Pilot Salary in South African Rands

A pilot is a rewarding job for people in South Africa who are aspiring to enter the field. An average pilot based in the country typically earns anywhere around R57 700, which is quite high compared to other professions here. Want to know more about the pilot salary in South Africa? Keep on reading this guide.

Pilot Salary in South Africa

An average pilot in South Africa, monthly earns around R546 555, ranging from R28 300 (lowest) to R90 000 (highest). However, this amount is not final and remains subject to revisions based on your level of experience and education, not to mention the company you are working with. Here is a breakdown of the top companies and their average salary range per month.

Companies (Airlines)	Salary (Per Month)
Safair	R103 000
South African Airways	R82 000
Airlink	R71 541
Solenta Aviation	R62 000
Sahara African Aviation	R61 234
Federal Airlines	R10 523

Bonus and Incentives

The aviation profession is definitely rich in rewards and incentives. Apart from the salary, people get access to housing benefits, rent allowance, transportation, and medical insurance. Apart from this, the field has more number of recruitments with a lot of fringe monetary benefits.

Salary/ Pay Scale and Percentile

Similarly, when it comes to percentile, we can see what is the ratio of people in the field and their earning scale. According to the salary distribution across the country, almost 25% of the pilots in the country earn less than R44 000. In contrast to that, almost 75% of mid-career professionals earn less than R61 600.

Professional Responsibilities of a Pilot in South Africa

Here is a list of all the professional responsibilities a pilot has in South Africa.

• Checking the aircraft before every flight
• Making sure the cargo weight is not exceeding the required limits
• Communicating with the air traffic controller to make sure the takeoff and landing go smoothly
• Making sure there are adequate fuel supplies before flights
• Creating flight plans while considering the altitudes and weather conditions
• Working closely with flight attendants to keep the safety rules implemented

Factors that Influence Pilot Salary in South Africa

There are a number of things taken into consideration when it comes to determining pilot salary in South Africa. This includes everything from the experience level to qualification, government funds, and so on. Here is a list of all these factors, so you have a clear idea before diving into this profession.

Level of Experience

The first thing that is considered when deciding the salaries of pilots in South Africa is their level of experience. As you progress in the field, you get immediate promotions with increased monetary benefits. According to the stats, it is pretty evident that a person with 20 years of experience will earn more than one with less experience, and so on.

Level of Experience	Salary (Per Month)	Increase (Percentage)
0-2 years of experience	R33 500
2-5 years of experience	R43 100	29%
5-10 years of experience	R59 500	38%
10-15 years of experience	R73 700	24%
15-20 years of experience	R78 900	7%
Over 20 years of experience	R84 200	7%

Gender

Like any other profession, gender plays an important role in determining the pilot salary in South Africa. But the question is, who gets paid more, men or women? According to the latest stats, it is evident that male employees in the aviation field get paid 8% more than their female counterparts.

Male Pilots	R59 600
Female Pilots	R55 200

Education/ Qualification

Last but not least, education level can also make a huge difference when it comes to the monthly payments of pilots. In this case, the payscale is distributed in three level. Level 1 for candidates having a diploma, Level 2 for candidates with Bachelor’s degree, and Level 3 for candidates with a Master’s degree. The salary increases as you progress from one level to another.

Level of Education/ Qualification	Salary Per Month	Increase (Percentage)
Certification or Diploma	R43 100
Bachelors Degree	R57 900	34%
Master’s Degree	R88 800	53%

The pilot is a highly rewarding and pursued job in the country, which is why most students are aspiring to enter this field. Are you someone in a similar situation and want to know about the monetary and fringe benefits of this profession? I hope this guide has been helpful for you in figuring out whether this field is suitable for you.