Journalist Average Salary in South Africa 2024
How much money does a person working as Journalist make in South Africa?
LOW
18,800
ZAR AVERAGE
38,300
ZAR HIGH
59,800
ZAR
A person working as Journalist in South Africa typically earns around 38,300 ZAR. Salaries range from 18,800 ZAR (lowest) to 59,800 ZAR (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Journalist 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.
Journalist Pay Scale and Salaries in South Africa
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
35,500 ZAR or more
31,400 to 35,500 ZAR
22,300 ZAR or less
22,300 to 31,400 ZAR
 18,800 ZAR |
35,800 ZAR |
59,800 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 Journalist in South Africa range from 18,800 ZAR (starting salary) to 59,800 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 35,800 ZAR, half of the professionals who work as Journalist 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 Journalist in South Africa earn less than 29,200 ZAR, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 40,900 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 Journalist in South Africa compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 22,300 ZAR to 31,400 ZAR. About 20% of salaries are below the 22,300 ZAR mark, while 10% fall within the range of 31,400 ZAR to 35,500 ZAR. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 35,500 ZAR.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Journalist / South Africa
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 22,300 ZAR | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +29% | 28,600 ZAR |
| 5 - 10 Years | +38% | 39,500 ZAR |
| 10 - 15 Years | +24% | 48,900 ZAR |
| 15 - 20 Years | +7% | 52,400 ZAR |
| 20+ Years | +7% | 55,900 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 Journalist and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 22,300 ZAR.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 28,600 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 39,500 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 48,900 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 52,400 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 55,900 ZAR, 7% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Journalist / South Africa
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Journalist.
| High School | 27,800 ZAR | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +15% | 31,900 ZAR |
| Bachelor's Degree | +35% | 43,000 ZAR |
| Master's Degree | +26% | 54,100 ZAR |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Journalist in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 27,800 ZAR.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 31,900 ZAR, 15% more than the previous level.
Level 3: Bachelor's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 43,000 ZAR, 35% more than the previous level.
Level 4: Master's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 54,100 ZAR, 26% more than the previous level.
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.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you 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 the theory. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Journalist / South Africa
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 Journalist in South Africa, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 8%.
| Male | 39,600 ZAR | |
| Female | -7% | 36,700 ZAR |
Salary Comparison By Gender in South Africa for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Journalist / South Africa
How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for individuals working as Journalist? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Journalist in South Africa are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 12% every 18 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 / Journalist / South Africa
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
Share This Chart Tweet Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/south-africa/media-broadcasting-arts-entertainment/journalist/annual-salary-bonus-rate-south-africa-journalist.jpg
44% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 56% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 56% | |
| No Bonus | 44% |
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 / Journalist / South Africa
220 ZAR per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Journalist in South Africa is 220 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 Journalist in South Africa is 110 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 |
| Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment |  -100% | |
| 3D Artist | 29,900 ZAR | -22% |
