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Optometrist Average Salary in South Africa 2024

How much money does a person working as Optometrist make in South Africa?


Average Monthly Salary
71,400 ZAR
( 857,000 ZAR yearly)

LOW
35,000
ZAR
AVERAGE
71,400
ZAR
HIGH
111,000
ZAR
All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working as Optometrist in South Africa typically earns around 71,400 ZAR. Salaries range from 35,000 ZAR (lowest) to 111,000 ZAR (highest).


Salary Variance

This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Optometrist salaries in South Africa vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.



Optometrist Pay Scale and Salaries in South Africa

Median and salary distribution South Africa Optometrist monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
66,200 ZAR or more
10% of people earn
58,500 to 66,200 ZAR
20% of people earn
41,500 ZAR or less
65% of people earn
41,500 to 58,500 ZAR
Minimum Salary
35,000 ZAR
Median
66,600 ZAR
Maximum
111,000 ZAR




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries for the position Optometrist in South Africa range from 35,000 ZAR (starting salary) to 111,000 ZAR (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.

  • Median Salary

    With a median salary of 66,600 ZAR, half of the professionals who work as Optometrist in South Africa earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Optometrist in South Africa earn less than 54,400 ZAR, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 76,100 ZAR while 25% earn more.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Optometrist in South Africa compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 41,500 ZAR to 58,500 ZAR. About 20% of salaries are below the 41,500 ZAR mark, while 10% fall within the range of 58,500 ZAR to 66,200 ZAR. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 66,200 ZAR.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Optometrist / South Africa

How do experience and age affect pay?

0 - 2 Years
41,500 ZAR
2 - 5 Years+29%
53,300 ZAR
5 - 10 Years+38%
73,500 ZAR
10 - 15 Years+24%
91,100 ZAR
15 - 20 Years+7%
97,600 ZAR
20+ Years+7%
104,000 ZAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Salary comparison by years of experience monthly South Africa Optometrist
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Optometrist and this is what we found.


All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.

Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 41,500 ZAR.

While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 53,300 ZAR, 29% more than someone with less than two year's experience.

Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 73,500 ZAR, 38% more than someone with two to five years of experience.

Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 91,100 ZAR, 24% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.

If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 97,600 ZAR, 7% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.

Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 104,000 ZAR, 7% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.

On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.

Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Optometrist / South Africa

Salary comparison by gender South Africa Optometrist monthly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Optometrist in South Africa, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 8%.

Male
73,700 ZAR
Female-7%
68,300 ZAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Comparison By Gender in South Africa for all Careers

Salary comparison by gender monthly South Africa
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Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Optometrist / South Africa

How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for individuals working as Optometrist? How often do employees get salary raises?

Individuals working as Optometrist in South Africa are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 13% every 17 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 18 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate South Africa Optometrist
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

South Africa / All Professions

Annual Salary Increment Rate South Africa
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The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in South Africa is 5%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.



Bonus and Incentive Rates / Optometrist / South Africa

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate South Africa Optometrist
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17% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 83% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 5% to 9% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
83%
No Bonus
17%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.



Average Hourly Wage / Optometrist / South Africa


410 ZAR per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Optometrist in South Africa is 410 ZAR.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Optometrist in South Africa is 200 ZAR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary comparison with similar jobs

