19 ‘entry-level’ jobs in South Africa that pay over R400,000

 ·2 Feb 2025

Professional recruitment firm Robert Walters has published the results of its 2025 salary survey, which shows what young professionals can expect to earn in an entry-level job in the accounting, finance, and legal sectors in South Africa. 

These numbers are based on the earning potential of people with 0-2 (or three) years of experience.

South Africa is facing 45.5% youth unemployment, and employment is continuously decreasing

However, of South Africa’s unemployed, only about a fifth have tertiary education.

Qualified chartered accountants (CAs), private equity and corporate finance managers, investment analysts, associates of large private legal firms, and treasury accountants are the entry-level jobs with the highest potential earnings. 

A qualified CA stands to earn R50,000 per month salary—or starting at R600,000 a year—with 0-2 years of experience behind them.

These skills are especially sought after in South Africa because there is a shortage of accountants. 

This is due to a brain drain of local talent, where many qualified individuals believe international markets offer significantly higher salaries and better opportunities to achieve long-term goals.

However, the number of staff needed at accounting firms is expected to decrease because AI can take over the more mundane parts of the job, BBC reports.

According to Robert Walters’ data, there are about 19 entry-level (0-2 year experience) jobs that pay over R400,000, including actuaries and business analysts.

Private equity and corporate finance managers can earn R650,000 annually, or about R54,000 monthly, when they first step into their jobs. 

An investment analyst stands to earn the same amount as a corporate finance manager. 

Private practice associates at large firms can earn R640,000 in their first year. This means that they would earn salaries of about R53,000 per month. 

However, this is practically double the salary of someone at a boutique firm. 

A treasury accountant who is only just getting started also stands to earn R600,000, or R50,000 monthly. 

Additionally, better-skilled people can earn more within a similar field. Non-qualified and partly qualified people earn less than fully qualified individuals

Furthermore, several of these jobs are also on the government’s critical skills list. These occupations are sought after in South Africa and critical to the country’s development. 

This list contains occupations like tax professionals, actuaries, auditors, forensic accountants, corporate treasurers and investment managers.

While this makes certain jobs more sought after, low economic growth stifles expansion, which means that there are not necessarily many positions available. 

The table below outlines the starting salaries for graduate professionals with 0 to 2 years of experience – ordered from the highest starting salary.

Job titleSectorJob GroupSalary 2025
(0-2 yrs XP)
AssociateLegalPrivate Practice (Large Firm)R670,000
Private Equity/Corporate FinanceBankingBankingR650,000
Investment Analyst (CA plus CFA)BankingInvestment Management/Asset ManagementR650,000
Qualified CA(SA) JohannesburgBankingAccounting, Audit, Tax & TreasuryR600,000
Credit Analyst/Credit Manager (Qualified CA)BankingCreditR600,000
Treasury AccountantAccountingTaxation/TreasuryR600,000
CA (SA)AccountingQualified CA (SA) or CIMA or BComR550,000
CIMA Qualified Management AccountantBankingAccounting, Audit, Tax & TreasuryR500,000
Relationship Manager/Corporate BankerBankingBankingR500,000
Credit Analyst/Credit Manager (Non-Qualified)BankingCreditR500,000
Internal Auditor (Non-Qualified)BankingInternal audit or IT auditR450,000
Strategy ConsultantBankingManagement ConsultancyR450,000
Quant Risk AnalystBankingRisk, Data Science & AnalyticsR450,000
Part-QualifiedCA(SA)(Degree/HonoursArticles)BankingAccounting, Audit, Tax & TreasuryR400,000
Equity ResearchAnalyst (Non-Qualified)BankingGlobal MarketsR400,000
Business AnalystBankingManagement ConsultancyR400,000
ActuaryBankingRisk, Data Science & AnalyticsR400,000
Treasury Specialist /ManagerBankingTreasuryR400,000
CIMA/ CGMAAccountingQualified CA (SA) or CIMA or BComR400,000
Non-QualifiedAccountant (BCom)BankingAccounting, Audit, Tax & TreasuryR350,000
Graduates (/-Honours)BankingAccounting, Audit, Tax & TreasuryR350,000
AML Officer /Manager /SpecialistBankingAML & Financial CrimeR350,000
Management Consultant (Non-CA)BankingManagement ConsultancyR350,000
Data Scientist (B.I.Business Intelligence)BankingRisk, Data Science & AnalyticsR350,000
Ops Risk ManagerBankingRisk, Data Science & AnalyticsR350,000
Part Qualified CA (SA)AccountingPart QualifiedR350,000
Tax AccountantAccountingTaxation/TreasuryR350,000
AssociateLegalPrivate Practice (Boutique Firm)R330,000
Fund Accountant(Non-Qualified)BankingAccounting, Audit, Tax & TreasuryR320,000
BcomAccountingQualified CA (SA) or CIMA or BComR250,000
Part Qualified CIMAAccountingPart QualifiedR250,000
Internal AuditorAccountingQualified CA (SA) or CIMA or BComR250,000
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