How much money does a person working in Engineering make in South Africa?
Average Monthly Salary
26,400 ZAR
( 317,000 ZAR yearly)
LOW
8,340
ZAR
AVERAGE
26,400
ZAR
HIGH
55,600
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 in Engineering in South Africa typically earns around 26,400 ZAR. Salaries range from 8,340 ZAR (lowest average) to 55,600 ZAR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
Salary Variance
The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Engineering domain in South Africa exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.
Salaries for specific jobs
Engineering | |
3D Printing Engineer | 25,700 ZAR |
Acoustics Engineer | 27,800 ZAR |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 22,200 ZAR |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 32,300 ZAR |
|
Associate Engineer | 25,900 ZAR |
AutoCAD Drafter | 17,100 ZAR |
Autocad Operator | 18,100 ZAR |
Automation Engineer | 31,000 ZAR |
Automation Engineer | 29,800 ZAR |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 27,700 ZAR |
Biochemical Engineer | 26,300 ZAR |
BMS Engineer | 27,800 ZAR |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 15,600 ZAR |
Broadcast Engineer | 29,500 ZAR |
CAD Design Engineer | 28,500 ZAR |
CAD Designer | 17,300 ZAR |
CAE Engineer | 27,300 ZAR |
Ceramics Engineer | 26,400 ZAR |
Chemical Engineer | 29,500 ZAR |
Civil Drafter | 18,700 ZAR |
Civil Engineer | 29,900 ZAR |
Civil Site Engineer | 30,400 ZAR |
Civil Technician | 18,000 ZAR |
Cognitive Engineer | 26,200 ZAR |
Commissioning Engineer | 29,200 ZAR |
Communications Engineer | 32,600 ZAR |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 24,900 ZAR |
Contract Associate Engineer | 26,800 ZAR |
Contract Engineer | 26,800 ZAR |
Control Systems Engineer | 28,000 ZAR |
Controls Engineer | 27,800 ZAR |
Controls Software Engineer | 25,200 ZAR |
Corrosion Engineer | 26,400 ZAR |
Design Engineer | 29,700 ZAR |
Director of Engineering | 58,300 ZAR |
Drafter | 18,400 ZAR |
Drafting Manager | 33,800 ZAR |
Drilling Engineer | 28,200 ZAR |
Drilling Foreman | 8,980 ZAR |
Electrical Draughtsman | 15,200 ZAR |
Electrical Engineer | 32,000 ZAR |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 41,800 ZAR |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 29,700 ZAR |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 14,500 ZAR |
Energy Engineer | 31,300 ZAR |
Engine Assembler | 12,600 ZAR |
Engineer | 30,800 ZAR |
Engineering Account Manager | 31,300 ZAR |
Engineering Chief Designer | 33,100 ZAR |
Engineering Consultant | 38,000 ZAR |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 43,400 ZAR |
Engineering Lab Technician | 26,000 ZAR |
Engineering Manager | 38,400 ZAR |
Engineering Planning Manager | 39,300 ZAR |
Engineering Production Manager | 50,000 ZAR |
Engineering Project Analyst | 32,100 ZAR |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 32,000 ZAR |
Engineering Project Director | 57,100 ZAR |
Engineering Project Leader | 35,900 ZAR |
Engineering Project Manager | 41,200 ZAR |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 45,100 ZAR |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 22,400 ZAR |
Engineering Sales Manager | 40,500 ZAR |
Engineering Technician | 22,800 ZAR |
Engineering Technologist | 21,600 ZAR |
Environmental Engineer | 28,600 ZAR |
Equipment Engineer | 26,700 ZAR |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 38,500 ZAR |
Estimator | 24,600 ZAR |
Fabrication Specialist | 20,200 ZAR |
Fabricator | 13,000 ZAR |
Facade Engineer | 26,600 ZAR |
Fiber Analyst | 16,600 ZAR |
Field Engineer | 30,400 ZAR |
Field Engineering Manager | 49,500 ZAR |
Fire Engineer | 29,400 ZAR |
Fitter and Turner | 9,410 ZAR |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 34,800 ZAR |
Generation Engineer | 30,600 ZAR |
Genetic Engineer | 30,400 ZAR |
Geological Engineer | 30,800 ZAR |
Geotechnical Engineer | 31,200 ZAR |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 14,900 ZAR |
Highway Engineer | 29,300 ZAR |
HSE Professional | 28,000 ZAR |
Human Machine Interface Engineer | 25,900 ZAR |
HVAC Engineer | 31,300 ZAR |
HVAC Supervisor | 25,100 ZAR |
Industrial Engineer | 28,300 ZAR |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 27,400 ZAR |
