How much money nurses earn in South Africa in 2024

Recent salary data shows that registered nurses can earn up to R29,500 per month in South Africa in 2024, but a lack of job opportunities and relatively low average pay are driving these essential workers out the door.

Nurses are essential workers in South Africa, playing a pivotal role in the healthcare system.

They are on the front lines, providing critical care and support to patients in hospitals, clinics, and community health centres.

South Africa faces a unique set of healthcare challenges, including a high burden of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, alongside a growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Nurses are often patients’ first point of contact. They deliver primary care services, administer medications, and offer health education.

Their skills are vital in rural and underserved areas, where access to doctors and specialists may be limited.

Additionally, nurses in South Africa contribute to public health initiatives, vaccination campaigns, and health screenings, playing a crucial role in disease prevention and health promotion.

Their dedication, expertise, and compassionate care are indispensable in ensuring the well-being of South Africa’s diverse population, making them the true pillars of the healthcare system.

Despite their importance, nurses are paid, on average, less than the average formally employed non-agricultural worker.

Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) showed that the average formal salary in South Africa was R26,791 in Q1 2024 (R321,500 annum).

In contrast, according to Payscale’s salary data, the average Registered Nurse (RN) Salary is R263,000 per annum or R21,917 per month.

This aggregate comes from over 1,500 salary slips and surveys submitted to Payscale from nurses across South Africa as of June 2024.

However, with experience and at the right employer, some nurses are earning up to R29,461 per month or R338,000 per annum.

The average salary range is not widely spread, from R259,289 for critical care nurses to R274,652 for nurses specialising in birthing, as shown in the table below.

Not good enough

Despite the need for nurses, Canadian immigration consultant Nicholas Avramis from Beaver Immigration told BusinessTech that thousands of healthcare professionals are exiting the country—citing pay, unemployment, and political uncertainty as the main drivers.

Avramis reported that his offices have processed 31% more Canadian work permit applications from South Africans.

By the end of 2023, they had processed over 4,000 immigration applications, which is more than 1,000 compared to the previous year.

Additionally, his offices have received approximately 17,000 inquiries from South Africans interested in moving from January 2023 to the present.

The number of local residents leaving the country has been increasing each year, and Avramis mentioned that most applications are from healthcare workers.

Beaver Immigration receives around 20 emails daily from South African doctors, nurses, and caregivers.

Avramis noted that these healthcare professionals are also exploring opportunities for work in other countries such as Cyprus, the UAE, and Qatar.

He also mentioned a shortage of qualified, English-speaking healthcare professionals and South Africans are at the top of the list.

Avramis commented on the reasons why many professionals want to leave South Africa.

He mentioned several common reasons, such as political uncertainty and bureaucracy in the system. For instance, the recent passing of the National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) Bill has been a major concern for healthcare workers.

Additionally, professionals are also dissatisfied with stagnant salaries and lack of pay. Young doctors and nurses are facing challenges in finding employment opportunities.

Unfortunately, Avramis believes that this trend of South Africans leaving the country will continue due to high unemployment and poor economic growth.

Considering this trend, Busiesstech looked at what the average registered nurse earns in some of the main countries South African healthcare workers are choosing to move to—Canada and Australia.

According to recruitment firm Talent.com, nurses earn an average of AUD$87,750 (R1.07 million) per annum in Australia and CAD$72,936 (R963,700) per annum in Canada.

This is 4 times more than the average nurse in South Africa.

However, it must be noted that to truly understand whether this is a better deal, one would have to compare the cost of living in each country.

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