Best Paying Jobs in South Africa 2024

List of careers with the highest salaries and the reasons why they pay so much:

Top 10 highest paying jobs in South Africa

1. 1. Surgeons / Doctors

   Salary Range: from 72,500 ZAR to 213,000 ZAR

   Surgeons top the list of the highest paying careers due to the critical nature of their job. A surgeon's profession involves high risk and requires extensive knowledge and a long learning path; the necessary ingredients for a high paying career.

   • high risk job
   • extensive knowledge
   • high perceived value
   • revenue generator
2. 2. Judges

   Salary Range: from 42,800 ZAR to 148,000 ZAR

   Judges earn quite high salaries because of the huge responsibilities associated with their job. Deciding people's fates is not an easy task and the high wage is perfectly justified.

   • high responsibility job
   • extensive knowledge
3. 3. Lawyers

   Salary Range: from 41,000 ZAR to 131,000 ZAR

   The main reason that lawyers earn big wages is because of their high perceived value in the eyes of their clients. A successful lawyer can save/earn you tons of money or can possibly spare you a death sentence.

   • high perceived value
   • extensive knowledge
   • revenue generator
4. 4. Bank Managers

   Salary Range: from 36,900 ZAR to 108,000 ZAR

   Being in charge of hundreds of millions in funds and investments with all the associated risks that come along makes managing a bank an extremely critical task worthy of a large salary.

   • high risk
   • high responsibility job
   • huge impact
5. 5. Chief Executive Officers

   Salary Range: from 34,200 ZAR to 109,000 ZAR

   CEOs are primarily responsible for the success or failure of complete organizations. Their huge remuneration is due to the vast scope of impact as well as the risks involved.

   • widespread impact
   • leadership position
   • high risk
6. 6. Chief Financial Officers

   Salary Range: from 33,900 ZAR to 108,000 ZAR

   Any job that is about managing money automatically qualifies for high pay. CFOs manage budgets, spending, costs, and revenue which directly impacts the operations of the organization.

   • high risk
   • extensive experience
   • high responsibility job
7. 7. Orthodontists

   Salary Range: from 30,900 ZAR to 107,000 ZAR

   Orthodontists operate in an industry where people are willing to pay high costs for a service, which directly makes Orthodontists among the best paying jobs.

   • high cost industry
   • high level knowledge
   • high perceived value
   • revenue generator
8. 8. College Professors

   Salary Range: from 28,600 ZAR to 99,000 ZAR

   College professors are among the top-earning and most prestigious careers. Becoming a professor is not easy and requires persistence which is partly why they earn so high.

   • high level knowledge
   • high perceived value
   • revenue generator
9. 9. Pilots

   Salary Range: from 29,100 ZAR to 85,700 ZAR

   Probably the only career on the list that involves some kind of excitement, nevertheless; pilots undergo rigorous training programs and they are responsible for the safety of thousands of people every day.

   • high risk
   • extensive experience
10. 10. Marketing Directors

    Salary Range: from 24,200 ZAR to 77,200 ZAR

    Marketing directors are in charge of increasing the revenue of their organizations. They are directly responsible for generating business and they are well paid for that reason.

    • revenue generator

Best paying jobs in each domain

Highest Paying Jobs in Finance and Accounting
South Africa

1. 1 Finance Director (69,100 ZAR)
2. 2 Financial Manager (69,300 ZAR)
3. 3 Investment Advisor (68,300 ZAR)
4. 4 Risk Management Director (67,900 ZAR)
5. 5 Economist (64,700 ZAR)
6. 6 Tax Director (61,600 ZAR)
7. 7 Audit Director (64,900 ZAR)
8. 8 Investment Fund Manager (61,100 ZAR)
9. 9 Accounting Manager (61,100 ZAR)
10. 10 Auditing Manager (61,200 ZAR)

Best Paid Careers in Business Administration
South Africa

1. 1 Chief Executive Officer (70,100 ZAR)
2. 2 Chairman of The Board (72,700 ZAR)
3. 3 Chief Financial Officer (69,700 ZAR)
4. 4 Regional Director (71,300 ZAR)
5. 5 Executive Manager (65,000 ZAR)
6. 6 Chief Corporate Officer (67,600 ZAR)
7. 7 Managing Director (65,500 ZAR)
8. 8 General Manager (60,400 ZAR)
9. 9 Risk and Capital Manager (57,400 ZAR)
10. 10 Chief Operating Officer (57,900 ZAR)

