Optometrist Average Salary in Cape Town 2024
How much money does a person working as Optometrist make in Cape Town?
LOW
37,700
ZAR AVERAGE
72,400
ZAR HIGH
111,000
ZAR
A person working as Optometrist in Cape Town typically earns around 72,400 ZAR. Salaries range from 37,700 ZAR (lowest) to 111,000 ZAR (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Optometrist salaries in Cape Town 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 Cape Town
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
65,600 ZAR or more
58,400 to 65,600 ZAR
42,700 ZAR or less
42,700 to 58,400 ZAR
 37,700 ZAR |
65,900 ZAR |
111,000 ZAR |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Optometrist in Cape Town range from 37,700 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 65,900 ZAR, half of the professionals who work as Optometrist in Cape Town 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 Cape Town earn less than 54,600 ZAR, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 74,800 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 Cape Town compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 42,700 ZAR to 58,400 ZAR. About 20% of salaries are below the 42,700 ZAR mark, while 10% fall within the range of 58,400 ZAR to 65,600 ZAR. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 65,600 ZAR.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Optometrist / Cape Town
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 42,800 ZAR | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 57,400 ZAR |
| 5 - 10 Years | +30% | 74,600 ZAR |
| 10 - 15 Years | +21% | 90,300 ZAR |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 98,800 ZAR |
| 20+ Years | +5% | 104,000 ZAR |
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.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 42,800 ZAR.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 57,400 ZAR, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 74,600 ZAR, 30% 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 90,300 ZAR, 21% 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 98,800 ZAR, 9% 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, 5% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Optometrist / Cape Town
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 |
Salary Comparison By Gender in South Africa for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Optometrist / Cape Town
How much are annual salary increments in Cape Town 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 % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 18 months.
South Africa / All Professions
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
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
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?
Share This Chart Tweet Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/health-and-medical/doctor-physician/optometrist/annual-salary-bonus-rate-south-africa-optometrist.jpg
100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | % | |
| No Bonus | 100% |
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: | Example: |
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.
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 / Cape Town
420 ZAR per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Optometrist in Cape Town is 420 ZAR.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
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 Cape Town is 220 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 Title | Average Salary |
| Health and Medical |  -100% | |
| Advanced Nutrition Aide | 49,400 ZAR | -32% |
| Advanced Practice Provider | 49,500 ZAR | -32% |
| Allergist | 65,800 ZAR | -9% |
| Assistant Pathologist | 48,400 ZAR | -33% |
| Behavioral Health Specialist | 41,400 ZAR | -43% |
| Cardiac Sonographer | 42,700 ZAR | -41% |
| Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist | 142,000 ZAR |  +96% |
| Cardiovascular Perfusionist | 86,900 ZAR | +20% |
| Chiropractor | 42,300 ZAR | -42% |
| Clinical Psychologist | 114,000 ZAR | +57% |
| Correctional Treatment Specialist | 64,200 ZAR | -11% |
| Counseling Psychologist | 87,100 ZAR | +20% |
| Dermatologist | 109,000 ZAR | +50% |
| Diabetologist | 78,500 ZAR | +8% |
