35 public sector jobs that pay over R1 million a year
The Department of Public Service and Administration has published its latest salary scales for public sector workers, showing how much they will be earning in 2019.
The new salaries took effect from 1 April 2019, based on the outcomes of protracted wage negotiations with government in 2018.
In 2018 the Public Servants Collective Bargaining Council (PSCBC) secured a 6% to 7% increase for workers in the sectors it covers, along with increases for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 years, based on forward CPI projections from National Treasury.
According to a circular published in March 2019, the projected CPI for 2019/20 is at 5.2%, which means public servants can expect increases ranging from 5.2% to 6.2%, depending on their job level.
Among the jobs listed in the salary document, nearly 50 carry high earning power – pulling in more than R1 million a year, depending on grade and pay level.
Unsurprisingly, most of these are in the medical and technical fields (such as engineering), or various management positions across most departments.
High-paying public sector jobs can be split into two categories – those that have a starting salary of R1 million or more, and those that have lower starting salaries, but the potential to reach over R1 million a year with time and experience.
Starting at R1 million or more
The jobs that start out paying R1 million a year are those that require specialist or technical skills in a specific field.
Medical officers in general are well paid in the public sector, but the salaries listed below also apply for those specialising in dentistry, pharmacology and stomatology (indicated with a *).
| Occupation | Starting Salary | Top earning potential |
|---|---|---|
| Head: Clinical Department* | R2 161 416 | R2 508 414 |
| Head: Clinical Unit* | R1 728 807 | R2 066 988 |
| Specialist Engineer | R1 535 802 | R2 195 427 |
| Specialist Litigation | R1 285 158 | R1 949 880 |
| Specialist Attorney | R1 285 158 | R1 949 880 |
| Dental Specialist | R1 283 601 | R1 834 890 |
| Medical Specialist (sub-specialty) | R1 283 601 | R1 834 890 |
| Clinical Manager* | R1 246 842 | R1 782 345 |
| Manager: Medical/Dental Services | R1 173 900 | R2 161 416 |
| Clinical Pharmacologist | R1 106 040 | R1 834 890 |
| Stomatologist | R1 106 040 | R1 834 890 |
| Medical Specialist | R1 106 040 | R1 834 890 |
| Senior Registar (Medical) | R1 106 040 | R1 156 560 |
| Manager: Pharmaceutical Services | R1 089 693 | R1 512 009 |
Potential for R1 million
The jobs listed below show the highest earning potential for the respective occupations. While starting salaries are below the R1 million mark, the jobs do pay that kind of salary at the highest levels.
| Occupation | Top earning potential |
|---|---|
| Construction Project Manager | R1 978 146 |
| Scientific Manager | R1 679 301 |
| Chief Professional Surveyor | R1 679 301 |
| Senior Family Advocate/ Senior State Law Advisor | R1 536 567 |
| Control Quantity Survey Technologist | R1 362 366 |
| Medical/Dental Officer | R1 362 366 |
| Family Advocate/State Law Advisor | R1 266 156 |
| Senior Assistant State Manager | R1 192 947 |
| Control Biodiversity Officer | R1 192 365 |
| Pharmaceutical Policy Specialist | R1 173 900 |
| Senior Legal Administration Officer | R1 140 828 |
| Chief Registrar (Legal) | R1 140 828 |
| EMS Provincial Manager | R1 106 040 |
| Manager of Community Development | R1 100 325 |
| Social Work Manager | R1 100 325 |
| Control Scientific Technician | R1 090 458 |
| Engineer (Production) | R1 090 458 |
| Head of Nursing Campus | R1 068 666 |
| Nursing Manager | R1 068 666 |
| Assistant Manager: Pharmaceutical Services | R1 042 095 |
| Clinical Pharmacist | R1 042 095 |
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