Best Paid Jobs in Advertising
South Africa

1. 1 Advertising Sales Director (55,500 ZAR)
2. 2 Events Director (56,200 ZAR)
3. 3 Advertising Manager (52,900 ZAR)
4. 4 Product and Brand Manager (54,700 ZAR)
5. 5 Sales Promotion Manager (53,000 ZAR)
6. 6 Media Production Manager (52,700 ZAR)
7. 7 Media Sales Executive (51,600 ZAR)
8. 8 Social Media Manager (51,600 ZAR)
9. 9 Digital Media Strategist (51,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Advertising Account Manager (44,300 ZAR)

Best Paying Jobs in Architecture
South Africa

1. 1 Architectural Manager (60,800 ZAR)
2. 2 Architecture Consultant (54,600 ZAR)
3. 3 Assistant Architectural Manager (53,100 ZAR)
4. 4 Facilities and Project Manager (56,000 ZAR)
5. 5 Design Manager (51,600 ZAR)
6. 6 Landscape Architect (47,500 ZAR)
7. 7 Architecture Estimating Manager (45,800 ZAR)
8. 8 Architect (40,800 ZAR)
9. 9 Architectural Designer (42,000 ZAR)
10. 10 CAD Manager (40,400 ZAR)

Best Paying Professions in Automotive / Car Industry
South Africa

1. 1 Regional Manager (58,000 ZAR)
2. 2 Automotive General Manager (56,300 ZAR)
3. 3 Automotive Branch Manager (50,700 ZAR)
4. 4 Automotive Purchase Manager (46,300 ZAR)
5. 5 Purchasing Project Manager (45,500 ZAR)
6. 6 Automotive Project Manager (41,500 ZAR)
7. 7 Auto Parts Manager (41,200 ZAR)
8. 8 Automotive Assembly Manager (39,800 ZAR)
9. 9 Service Manager (40,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Used Car Manager (37,800 ZAR)

High Paying Jobs in Aviation
South Africa

1. 1 Aviation Manager (69,600 ZAR)
2. 2 Airport Services Manager (64,900 ZAR)
3. 3 Airlines Sales Director (66,400 ZAR)
4. 4 Aviation Safety Manager (64,200 ZAR)
5. 5 Chief Pilot (61,500 ZAR)
6. 6 Aircraft Pilot (59,900 ZAR)
7. 7 Fleet Controller (56,700 ZAR)
8. 8 Airfield Management Specialist (57,700 ZAR)
9. 9 Aviation Analyst (56,700 ZAR)
10. 10 Aerospace Engineer (57,200 ZAR)

High Salary Jobs in Banking
South Africa

1. 1 International Banking Manager (70,900 ZAR)
2. 2 Group Branch Manager (69,300 ZAR)
3. 3 Bank Regional Manager (70,900 ZAR)
4. 4 Bank Operations Head (69,500 ZAR)
5. 5 Capital Risk Manager (66,000 ZAR)
6. 6 Credit Portfolio Manager (68,500 ZAR)
7. 7 Internal Bank Audit Manager (67,700 ZAR)
8. 8 Cash Management Manager (63,000 ZAR)
9. 9 Online Banking Manager (59,600 ZAR)
10. 10 Mortgage Operations Manager (60,300 ZAR)

Highest Paid Jobs in Construction
South Africa

1. 1 Construction Manager (57,300 ZAR)
2. 2 Construction Project Manager (53,300 ZAR)
3. 3 Construction Operations Manager (54,800 ZAR)
4. 4 Site Leader (55,700 ZAR)
5. 5 Building Contracts Manager (51,400 ZAR)
6. 6 Tender Manager (48,100 ZAR)
7. 7 Building Sales Manager (47,500 ZAR)
8. 8 Construction Quality Control Manager (42,300 ZAR)
9. 9 Purchasing Manager (45,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Installation Manager (44,400 ZAR)

Highest Paid Professions in Counseling
South Africa

1. 1 Psychologist (55,200 ZAR)
2. 2 Director of Rehabilitation Services (53,500 ZAR)
3. 3 Youth Development Manager (52,700 ZAR)
4. 4 Guidance Director (50,700 ZAR)
5. 5 Adoption Services Director (44,600 ZAR)
6. 6 Mental Health Counselor (46,400 ZAR)
7. 7 Supervising Counselor (46,400 ZAR)
8. 8 Family Support Specialist (43,900 ZAR)
9. 9 Youth Care Counselor (38,900 ZAR)
10. 10 Employment Counselor (35,700 ZAR)