Job TitleAverage Salary
Health and Medical-100%
Advanced Nutrition Aide46,100 ZAR-35%
Advanced Practice Provider43,700 ZAR-39%
Allergist62,200 ZAR-13%
Assistant Pathologist45,300 ZAR-37%
Behavioral Health Specialist34,900 ZAR-51%
Cardiac Sonographer37,500 ZAR-47%
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist130,000 ZAR+82%
Cardiovascular Perfusionist83,600 ZAR+17%
Chiropractor40,200 ZAR-44%
Clinical Psychologist105,000 ZAR+47%
Correctional Treatment Specialist60,500 ZAR-15%
Counseling Psychologist76,800 ZAR+8%
Dermatologist100,000 ZAR+40%
Diabetologist67,800 ZAR-5%
Dietitian61,300 ZAR-14%
Doctor82,500 ZAR+16%
Emergency and Critical Care Consultant83,200 ZAR+17%
Emergency Department Physician74,900 ZAR+5%
Exercise Physiologist79,200 ZAR+11%
Forensic Pathologist88,000 ZAR+23%
General Medical Practitioner61,400 ZAR-14%
Genetic Counselor54,400 ZAR-24%
Healthcare Practitioner62,800 ZAR-12%
Internist102,000 ZAR+43%
Interventionist98,400 ZAR+38%
Invasive Cardiologist131,000 ZAR+84%
Lifestyle Medicine Expert50,200 ZAR-30%
Medical Massage Therapist35,900 ZAR-50%
Mental Health Therapst55,200 ZAR-23%
Naturopathic Physician96,000 ZAR+34%
Neurologist98,500 ZAR+38%
Neurophysiology Technologist27,900 ZAR-61%
Neuroscientist97,200 ZAR+36%
Nuclear Medicine Physician83,900 ZAR+18%
Obstetrician / Gynecologist89,700 ZAR+26%
Occupational Health Safety Specialist45,600 ZAR-36%
Ophthalmologist71,200 ZAR-0%
Optometrist71,400 ZAR+0%
Pediatrician74,600 ZAR+5%
Physical Therapist54,200 ZAR-24%
Physical Therapy Director62,600 ZAR-12%
Physician - Anesthesiology117,000 ZAR+64%
Physician - Cardiology125,000 ZAR+75%
Physician - CCU71,200 ZAR-0%
Physician - Dermatology101,000 ZAR+42%
Physician - Emergency Room75,500 ZAR+6%
Physician - Endocrinology96,600 ZAR+35%
Physician - Family Practice67,200 ZAR-6%
Physician - Gastroenterology91,300 ZAR+28%
Physician - Generalist73,300 ZAR+3%
Physician - Geriatrics63,200 ZAR-11%
Physician - Hematology / Oncology88,600 ZAR+24%
Physician - Immunology / Allergy101,000 ZAR+42%
Physician - Infectious Disease86,700 ZAR+21%
Physician - Internal Medicine106,000 ZAR+49%
Physician - Maternal / Fetal Medicine84,800 ZAR+19%
Physician - Nephrology104,000 ZAR+46%
Physician - Neurology104,000 ZAR+46%
Physician - Nuclear Medicine88,400 ZAR+24%
Physician - Obstetrics / Gynecology93,600 ZAR+31%
Physician - Occupational Medicine72,400 ZAR+1%
Physician - Ophthalmology61,700 ZAR-14%
Physician - Otolaryngology57,900 ZAR-19%
Physician - Pain Medicine54,100 ZAR-24%
Physician - Pathology68,900 ZAR-3%
Physician - Pediatric Cardiology85,200 ZAR+19%
Physician - Pediatric Neonatology81,400 ZAR+14%
Physician - Pediatrics73,800 ZAR+3%
Physician - Physiatry80,400 ZAR+13%
Physician - Podiatry73,900 ZAR+4%
Physician - Pulmonary Medicine58,400 ZAR-18%
Physician - Radiation Therapy95,900 ZAR+34%
Physician - Radiology96,000 ZAR+34%
Physician - Rheumatology84,800 ZAR+19%
Physician - Sports Medicine84,100 ZAR+18%
Physician - Urology109,000 ZAR+53%
Physician Assistant50,900 ZAR-29%
Physiotherapist56,900 ZAR-20%
Podiatrist63,500 ZAR-11%
Preventive Medicine Physician73,600 ZAR+3%
Psychiatrist84,400 ZAR+18%
Psychololgist83,100 ZAR+16%
Psychometrician71,300 ZAR-0%
Public Health Physician61,200 ZAR-14%
Pulmonologist76,600 ZAR+7%
Radiologist88,500 ZAR+24%
Registered Dietitian65,500 ZAR-8%
Registered Respiratory Therapist50,800 ZAR-29%
Skin Care Specialist49,700 ZAR-30%
Telemedicine Physician58,200 ZAR-18%
Urologist108,000 ZAR+51%
Virtual / Augmented Reality Therapist32,700 ZAR-54%
Vision Rehabilitation Therapist51,000 ZAR-29%

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Cape Town72,400 ZAR
Johannesburg71,300 ZAR

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in South Africa is 7% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
30,400 ZAR
Public Sector+7%
32,400 ZAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Optometrist in South Africa?

A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 66,600 ZAR and 76,100 ZAR. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary for a careers like Optometrist in South Africa ranges from 35,000 ZAR to 54,400 ZAR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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