provides legal counseling to people. The salary of a lawyer is R29, 035 and to become a lawyer, one should have a Bachelor of Law LLB and practice under a senior lawyer. The salary of lawyers varies according to their jobs; some work for the government, others are private agents.
4. Bank manager: A bank manager deals with the complications of branch operations, such as supervising staff, looking after money, and dealing with regular clients. The salary of a bank manager is R41, 974 and to become one should have a bachelor’s in Business Administration or a bachelor’s in Commerce. The salary of a bank manager varies according to his job and experience, plus government and private jobs pay less or more.
5. Chief Executive Officers: A chief executive officer sets the goals of organizations, makes significant decisions, and provides them with strategic plans to grow quickly. The average salary of a chief executive officer is R32,857, depending upon the type of job and organization. To become a chief executive officer, one should have leadership skills, critical thinking, and incredible communication skills.
6. Chief Financial Officers: A chief financial officer deals with the financial affairs and manages an organization’s accounts. The average salary of a CFO is R71, 398 depending on the organization and his experience. To become a CFO, one should have a Bachelor of Commerce or Accounting.
7. College Professors: A college professor teaches students, checks their exams, designs a strategic plan to map the courses, and encourages students to join different academic activities. The salary of a college professor is R35,400, but the government and private sectors pay differently. To become a college professor, one should have a doctoral degree and postdoctoral research, plus good teaching experience.
8. Pilots: The person who knows how to operate the aircraft and understands the aerodynamics of planes is called a pilot. The average salary of a pilot is R26,819, and to become a pilot, one has to pass the SACAA exam. The salary of a pilot varies depending upon experience and the private or government job.
9. Marketing Directors: A marketing director develops and plans the marketing strategies for an organization on the basis of resources the firm provides. The salary of a marketing director is R36, 906 and to become a marketing director, one should have a Bachelor of Marketing or Bachelor of Business Administration.
10. Strategy Manager: A manager who develops strategic long-term or short-term plans for the organization is considered a strategy manager. The salary of a strategy manager is R74,539, and to become a strategy manager, one should have a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
11. Software Developer: A software developer is a person who deals with programming and developing sophisticated patterns of virtual reality via coding. The average salary of a software developer is R16,899, and to become a software developer, one should have a Bachelor of Software Engineering plus learn coding.
12. Electrical Engineer: An electrical engineer is the one who develops, maintains, and looks after the electrical pieces of equipment. The average salary of an electrical engineer is R28,317, and to become an electrical engineer, one should study for a bachelor’s in an electrical branch of engineering.
13. Physician: A medical doctor or physician who provides healthcare services to the public. The salary of an average medical doctor is R31, 334 and to become a physician, one should complete a bachelor’s of Medicine and a bachelor’s of Surgery. The salary varies depending upon his experience and government or private job.
14. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: In this profession, the veterinarian provides treatment and healthcare to the animals. The average income of veterinarians in South Africa is R49,517 per month, and to join this field, one should complete a bachelor’s of veterinary medicine.
15. Doctor of Optometry: The professional diagnosis and treatment of eye problems, plus providing healthcare. The average salary of a doctor of optometry is R25,552, and to become an optometrist, one should complete a Bachelor of Optometry. The salary varies according to the experience and government or private job.
16. Nurse: A nurse is a person who provides healthcare services such as looking after patients, providing them with medications, and assisting with medical procedures. The average salary of a nurse is R15,152 per month, and to become a nurse, one should have a 3-year diploma or 4-year bachelor’s in Nursing.
17. Pharmacist: A pharmacist is one who provides advice related to medications, offers his opinion about medications, and educates patients about the uses and side effects of medicines. The average salary of a pharmacist is R23,447, and to become a pharmacist, one should complete a Bachelor of Pharmacy.
18. Dentists: Dentists are the people who treat the medical issues related to the teeth and provide medications and healthcare to the patients. The average salary of a dentist is R43,839, and to become a dentist, one should complete a Bachelor of Dental Science. The salary varies according to the experience and job settings.
19. Radiologist: In this profession, the experts interpret the X-ray, MRI, CT-Scan, and all the other measures to check the human body. The average salary of a radiologist is R31, 936 and to become a radiologist, one should complete a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery.
20. Civil Engineer: In this profession, the expert deals with designing, planning, and developing strategies for construction projects such as bridges or buildings. The average income of a civil engineer is R35,410, and to become a civil engineer, one should have a Bachelor of Engineering in the civil branch.
21. Economist: An economist is an expert in analyzing economic data, developing policies to enhance the economy, and checking new trends in business. The average income of an economist is R19,211, and to become an economist, one should complete a bachelor’s degree in Economics from a certified university.
22. Accountant: An accountant is a person who deals with previous records of finance, managing the finances of an organization or a business. The average income of an accountant is R22,720 per month, and to become an accountant, one should complete a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
23. Researcher: A person who investigates phenomena via studies and experiments is called a researcher. In South Africa, the average salary of a researcher is R17,205, and to become a researcher, one should pursue a Ph.D. in a specific field or pursue a bachelor’s degree in Research studies.
24. News Anchor: A news anchor or media professional presents news on the TV or supervises the talk shows. The average salary of a news anchor is R20,985, depending on the worker’s experience, the show’s TRP, and the anchor’s type; for example, sports anchors have lower salaries, and crime anchors are highly earning. One should join a Bachelor of Media Studies to become a news anchor.