Highest Paying Careers in Customer Service
South Africa

1. 1 Customer Service Manager (50,200 ZAR)
2. 2 Service Delivery Manager (48,600 ZAR)
3. 3 Regional Account Manager (47,200 ZAR)
4. 4 Customer Success Manager (42,600 ZAR)
5. 5 Call Center Manager (44,600 ZAR)
6. 6 Client Relationship Executive (45,100 ZAR)
7. 7 Operations Support Manager (44,900 ZAR)
8. 8 Customer Service Executive (44,300 ZAR)
9. 9 Customer Service Team Leader (42,700 ZAR)
10. 10 Customer Service Advisor (39,900 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Education and Teaching
South Africa

1. 1 College Dean (60,200 ZAR)
2. 2 Dean of Faculty (66,100 ZAR)
3. 3 Professor (57,000 ZAR)
4. 4 Lecturer (57,400 ZAR)
5. 5 Head of School (51,700 ZAR)
6. 6 Post Doctoral Researcher (52,200 ZAR)
7. 7 Educational Psychologist (50,700 ZAR)
8. 8 Academic Manager (51,000 ZAR)
9. 9 Clinical School Psychologist (50,000 ZAR)
10. 10 Principal (50,500 ZAR)

Highest Salaries in Energy
South Africa

1. 1 Operations Manager (69,200 ZAR)
2. 2 Geophysicist (59,900 ZAR)
3. 3 Engineering Geologist (52,200 ZAR)
4. 4 Exploration Manager (54,700 ZAR)
5. 5 Energy Dispatch Director (54,800 ZAR)
6. 6 Geothermal Production Manager (51,800 ZAR)
7. 7 Mining Project Manager (51,100 ZAR)
8. 8 Service Delivery Manager (53,000 ZAR)
9. 9 Sustainability Specialist (52,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Energy Advisor (53,200 ZAR)

Highest Salary Jobs in Engineering
South Africa

1. 1 Director of Engineering (57,100 ZAR)
2. 2 Engineering Production Manager (58,300 ZAR)
3. 3 Field Engineering Manager (50,000 ZAR)
4. 4 Electrical Engineering Manager (49,500 ZAR)
5. 5 Engineering Key Account Manager (45,100 ZAR)
6. 6 Engineering Project Manager (41,800 ZAR)
7. 7 Mechanical Engineering Manager (43,400 ZAR)
8. 8 Engineering Sales Manager (41,500 ZAR)
9. 9 Engineering Consultant (41,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Chief Engineer (39,300 ZAR)

Highly Paid Jobs in Real Estate
South Africa

1. 1 Portfolio Manager (62,500 ZAR)
2. 2 Director of Real Estate (61,100 ZAR)
3. 3 Shopping Center Manager (58,200 ZAR)
4. 4 Town Planner (57,500 ZAR)
5. 5 Property Operations Manager (59,100 ZAR)
6. 6 Real Estate General Manager (56,900 ZAR)
7. 7 Commercial Leasing Manager (53,700 ZAR)
8. 8 Community Development Manager (55,000 ZAR)
9. 9 Real Estate Project Manager (51,800 ZAR)
10. 10 Property Manager (51,000 ZAR)

Most Paid Jobs in Manufacturing
South Africa

1. 1 Production Director (57,400 ZAR)
2. 2 Director of Manufacturing (54,500 ZAR)
3. 3 Industrial Production Manager (55,600 ZAR)
4. 4 Operational Excellence General Manager (51,900 ZAR)
5. 5 Technology Development Manager (51,800 ZAR)
6. 6 Manufacturing Manager (51,800 ZAR)
7. 7 Plant Manager (47,800 ZAR)
8. 8 Product Manager (49,200 ZAR)
9. 9 Shipping Manager (46,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Key Account Manager (43,900 ZAR)

Top Salary Jobs in Fitness and Sports
South Africa

1. 1 Sports Manager (54,300 ZAR)
2. 2 Fitness Manager (53,700 ZAR)
3. 3 Head Coach (53,000 ZAR)
4. 4 Head Gymnastics Instructor (49,100 ZAR)
5. 5 Ski Instructor (46,800 ZAR)
6. 6 Assistant Coach (42,500 ZAR)
7. 7 Swim Instructor (39,100 ZAR)
8. 8 Personal Trainer (40,300 ZAR)
9. 9 Game Manager (39,900 ZAR)
10. 10 Fitness Trainer (37,100 ZAR)