Instrument Engineer | 28,500 ZAR |
Instrument Technician | 15,400 ZAR |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 27,800 ZAR |
Instrumentation Designer | 23,800 ZAR |
Instrumentation Engineer | 28,400 ZAR |
Instrumentation Manager | 27,800 ZAR |
Irrigation Engineer | 28,600 ZAR |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 30,100 ZAR |
Locomotive Engineer | 29,000 ZAR |
Maintenance Engineer | 27,600 ZAR |
Maintenance Fitter | 10,100 ZAR |
Maintenance Manager | 28,300 ZAR |
Manufacturing Engineer | 28,400 ZAR |
Marine Engineer | 29,700 ZAR |
Materials Engineer | 29,000 ZAR |
Materials Researcher | 25,800 ZAR |
Materials Technician | 21,300 ZAR |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 32,200 ZAR |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 30,200 ZAR |
Mechanical Designer | 24,500 ZAR |
Mechanical Engineer | 31,500 ZAR |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 41,500 ZAR |
Mechanical Inspector | 26,700 ZAR |
Mechatronics Engineer | 29,600 ZAR |
Mining Engineer | 28,000 ZAR |
Nanotechnology Engineer | 31,700 ZAR |
Natural Language Processing Engineer | 33,000 ZAR |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 32,300 ZAR |
Optical Engineer | 28,500 ZAR |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 14,900 ZAR |
PCB Assembler | 10,000 ZAR |
Photonics Engineer | 32,800 ZAR |
Photonics Technician | 26,800 ZAR |
Pipeline Engineer | 25,500 ZAR |
Piping Designer | 15,200 ZAR |
Piping Engineer | 25,600 ZAR |
Planning Engineer | 28,900 ZAR |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 13,000 ZAR |
Principal Cost Engineer | 29,700 ZAR |
Principal Engineer | 29,200 ZAR |
Principal Support Engineer | 29,300 ZAR |
Process Engineer | 29,400 ZAR |
Process Operator | 17,400 ZAR |
Product Development Engineer | 30,900 ZAR |
Product Development Technician | 21,300 ZAR |
Product Engineer | 30,900 ZAR |
Product Safety Engineer | 26,200 ZAR |
Production Engineer | 28,400 ZAR |
Project Engineer | 31,500 ZAR |
Proposal Manager | 36,800 ZAR |
Purchasing Engineer | 27,600 ZAR |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 29,500 ZAR |
Rail Engineer | 30,000 ZAR |
Regional Field Engineer | 32,700 ZAR |
Remote Sensing Engineer | 28,000 ZAR |
Robotics Engineer | 32,900 ZAR |
Robotics Technician | 23,800 ZAR |
Safety Engineer | 29,800 ZAR |
Safety Inspector | 23,400 ZAR |
Safety Manager | 32,400 ZAR |
Safety Officer | 15,100 ZAR |
Sales Engineer | 29,900 ZAR |
Scheduling Engineer | 27,500 ZAR |
Security Engineer | 30,600 ZAR |
Service Engineer | 29,200 ZAR |
Smart Home Engineer | 31,200 ZAR |
Solar Engineer | 31,200 ZAR |
Staff Engineer | 28,900 ZAR |
Static Equipment Engineer | 28,200 ZAR |
Stationary Engineer | 26,900 ZAR |
Stress Engineer | 27,600 ZAR |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 29,100 ZAR |
Structural Designer | 24,200 ZAR |
Structural Engineer | 29,100 ZAR |
Structural Technician | 19,100 ZAR |
Subsea Engineer | 37,300 ZAR |
Supply Chain Specialist | 27,100 ZAR |
Surveyor | 20,900 ZAR |
Technical Affairs Officer | 14,500 ZAR |
Technical Assistant | 14,500 ZAR |
Technical Engineer | 23,900 ZAR |
Technical Support Engineer | 24,900 ZAR |
Tender Engineer | 26,300 ZAR |
Test Development Engineer | 29,100 ZAR |
Test Engineer | 28,900 ZAR |
Transportation Engineer | 28,300 ZAR |
Urban Engineer | 29,900 ZAR |
Validation Engineer | 24,900 ZAR |
Verification Engineer | 26,400 ZAR |
Wastewater Engineer | 27,500 ZAR |
Wind Energy Engineer | 28,700 ZAR |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 37,500 ZAR |
Wireless Engineer | 31,600 ZAR |
Work Planner | 20,800 ZAR |
Engineering Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in South Africa
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/engineering/median-and-salary-distribution-monthly-south-africa-engineering.jpg Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
5% of people earn
26,700 ZAR or more
10% of people earn
22,100 to 26,700 ZAR
20% of people earn
11,900 ZAR or less
65% of people earn
11,900 to 22,100 ZAR
Minimum Salary 8,340 ZAR |
Median 23,200 ZAR |