25. Police Officer: A police officer’s job has different dimensions in which he enforces the law, investigates cases, catches criminals, and presents evidence to the court. The average salary of a police officer is R16,651, depending on the location and years of experience. To become a police officer, one should have a 12th-grade certificate.
26. Air Traffic Controller: An air traffic controller is the expert who guides the aircraft controllers regarding the atmosphere and managing the aircraft or locations. The salary of an average air traffic controller is R22,634; to become an air traffic controller, one needs to pass the selection process.
27. Forensic Scientist: A forensic scientist is one who applies practical techniques to study the evidence on the crime site and reads the criminal cases to provide an opinion. The salary of a forensic scientist is R31,641, depending upon experience and type of job. To become a forensic scientist, one should have a bachelor’s in Forensic Science.
28. Robotics Engineer: The engineer who deals with the robotics sciences, such as designing, developing, and organizing machines, is the robotics engineer. The average salary of a robotic engineer in South Africa is R50,322, according to experience and organization.
29. Chartered Accountant: A chartered accountant provides business audit, management, and accounting services. The average income of a CA is R22, 720 and to become a CA, one should study for a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.
30. Mining Engineer: The mining engineering position is one of the top-paying jobs in South Africa; a professional receives R44,347 per month. The mining engineers design and practice the plans related to mining operations. To become a mining engineer, one should study for a Bachelor of Mining Engineering.
31. Petroleum Engineer: Engineers in the petroleum branch are also highly paid in South Africa because of the high demand. The average salary of a petroleum engineer is R53,866 per month.
32. Mechanical Engineer: South Africa is a hub of engineers where mechanical branch experts receive R22,428. A mechanical engineer deals with products and exploration of natural resources.
33. Data Engineer: A data engineer is an expert in designing and building large systems or infrastructures. The average salary of a data engineer in South Africa is R49,967 per month.
34. Biomedical Engineer: An expert who applies the practicals of engineering in the field of biology’s medical branch is called a biomedical engineer. The salary of a biomedical engineer is R33,399 per month.
35. Clinical Psychologist: A person who deals with the mental health problems of clients and provides them therapeutic treatment is a clinical psychologist. The average pay of a clinical psychologist is R22,247 per month.
36. Human Resources Director: The person who organizes the human resource department and checks the recruitment is the director of human resources. The average pay of a director is R58,509, depending on the organization and the type of job responsibilities.
37. Speech Therapist: Speech therapy is a highly-paying job that starts from R25,402 and increases with the passage of time. The expert provides treatment for stuttering and other speech problems to the client.
38. Data Scientist: A data scientist is one who deals with vague data and converts it into meaningful patterns or insights for organizations. The salary of a data scientist is R47,804 per month, according to the skill level.
39. Geologist: Geologists study the crust of the earth by analyzing its structure and chemical compositions. The average pay of a geologist in South Africa is R37,853.
40. Aeronautical Engineer: People who maintain the aircraft system, solve problems in aircraft mechanical structure, and develop or design new crafts are aeronautical engineers. The average salary of an aircraft engineer is R30,095 per month.
41. Tax Consultant: The experts who provide advice on tax matters and deal with the problems of taxpayers are tax consultants. The average income of a tax consultant is R18,764 per month.
42. Compliance Officer: A compliance officer ensures the company that it complies with outside regulations. The average income of the compliance offer is R39,549.
43. Criminal Investigator: The guy who interrogates the criminals and provides expert advice to the legal authorities regarding crimes is the criminal investigator. The average salary of a criminal investigator is R39,259 per month.
44. Computer Hardware Engineer: An expert who designs and tests computer parts or hardware components. The average salary of a computer hardware engineer is R50,226 per month.
45. Cybersecurity Analyst: Cybersecurity analysts are the experts in controlling cybersecurity, finding bugs in security programs, and preventing cyberattacks. Their monthly pay is R50,686 in South Africa.
46. Neurologist: The medical expert with specialization in diagnosing nervous system disorders. The per month pay of a neurologist is R20,320.
47. UX/UI Designer: The experts in creating visual interfaces are known as UX/UI designers. The average income of a UX/UI designer is R28,313 per month.
48. Product Designer: In this field, the professional determines from color to machinery and industrial setup for the product before its manifestation. The average salary of a product designer is R48,369 per month.
49. Project Manager: A project manager is a professional who plans, organizes, and works on distributing the project. The average salary of a product manager is R29,962 per month.
50. Marine Engineer: A person who maintains, repairs, and develops marine structures is called a marine engineer. The average income of a marine engineer is R60,181 per month. To become a marine engineer, one should possess a Bachelor of Engineering in the marine branch of applied sciences.

There are thousands of professions in the country, from low pay, such as graphic designers, to middle people like engineers and handsome money-maker neurosurgeons, but sometimes it is not all about the pay or the number of digits in your salary. However, it is about one’s interest in the job; let’s say a medical professional earns good, but if he is unsatisfied with his job, then the money he earns is nothing but useless pieces of paper. Choose the profession according to your interest and curiosity to explore more in the field; otherwise, having an undesired job is more like a jail cell.