South African career earnings table

Indicative gross monthly ranges for 48 careers, with the Mathematics requirement for each one. Search, sort or download the printable version to compare.

Reviewed: 11 Sept 2026Updated: 11 Sept 2026

Showing 15 of 48 careers.

Actuary
Business & Finance · Pure Mathematics required
Entry
R35 000 – R55 000 per month as a student actuary
Mid-career
R80 000 – R130 000 per month
Senior
R150 000 – R300 000+ per month (qualified and senior specialists)
Advocate
Law & Justice · Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted
Entry
Little or no income during pupillage
Mid-career
R50 000 – R120 000 per month once briefs are established
Senior
R200 000+ per month (senior counsel varies greatly)
Agricultural Scientist / Agronomist
Science & Agriculture · Mathematics strongly preferred
Entry
R20 000 – R32 000 per month
Mid-career
R35 000 – R60 000 per month
Senior
R70 000 – R110 000 per month
Architect
Engineering & Built Environment · Pure Mathematics required
Entry
R22 000 – R35 000 per month
Mid-career
R45 000 – R70 000 per month
Senior
R80 000 – R130 000 per month (practice owners vary)
Attorney
Law & Justice · Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted
Entry
R8 000 – R20 000 per month during articles
Mid-career
R35 000 – R70 000 per month
Senior
R90 000 – R250 000+ per month (partners and specialists)
Boilermaker
Trades & Artisan · Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted
Entry
R7 000 – R13 000 per month as an apprentice
Mid-career
R22 000 – R38 000 per month qualified
Senior
R45 000 – R80 000 per month (coded welders on shutdowns)
Chartered Accountant CA(SA)
Business & Finance · Pure Mathematics required
Entry
R12 000 – R25 000 per month during articles
Mid-career
R55 000 – R90 000 per month newly qualified
Senior
R120 000 – R250 000+ per month (financial directors and partners)
Civil Engineer
Engineering & Built Environment · Pure Mathematics required
Entry
R28 000 – R42 000 per month
Mid-career
R50 000 – R80 000 per month
Senior
R90 000 – R140 000 per month (Pr Eng and project directors)
Correctional Officer
Public Service & Safety · Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted
Entry
R10 000 – R16 000 per month
Mid-career
R20 000 – R30 000 per month
Senior
R35 000 – R60 000 per month
Cybersecurity Analyst
IT & Data · Mathematics strongly preferred
Entry
R28 000 – R45 000 per month
Mid-career
R55 000 – R90 000 per month
Senior
R100 000 – R160 000 per month
Data Scientist / Data Analyst
IT & Data · Pure Mathematics required
Entry
R30 000 – R45 000 per month
Mid-career
R55 000 – R90 000 per month
Senior
R100 000 – R160 000 per month
Dentist
Health & Medicine · Pure Mathematics required
Entry
R55 000 – R70 000 per month (community service)
Mid-career
R70 000 – R110 000 per month
Senior
R120 000+ per month in established private practice
Diesel Mechanic
Trades & Artisan · Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted
Entry
R7 000 – R13 000 per month as an apprentice
Mid-career
R22 000 – R38 000 per month qualified
Senior
R45 000 – R70 000 per month (foremen and mine-based artisans)
Early Childhood Development Practitioner
Education & Teaching · Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted
Entry
R4 000 – R9 000 per month
Mid-career
R9 000 – R15 000 per month
Senior
R16 000 – R30 000 per month (centre managers and qualified Grade R teachers)
Electrical Engineer
Engineering & Built Environment · Pure Mathematics required
Entry
R30 000 – R45 000 per month
Mid-career
R55 000 – R85 000 per month
Senior
R95 000 – R150 000 per month

Indicative monthly earnings for South African careers
		Maths		Mid-career
Actuary	Business & Finance	Pure Mathematics required	R35 000 – R55 000 per month as a student actuary	R80 000 – R130 000 per month	R150 000 – R300 000+ per month (qualified and senior specialists)
Advocate	Law & Justice	Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted	Little or no income during pupillage	R50 000 – R120 000 per month once briefs are established	R200 000+ per month (senior counsel varies greatly)
Agricultural Scientist / Agronomist	Science & Agriculture	Mathematics strongly preferred	R20 000 – R32 000 per month	R35 000 – R60 000 per month	R70 000 – R110 000 per month
Architect	Engineering & Built Environment	Pure Mathematics required	R22 000 – R35 000 per month	R45 000 – R70 000 per month	R80 000 – R130 000 per month (practice owners vary)
Attorney	Law & Justice	Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted	R8 000 – R20 000 per month during articles	R35 000 – R70 000 per month	R90 000 – R250 000+ per month (partners and specialists)
Boilermaker	Trades & Artisan	Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted	R7 000 – R13 000 per month as an apprentice	R22 000 – R38 000 per month qualified	R45 000 – R80 000 per month (coded welders on shutdowns)
Chartered Accountant CA(SA)	Business & Finance	Pure Mathematics required	R12 000 – R25 000 per month during articles	R55 000 – R90 000 per month newly qualified	R120 000 – R250 000+ per month (financial directors and partners)
Civil Engineer	Engineering & Built Environment	Pure Mathematics required	R28 000 – R42 000 per month	R50 000 – R80 000 per month	R90 000 – R140 000 per month (Pr Eng and project directors)
Correctional Officer	Public Service & Safety	Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted	R10 000 – R16 000 per month	R20 000 – R30 000 per month	R35 000 – R60 000 per month
Cybersecurity Analyst	IT & Data	Mathematics strongly preferred	R28 000 – R45 000 per month	R55 000 – R90 000 per month	R100 000 – R160 000 per month
Data Scientist / Data Analyst	IT & Data	Pure Mathematics required	R30 000 – R45 000 per month	R55 000 – R90 000 per month	R100 000 – R160 000 per month
Dentist	Health & Medicine	Pure Mathematics required	R55 000 – R70 000 per month (community service)	R70 000 – R110 000 per month	R120 000+ per month in established private practice
Diesel Mechanic	Trades & Artisan	Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted	R7 000 – R13 000 per month as an apprentice	R22 000 – R38 000 per month qualified	R45 000 – R70 000 per month (foremen and mine-based artisans)
Early Childhood Development Practitioner	Education & Teaching	Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted	R4 000 – R9 000 per month	R9 000 – R15 000 per month	R16 000 – R30 000 per month (centre managers and qualified Grade R teachers)
Electrical Engineer	Engineering & Built Environment	Pure Mathematics required	R30 000 – R45 000 per month	R55 000 – R85 000 per month	R95 000 – R150 000 per month

How to read these numbers

Figures are gross monthly ranges before tax, medical aid and pension deductions.
Ranges are collected from public South African salary sources and vary widely by employer, province, sector and experience.
Commission-based and self-employed careers are the least predictable — treat those ranges as very rough.
They are guidance, not job offers or guarantees.

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