Top Salaries in Hospitality
South Africa

1. 1 Hospitality Director (61,700 ZAR)
2. 2 Hotel Manager (55,800 ZAR)
3. 3 Fleet Manager (51,200 ZAR)
4. 4 Cluster Director (50,600 ZAR)
5. 5 Regional Restaurant Manager (44,500 ZAR)
6. 6 Assistant Hospitality Manager (43,600 ZAR)
7. 7 Hotel Sales Manager (44,800 ZAR)
8. 8 Food Service Manager (40,700 ZAR)
9. 9 Restaurant Manager (42,600 ZAR)
10. 10 Room Reservations Manager (38,000 ZAR)

Top 10 Salaries in Healthcare
South Africa

1. 1 Surgeon - Heart Transplant (152,000 ZAR)
2. 2 Chief of Surgery (148,000 ZAR)
3. 3 Surgeon - Orthopedic (148,000 ZAR)
4. 4 Surgeon - Plastic Reconstructive (139,000 ZAR)
5. 5 Invasive Cardiologist (138,000 ZAR)
6. 6 Surgeon - Neurology (131,000 ZAR)
7. 7 Surgeon - Pediatric (130,000 ZAR)
8. 8 Urologist (131,000 ZAR)
9. 9 Internist (128,000 ZAR)
10. 10 Chief of Psychology (125,000 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Human Resources
South Africa

1. 1 Chief People Officer (53,400 ZAR)
2. 2 Director of Talent Acquisition (54,500 ZAR)
3. 3 Human Resources Vice President (53,400 ZAR)
4. 4 Human Resources Manager (55,200 ZAR)
5. 5 Recruiting Manager (51,400 ZAR)
6. 6 Human Resources Development Manager (49,500 ZAR)
7. 7 Benefits Manager (52,100 ZAR)
8. 8 Labor Relations Director (48,800 ZAR)
9. 9 Human Resources Consultant (48,600 ZAR)
10. 10 Training Executive (48,200 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Import and Export
South Africa

1. 1 Import and Export Manager (48,800 ZAR)
2. 2 Exports Sales Manager (48,900 ZAR)
3. 3 Export Logistics Manager (49,500 ZAR)
4. 4 Import and Export Consultant (48,900 ZAR)
5. 5 Importation Supervisor (46,900 ZAR)
6. 6 Export Logistics Specialist (42,600 ZAR)
7. 7 Export Supervisor (44,000 ZAR)
8. 8 Logistics Analyst (44,200 ZAR)
9. 9 Logistics Administrator (39,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Global Forwarding Agent (38,100 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Insurance
South Africa

1. 1 Risk Management Director (64,900 ZAR)
2. 2 Risk Modeling Manager (62,600 ZAR)
3. 3 Insurance Manager (62,600 ZAR)
4. 4 Insurance Sales Director (55,500 ZAR)
5. 5 Policy Change Director (57,500 ZAR)
6. 6 Auditing Insurance Manager (54,200 ZAR)
7. 7 Loss Prevention Manager (52,200 ZAR)
8. 8 Claims Manager (49,300 ZAR)
9. 9 Actuary (45,400 ZAR)
10. 10 Insurance Program Manager (47,000 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Information Technology
South Africa

1. 1 Chief Information Officer (54,000 ZAR)
2. 2 Online Banking Manager (51,100 ZAR)
3. 3 Information Technology Project Manager (54,900 ZAR)
4. 4 Enterprise Infrastructure Manager (54,700 ZAR)
5. 5 Director of Application Development (54,500 ZAR)
6. 6 Chief Information Security Officer (53,800 ZAR)
7. 7 Web Security Manager (52,200 ZAR)
8. 8 Business Intelligence Consultant (51,800 ZAR)
9. 9 Technical Project Manager (48,300 ZAR)
10. 10 Information Technology Sales Manager (48,900 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Law and Legal Services
South Africa

1. 1 Supreme Court Judge (93,000 ZAR)
2. 2 Administrative Law Judge (83,800 ZAR)
3. 3 Crown Prosecution Service Lawyer (86,700 ZAR)
4. 4 General Counsel (84,900 ZAR)
5. 5 Litigation Attorney (81,400 ZAR)
6. 6 Legal Services Director (75,900 ZAR)
7. 7 Judge Advocate (70,500 ZAR)
8. 8 Attorney (70,700 ZAR)
9. 9 Legal Executive (67,300 ZAR)
10. 10 Corporate Counsel (69,500 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Marketing
South Africa

