How Much Do Actors Earn in South Africa?
No matter which part of the world you reside in, you will always be curious about the earnings of the actors, and especially the famous ones. This includes actors from every part of the world, such as South Africa in this case.
On average, the salary of an actor in South Africa is not much. The precise answer to the question ‘How much do actors earn in South Africa?’ would be R13,323 per month. This is even below the average salary in the country.
However, there are a lot of factors that play into the salary of an actor in South Africa. So, if you wish to find out more details about the earrings of actors in the country, along with the top three highest-paid ones, then you will have to take a few minutes out of your time and read the article below in detail.
How Much Do Actors Earn in South Africa?

Currently, the average salary of an actor in South Africa is R13,323 per month. This means that their annual salary, on average, is R159,876. However, the salary range of actors is not rigid; it can start from R7057 per month to R35,593, which can put their annual earnings somewhere between R84,684 and R427,116.
The exact salary depends upon the experience of the actor and the project they are working on. However, if we do a quick comparison of the salary of an actor in South Africa to the salary of an actor in the USA, there is a huge difference.
In the USA, an actor makes $61,130 per year, which converts to R1,185,549. This makes their monthly salary $5094, which converts to R98,792.
The average salary of an actor in South Africa in 2022 was around R38,700. This means that the salary of actors has decreased with time.
Top 3 Highest-Paid Actors in South Africa
On average, an actor in South Africa may not earn as much as other countries. However, there are many actors in the country who are earning seven to eight figures from every project.
We can not discuss every single one of the high-earning actors in the country, but we can talk about the three top ones. The top three highest-paid actors in South Africa are mentioned below.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is one of the top actors in not just South Africa but the whole world. She is one of the highest-paid ones and has a net worth of R32,98,139,400. She has won multiple awards and accolades in her career, and on average, she gets paid around R3,82,363,000 to R5,73,544,500 per film project.
Trevor Noah
The second highest-paid South African actor is Trevor Noah. He hosts a show that goes by the name of ‘The Daily Show’ and has a net worth of R19,11,815,000. Despite the fact that the accurate salary of Trevor Noah is not disclosed, the monthly salary of Trevor is rumored to be between R19,118,150 and R38,236,300.
Sharlto Copley
The third highest-paid South African is Sharlto Copley, with a net worth of R2,86,772,250. Along with acting, he also works as a producer, which has contributed to him building his net worth. He is said to earn R19,102,500 to R38,205,000 per project.
Professional Responsibilities
The first major responsibility that falls upon an actor is being prepared for the role beforehand. When the actors have to audition, they should not show up without a clue about the job; instead, they need to be well-prepared. This leads us to the second responsibility of an actor, which is attending the rehearsals.
No matter what the project is, actors are asked to attend rehearsals to eliminate any issues and mistakes. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every actor who is a part of that project to attend the rehearsals with their full concentration. Moreover, they also need to learn the lines of the scripts before shooting the scene, as it is highly unethical when the actor keeps forgetting their lines.
The last responsibility that falls upon the shoulders of an actor is maintaining a good relationship with fellow actors and the crew on set. They should never be rude or unpleasant to any crew member, but they need to have a good working relationship with everyone involved in the project.
What Does the Salary of An Actor Depend Upon?
The salary of an actor depends upon a few things, and the top of the list is their experience in the field. If an actor has many years of experience backing them up, along with talent, they will land higher-paying roles as compared to those who just stepped into the field.
In addition to that, the type of role an actor picks for themselves also affects their salary. Those who work on theater projects earn a lot less than those actors who work on TV and movie projects. Moreover, the budget of the entire project also determines the salary of each actor.
There are different unions that actors can be a part of, such as the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) or the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA). Being part of any union affiliation also helps the actor a lot in terms of salary.
Is it hard to become an actor in South Africa?
Yes, acting is one of those industries in South Africa that are a bit tougher on the newbies. Therefore, those who are new to it need to stay patient to get the role that will give a boost to their career.
How much money do actors in South Africa make?
The average salary of actors in South Africa is R13,323. However, this is not the salary of every actor in the country. The salary range of the actors in South Africa is R7057 to R35,593 per month, depending upon the role they play and the project they are a part of.
What are the highest-paid acting jobs in South Africa?
The highest-paid acting jobs in South Africa are the ones that are TV projects. In addition to that, movie project jobs are also quite high-paying jobs in the field of acting in South Africa.
How can actors in South Africa increase their earnings?
The best way for an actor in South Africa to increase their earnings is to have the right agent represent them. Moreover, they should also network in the community a lot and focus on building their skill set and making it more diverse.
Does acting make a lot of money?
The amount of money that acting makes depends upon the skill set of the actor. If the actors have experience, are versatile, and can play different roles, then they can make more money. On the other hand, if the actors are new to the job or they are limited to a specific type of role, they will not earn as much money.
What are some of the most famous South African actors?
The most famous South African actors include Charlize Theron, Trevor Noah, Sharlto Copley, Leleti Khumalo, and Arnold Vosloo. The list also includes Sello Maake Ka-Ncube, Rapulana Seiphemo, and Lesley-Ann Brandt.
How can I find acting jobs in South Africa?
The best way to find acting jobs in South Africa is to build a great set of headshots and resumes. Then, you need to apply for different jobs, give auditions after preparation, and network with the people in the industry. Make sure that you hire a good agent who can represent you, negotiate deals, and work for you in a more professional way.
Which subjects are required for acting in South Africa?
A job in acting itself does not require the person to have a specific set of degrees. However, if you wish to study more about acting, then you can choose media studies, theater studies, dramatic arts, and other similar subjects in any of the institutes in South Africa that are offering them.
No matter which part of the world an actor is from, their fans are always curious about them, which often raises the question, ‘How much do actors earn in South Africa.’ Well, the earnings of every actor in the country are different, based on their experiences and other important factors; the average amount is shared in the article above. You will also find other valuable information that will definitely help aspiring actors in the future.