| Dietitian | 66,800 ZAR | -8% |
| Doctor | 93,400 ZAR | +29% |
| Emergency and Critical Care Consultant | 91,000 ZAR | +26% |
| Emergency Department Physician | 76,400 ZAR | +5% |
| Exercise Physiologist | 85,400 ZAR | +18% |
| Forensic Pathologist | 97,700 ZAR | +35% |
| General Medical Practitioner | 70,700 ZAR | -2% |
| Genetic Counselor | 57,200 ZAR | -21% |
| Healthcare Practitioner | 74,700 ZAR | +3% |
| Internist | 107,000 ZAR | +48% |
| Interventionist | 108,000 ZAR | +49% |
| Invasive Cardiologist | 138,000 ZAR | +91% |
| Lifestyle Medicine Expert | 55,500 ZAR | -23% |
| Medical Massage Therapist | 40,900 ZAR | -44% |
| Mental Health Therapst | 64,200 ZAR | -11% |
| Naturopathic Physician | 108,000 ZAR | +49% |
| Neurologist | 108,000 ZAR | +49% |
| Neurophysiology Technologist | 31,800 ZAR | -56% |
| Neuroscientist | 106,000 ZAR | +46% |
| Nuclear Medicine Physician | 94,200 ZAR | +30% |
| Obstetrician / Gynecologist | 95,700 ZAR | +32% |
| Occupational Health Safety Specialist | 49,100 ZAR | -32% |
| Ophthalmologist | 74,900 ZAR | +3% |
| Optometrist | 72,400 ZAR | -0% |
| Pediatrician | 85,000 ZAR | +17% |
| Physical Therapist | 55,900 ZAR | -23% |
| Physical Therapy Director | 68,200 ZAR | -6% |
| Physician - Anesthesiology | 122,000 ZAR | +68% |
| Physician - Cardiology | 138,000 ZAR | +91% |
| Physician - CCU | 74,900 ZAR | +3% |
| Physician - Dermatology | 112,000 ZAR | +55% |
| Physician - Emergency Room | 80,200 ZAR | +11% |
| Physician - Endocrinology | 98,000 ZAR | +35% |
| Physician - Family Practice | 72,200 ZAR | -0% |
| Physician - Gastroenterology | 93,600 ZAR | +29% |
| Physician - Generalist | 79,400 ZAR | +10% |
| Physician - Geriatrics | 65,500 ZAR | -10% |
| Physician - Hematology / Oncology | 97,000 ZAR | +34% |
| Physician - Immunology / Allergy | 112,000 ZAR | +55% |
| Physician - Infectious Disease | 91,700 ZAR | +27% |
| Physician - Internal Medicine | 107,000 ZAR | +48% |
| Physician - Maternal / Fetal Medicine | 90,600 ZAR | +25% |
| Physician - Nephrology | 106,000 ZAR | +46% |
| Physician - Neurology | 112,000 ZAR | +55% |
| Physician - Nuclear Medicine | 91,200 ZAR | +26% |
| Physician - Obstetrics / Gynecology | 102,000 ZAR | +41% |
| Physician - Occupational Medicine | 75,500 ZAR | +4% |
| Physician - Ophthalmology | 67,900 ZAR | -6% |
| Physician - Otolaryngology | 67,400 ZAR | -7% |
| Physician - Pain Medicine | 60,200 ZAR | -17% |
| Physician - Pathology | 80,900 ZAR | +12% |
| Physician - Pediatric Cardiology | 95,700 ZAR | +32% |
| Physician - Pediatric Neonatology | 96,600 ZAR | +33% |
| Physician - Pediatrics | 83,700 ZAR | +16% |
| Physician - Physiatry | 96,300 ZAR | +33% |
| Physician - Podiatry | 84,700 ZAR | +17% |
| Physician - Pulmonary Medicine | 63,900 ZAR | -12% |
| Physician - Radiation Therapy | 111,000 ZAR | +53% |
| Physician - Radiology | 106,000 ZAR | +46% |
| Physician - Rheumatology | 99,100 ZAR | +37% |
| Physician - Sports Medicine | 93,900 ZAR | +30% |
| Physician - Urology | 129,000 ZAR | +78% |
| Physician Assistant | 57,500 ZAR | -21% |
| Physiotherapist | 67,700 ZAR | -7% |
| Podiatrist | 67,100 ZAR | -7% |
| Preventive Medicine Physician | 82,700 ZAR | +14% |
| Psychiatrist | 92,900 ZAR | +28% |
| Psychololgist | 93,200 ZAR | +29% |
| Psychometrician | 76,400 ZAR | +5% |
| Public Health Physician | 68,100 ZAR | -6% |
| Pulmonologist | 90,000 ZAR | +24% |
| Radiologist | 103,000 ZAR | +42% |
| Registered Dietitian | 66,500 ZAR | -8% |
| Registered Respiratory Therapist | 59,300 ZAR | -18% |
| Skin Care Specialist | 52,000 ZAR | -28% |
| Telemedicine Physician | 66,000 ZAR | -9% |
| Urologist | 123,000 ZAR | +70% |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Therapist | 35,800 ZAR | -51% |
| Vision Rehabilitation Therapist | 58,200 ZAR | -20% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Cape Town | 72,400 ZAR |
| Johannesburg | 71,300 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 |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Optometrist in Cape Town?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 65,900 ZAR and 74,800 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 Cape Town ranges from 37,700 ZAR to 54,600 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