Maximum 55,600 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 in Engineering in South Africa range from 8,340 ZAR (starting average salary) to 55,600 ZAR (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.
Median Salary
The median income in the field of Engineering is 23,200 ZAR, implying that half of the workforce in South Africa earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Engineering in South Africa earn less than 17,400 ZAR, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 28,700 ZAR, while 25% earn more than that.
Pay Scale Structure
Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Engineering in South Africa. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 11,900 ZAR to 22,100 ZAR. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 11,900 ZAR mark, while 10% ranged from 22,100 ZAR to 26,700 ZAR. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 26,700 ZAR or higher.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-by-experience.jpg The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees in Engineering in South Africa having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
“ On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark. ”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-comparison-by-education.jpg Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?
We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Engineering in South Africa, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in South Africa costs anywhere from 156,000 ZAR to 469,000 ZAR and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Engineering / South Africa
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/engineering/salary-comparison-by-gender-monthly-south-africa-engineering.jpg Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Engineering in South Africa, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 8%.
Male | | 27,600 ZAR |
Female | -7% | 25,600 ZAR |
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Salary Comparison By Gender in South Africa for all Careers
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/salary-comparison-by-gender-monthly-south-africa.jpg
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Engineering / South Africa
How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for individuals working in Engineering? How often do employees get salary raises?
Professionals working in Engineering in South Africa are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 17 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 18 months.
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/engineering/annual-salary-increment-rate-south-africa-engineering.jpg 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
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/annual-salary-increment-rate-south-africa.jpg 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
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-increment-world.jpg 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 / Engineering / South Africa
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/engineering/annual-salary-bonus-rate-south-africa-engineering.jpg
50% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 50% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 5% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | | 50% |
No Bonus | | 50% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, 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 BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese 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 Generators | Supporting 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.
Hourly Average Wage / Engineering / South Africa
150 ZAR
per hour The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Engineering in South Africa is 150 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 in Engineering in South Africa is 48 ZAR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary Comparison By City
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 in Engineering in South Africa?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 23,200 ZAR and 28,700 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 jobs in Engineering in South Africa ranges from 8,340 ZAR to 17,400 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