10 of the highest paying jobs in South Africa – with one up to R213,000 a month

Despite a tough salary environment in South Africa, some jobs still offer big paydays—with South Africa’s highest-paying jobs ranging from R24,000 to R213,000 per month.

The latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) from Stats SA show that the average formal, non-agricultural salary in South Africa declined 0.1% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter.

The average salary paid was recorded at R26,791, down from the R26,894 recorded for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Although this represents a 4.6% increase year-on-year, this growth is still behind inflation for the same period, so salaries have declined in real terms.

Stats SA noted that gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R35.1 billion or -3,5% from R993 billion in December 2023 to R957.9 billion in March 2024.

This was due to decreases in the following industries: trade, community services, manufacturing, construction, transport, electricity and mining.

Debt Busters also flagged the concern for salaries in South Africa.

In its Debt Index for the first quarter of 2024, the firm noted that South Africans have 47% less purchasing power.

The report explained that nominal incomes were 1% lower than 2016 levels; however, when cumulative inflation growth of 48% is factored in for the same eight-year period, consumers’ purchasing power diminished by 47% over this period.

This means consumers are feeling like they are taking home 47% less today in real terms than they did in 2016

Unfortunately, employment data paints a similar picture.

According to Stats SA, total employment decreased by 67,000 or -0.6% quarter-on-quarter, from 10,731,000 in December 2023 to 10,664,000 in March 2024.

This broadly aligns with the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), which showed that the number of unemployed persons increased by 330,000 to 8.2 million over the same quarter, pushing the unemployment rate up to 32.9%.

Best paying jobs

Despite the bleak prospects for salaries in South Africa, there are some professions that will offer a buffer to inflation and are considered the top-paying jobs in the country.

Salaryexplorer.com, a salary comparison and career resources website for both employees and employers, published its list of the 10 highest-paying jobs in South Africa for 2024.

The list was complicated based on salary information collected by users, recruitment agencies, companies, and other employers.

According to the platform’s data, doctors—specifically surgeons—are the highest paid, averaging R116,000 per month in 2024.

However, this can reach R213,000 per month, almost eight times the average formal salary in the country.

This is then followed by Judges, who earn an average of R97,300 per month, while lawyers rank third, earning roughly R78,800 per month.

The average salary and salary range of the top 10 highest-paid jobs in South Africa are listed below, as outlined by salaryexplorer.com.

It should be noted that the salary range often has a positive correlation with experience.

1. Surgeons / Doctors

• Average salary: R116,000 pm
• Salary range: R72,500 to R213,000 pm

Surgeons are one of the highest-paying professionals due to the critical nature of their work, high risk, extensive knowledge, and lengthy learning path, making it a lucrative career.

2. Judges

• Average salary: R97,300 pm
• Salary range: R42,800 to R148,000 pm

Judges are compensated with high salaries due to the significant responsibilities linked to their role.

Making decisions that impact people’s lives is a challenging undertaking, and substantial remuneration is entirely warranted.

3. Lawyers

• Average salary: R78,800 pm
• Salary range: R41,000 to R131,000 pm

Successful lawyers command substantial salaries due to their high perceived value to their clients.

A proficient lawyer has the potential to save or earn you a significant amount of money, or even help you avoid a prison term.

4. Bank Managers

• Average salary: R74,100 pm
• Salary range: R36,900 to R108,000 pm

Being responsible for managing millions of funds and investments, along with associated risks, makes overseeing a bank an exceedingly crucial responsibility deserving of a substantial salary.

5. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)

• Average salary: R69,500 pm
• Salary range: R34,200 to R109,000 pm

CEOs wield significant influence over the fate of entire organizations. Their substantial compensation reflects the magnitude of their impact and the associated risks.

6. Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)

• Average salary: R64,900 pm
• Salary range: R33,900 to R108,000 pm

Any role that involves overseeing financial matters automatically commands high compensation.

CFOs oversee budgets, expenditures, expenses, and income, all of which directly influence the operations of the organisation.

7. Orthodontists

• Average salary: R62,600 pm
• Salary range: R30,900 to R107,000 pm

Orthodontists work in an industry where individuals are willing to pay substantial amounts for a service, making Orthodontists among the highest-paid professionals.

8. University professors

• Average salary: R55,600 pm
• Salary range: R28,600 to R99,000 pm

Becoming a university professor is a prestigious and high-earning career path that requires persistence and dedication.

This is one of the reasons why they command high salaries and respect in their field.

9. Pilots

• Average salary: R46,300 pm
• Salary range: R29,100 to R85,700 pm

Pilots undergo extensive and rigorous training programs, as they are responsible for the safety of thousands of people every day.

Additionally, it is a career that offers a unique sense of excitement.

10. Marketing directors

• Average salary: R41,700 pm
• Salary range: R24,200 to R77,200 pm

Marketing directors play a vital role in driving revenue growth for their organizations.

They carry the direct responsibility of generating business and are compensated accordingly.

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