| 3D Designer | 28,200 ZAR | -26% |
| 3D Generalist | 23,600 ZAR | -38% |
| 3D Visualization Specialist | 28,400 ZAR | -26% |
| Acrobatic Rigger | 19,700 ZAR | -49% |
| Actor | 38,700 ZAR |  +1% |
| Art Administrator | 31,200 ZAR | -19% |
| Art Director | 38,300 ZAR | -0% |
| Art Lead | 39,100 ZAR | +2% |
| Artificial Intelligence Generated Art Creator | 28,900 ZAR | -25% |
| Associate Media Director | 33,100 ZAR | -14% |
| Associate Producer | 43,400 ZAR | +13% |
| Broadcast and Sound Engineer | 25,800 ZAR | -33% |
| Broadcast Associate | 21,400 ZAR | -44% |
| Broadcast News Analyst | 30,200 ZAR | -21% |
| Broadcast Technician | 17,900 ZAR | -53% |
| Broadcasting Journalist | 36,900 ZAR | -4% |
| Broadcasting Presenter | 38,900 ZAR | +1% |
| Camera Equipment Repairer | 20,500 ZAR | -47% |
| Camera Operator | 18,000 ZAR | -53% |
| Cartoonist / Animator | 27,900 ZAR | -27% |
| CAS Engineer | 31,000 ZAR | -19% |
| Censorship Executive | 33,900 ZAR | -12% |
| Chief Social Media Officer | 46,600 ZAR | +22% |
| Choreographer | 26,300 ZAR | -31% |
| Colorist | 15,300 ZAR | -60% |
| Communications Manager | 43,000 ZAR | +12% |
| Content Moderator | 25,400 ZAR | -34% |
| Correspondent | 32,900 ZAR | -14% |
| Dance Director | 30,900 ZAR | -19% |
| Dancer | 27,500 ZAR | -28% |
| Digital Content Manager | 40,900 ZAR | +7% |
| Digital Music Promoter | 35,800 ZAR | -7% |
| Director of Photography | 32,200 ZAR | -16% |
| Disc Jockey | 19,400 ZAR | -49% |
| Drone Cinematographer | 29,100 ZAR | -24% |
| Editorial Assistant | 17,100 ZAR | -55% |
| Events Manager | 30,000 ZAR | -22% |
| Graphic Designer | 21,100 ZAR | -45% |
| Illustrator | 23,700 ZAR | -38% |
| Industrial Designer | 19,900 ZAR | -48% |
| Influencer Marketing Manager | 40,600 ZAR | +6% |
| Influencer Outreach Specialist | 31,700 ZAR | -17% |
| Instructional Designer | 18,100 ZAR | -53% |
| Internet Community Manager | 28,400 ZAR | -26% |
| Internet Radio Producer | 43,600 ZAR | +14% |
| Journalist | 38,300 ZAR | -0% |
| Live Streaming Moderator | 25,000 ZAR | -35% |
| Live Streaming Producer | 37,600 ZAR | -2% |
| Live Streaming Specialist | 28,900 ZAR | -25% |
| Makeup Artist | 19,500 ZAR | -49% |
| Media Design Manager | 52,100 ZAR | +36% |
| Media Equipment Operator | 17,100 ZAR | -55% |
| Media Operations Manager | 40,600 ZAR | +6% |
| Media Planner | 27,800 ZAR | -27% |
| Media Producer | 37,900 ZAR | -1% |
| Media Product Development Manager | 51,400 ZAR | +34% |
| Media Production Manager | 50,200 ZAR | +31% |
| Media Program Director | 56,400 ZAR | +47% |
| Media Relation Executive | 57,700 ZAR | +51% |
| Media Relations Manager | 53,200 ZAR | +39% |
| Media Sales Manager | 58,500 ZAR | +53% |
| Movement and Dance Coordinator | 29,700 ZAR | -23% |
| Multimedia Coordinator | 20,600 ZAR | -46% |
| Multimedia Designer | 20,600 ZAR | -46% |
| Music Consultant | 26,000 ZAR | -32% |
| Music Producer | 43,600 ZAR | +14% |
| Musician | 21,900 ZAR | -43% |
| News Associate | 27,100 ZAR | -29% |
| News Reporter | 35,900 ZAR | -6% |
| Online Community Moderator | 25,600 ZAR | -33% |
| Podcast Advertising Specialist | 29,400 ZAR | -23% |
| Podcast Producer | 31,000 ZAR | -19% |
| Post Production Assistant | 17,800 ZAR | -54% |
| Producer | 49,700 ZAR | +30% |
| Product Designer | 20,400 ZAR | -47% |
| Product Planner | 26,900 ZAR | -30% |
| Production Artist | 27,400 ZAR | -29% |
| Production Assistant | 18,700 ZAR | -51% |
| Production Director | 43,100 ZAR | +12% |
| Production Technician | 17,800 ZAR | -54% |
| Program Researcher | 33,900 ZAR | -12% |
| Promotion Coordinator | 25,200 ZAR | -34% |
| Social Media Compliance Manager | 34,800 ZAR | -9% |
| Social Media Compliance Officer | 29,800 ZAR | -22% |
| Sound Engineer | 26,000 ZAR | -32% |
| Sound Engineering Technician | 15,600 ZAR | -59% |
| Stage Technician | 15,800 ZAR | -59% |
| Sub Editor | 19,200 ZAR | -50% |
| Television Executive Producer | 59,500 ZAR | +55% |
| Transmission Engineer | 27,300 ZAR | -29% |
| Video Editor | 22,200 ZAR | -42% |
| Video Producer | 28,900 ZAR | -25% |
| Videographer | 27,200 ZAR | -29% |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Content Creator | 47,200 ZAR | +23% |
| Virtual Set Designer | 30,600 ZAR | -20% |
| Virtual Staging Specialist | 31,600 ZAR | -18% |
| Visual Designer | 27,300 ZAR | -29% |
| Visual Effects Artist | 28,900 ZAR | -25% |
| Voiceover Artist | 25,700 ZAR | -33% |
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 Journalist in South Africa?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 35,800 ZAR and 40,900 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 Journalist in South Africa ranges from 18,800 ZAR to 29,200 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