1. 1 Brand Director (63,500 ZAR)
2. 2 Chief Marketing Officer (57,400 ZAR)
3. 3 Brand Manager (56,800 ZAR)
4. 4 Marketing Manager (59,800 ZAR)
5. 5 Chief Product Officer (58,500 ZAR)
6. 6 Search Marketing Strategist (56,600 ZAR)
7. 7 Market Development Manager (58,700 ZAR)
8. 8 Product Manager (57,900 ZAR)
9. 9 Digital Marketing Manager (54,300 ZAR)
10. 10 Trade Marketing Executive (55,300 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
South Africa

1. 1 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Lead (75,400 ZAR)
2. 2 Pharmaceutical Manager (73,400 ZAR)
3. 3 Molecular and Cellular Biologist (71,100 ZAR)
4. 4 Medical Affairs Director (68,400 ZAR)
5. 5 Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Manager (67,500 ZAR)
6. 6 Bioinformatics Scientist (69,300 ZAR)
7. 7 Pharmaceutical Research Scientist (67,300 ZAR)
8. 8 Pharmaceutical Sales Manager (62,800 ZAR)
9. 9 Clinical Research Manager (62,500 ZAR)
10. 10 Pharmacy Manager (62,300 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Public Relations
South Africa

1. 1 Head of Public Relations (55,400 ZAR)
2. 2 Public Relations Manager (51,100 ZAR)
3. 3 Director of Communications (44,800 ZAR)
4. 4 Head of Communications (45,400 ZAR)
5. 5 Marketing Communications Executive (45,300 ZAR)
6. 6 Public Relations Executive (42,600 ZAR)
7. 7 Media Relations Specialist (42,300 ZAR)
8. 8 Communications Project Manager (37,100 ZAR)
9. 9 Investor Relations Officer (37,500 ZAR)
10. 10 Government Relations Officer (34,100 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Procurement
South Africa

1. 1 Supply Chain Director (58,200 ZAR)
2. 2 Procurement Manager (57,800 ZAR)
3. 3 Distribution Manager (58,000 ZAR)
4. 4 Warehouse Manager (59,100 ZAR)
5. 5 Vendor Manager (55,200 ZAR)
6. 6 Wholesale Buyer (51,100 ZAR)
7. 7 Supply Chain Analyst (52,000 ZAR)
8. 8 Purchasing Supervisor (47,400 ZAR)
9. 9 Inventory Control Manager (46,000 ZAR)
10. 10 Demand Planning Manager (43,100 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Quality Control
South Africa

1. 1 Quality Director (52,300 ZAR)
2. 2 Quality Control Manager (52,500 ZAR)
3. 3 Quality Assurance Executive (53,400 ZAR)
4. 4 Six Sigma Black Belt (52,300 ZAR)
5. 5 Product Quality Leader (48,000 ZAR)
6. 6 Approval Team Manager (49,800 ZAR)
7. 7 Quality Assurance Supervisor (41,200 ZAR)
8. 8 Quality Trainer (38,800 ZAR)
9. 9 Assistant Quality Manager (40,200 ZAR)
10. 10 Quality Control Analyst (39,500 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Sales
South Africa

1. 1 Wholesale Manager (71,600 ZAR)
2. 2 National Sales Manager (67,700 ZAR)
3. 3 Sales Director (68,600 ZAR)
4. 4 Sales Executive (70,500 ZAR)
5. 5 Sales Manager (63,000 ZAR)
6. 6 National Account Manager (64,000 ZAR)
7. 7 Head of Direct Sales (63,700 ZAR)
8. 8 Head of Retail (56,100 ZAR)
9. 9 Corporate Sales Manager (57,400 ZAR)
10. 10 Relationship Manager (53,700 ZAR)

Highest Paying Jobs in Telecommunications
South Africa

1. 1 Telecommunications Manager (53,400 ZAR)
2. 2 Sales Director (51,600 ZAR)
3. 3 Chief Technology Officer (51,100 ZAR)
4. 4 Telecommunication Service Delivery Manager (46,600 ZAR)
5. 5 Telecommunication Solution Architect (45,100 ZAR)
6. 6 Telecommunication Consultant (42,000 ZAR)
7. 7 Telecommunication Project Manager (39,100 ZAR)
8. 8 Telecommunications Analyst (39,800 ZAR)
9. 9 Telecommunication Technical Manager (37,900 ZAR)
10. 10 Access Operation Team Leader (39,800 ZAR)

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