HIGHEST PAYING JOBS IN SOUTH AFRICA
The fact that our world has and is still experiencing the advancement of the jet age and the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and other technological modes cannot be overemphasized. Going by these tremendous occurrences, there is a need to step up in your career field in order to meet up with a fast-changing global world.
According to a report published by the World Economic Forum, demographic and technological changes may lead to the net loss of about 5 million jobs by 2020. Despite the ongoing radical changes, there would still be certain occupations or career paths that would still be in demand.
It’s necessary to know where the highest demands for these jobs lie and think about structuring and fine-tuning your career to meet these demands. The ICT, financial and medical sectors have been predicted to maintain relevance come what may in our global world today.
With the vast developmental objectives of South Africa, there is an increasing need for education and training to be enhanced in order to improve the nation’s economy.
In no particular order, we have enlisted the highest paying jobs in South Africa in the article below:
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Software Engineers – R1.2 million p/a
“Software engineers manage the design, development, and maintenance of software programs”. The software engineer profession is relatively new but its ranking proves that it is one of the country’s most important jobs.
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Pilots – R695,800 p/a
The aviation sector is one of the high revenue generating sectors in the country. And the industry is not a place one could just work in without adequate training
It is a certainty that the work of a pilot is not one that can be done by any other person except one who is as well-trained and just as skillful. It is indeed a hard career path that requires certain flying hours to become a qualified pilot for any big airline while also having in mind that this also costs lots of money. Qualified and experienced pilots in South Africa get R 695,800 per annum.
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Lawyers – R655,000 p/a
Traditionally lawyers have always featured at the top end of the salary scale. This is because individuals and businesses require expert legal representation to navigate current policies. Despite continuous social and economic changes these professionals are still in demand.
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IT Managers – R620,230 p/a
ICT as earlier stated is a field that has come to stay. And jobs in this field will continue to rank top in career paths.
IT managers are responsible for overseeing tech-related operations in the business. They are also expected to build more cost-effective and efficient systems to meet organisational needs. As our world becomes more digital, tech-based roles have increased in stature and value improving the financial rewards for professionals in these fields.
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Medical Specialists – R616,000 p/a
The job opportunity open to medical specialists is one of the highest paying jobs in South Africa. The healthcare field is one that continues to grow with no end in sight and provides good career opportunities for those in the field.
Medical specialists are doctors who have completed advanced education and clinical training in a specific area of medicine. The salary range for doctors is highly dependent on the specialty of that doctor. Neurosurgeons often are at the higher end of the spectrum, while a general practitioner would be at the lower end. Despite the limitless options this career path provides, the years of schooling may stop many from pursuing a medical degree. But it is a highly rewarding profession especially with the shortage of qualified medical personnel. Depending on the rank or specialty, specialist doctors receive between R476,000 to R616,000 a year.
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Chartered Accountant
This period, senior managers will be needed in company boards to help navigate them through transformational processes.
A career in chartered accountancy certainly isn’t for everyone as it requires sacrifice and discipline. It usually takes at least four years of academic study at South Africa’s top universities and another three years of practical training to become a fully certified chartered accountant. Although all of these educational trainings are not put to waste as the career is a highly rewarding one. The average pay of a Chartered Accountant is R434,191 per year.
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Actuary
An actuary is a business professional who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty. Almost every industry is occupied with market and consumer data and how that information can be used to their advantage. Risk is involved in every business but being able to minimize those risks is one of the obsessions of companies and industries thus an actuary is a rare but highly needed asset in every business or company.
To be an Actuary, you’ll need a maths degree. Actuaries examine the potential of an uncertain event to happen – such as an earthquake, hurricane, or other natural disasters – and assess the impact of financial losses. You must have a strong background in asset management, liability management, business, and analytical skills, as well as a deep understanding of human behavioral patterns. Experienced Actuaries receive approximately 598 055 per annum.
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Petroleum Engineers
The job opportunity open to petroleum engineers is one of the highest paying jobs in South Africa hence the demand for skilled professionals in the engineering sector will continue to increase with the coming years.
Petroleum engineering is a combination of innovation and exploration and it requires a lot of intelligence and training. Petroleum engineering is a course at the university that requires a lot of discipline and sacrifice in the study in order to come out successful. It is, therefore, one of the highest paying jobs in South Africa. The career path demands tremendous dedication and commitment. The salary of a South African petroleum engineer is R572, 600 per year.
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Management Consultant
Data is at the core of every business now as it affects companies’ products and sales.
Management Consultants help organizations to improve their performance majorly through analysis. They do this by analyzing raw data and trends that can help to predict consumer behavior, existing organizational problems and also help to provide feedbacks that will create development plans for improvement. Based on their level of expertise and the company involved, a management consultant can earn between R392,000 rand and R672,000 yearly.
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Lawyers
The job opportunity open to lawyers is one of the highest paying jobs in South Africa because legal matters will always arise while conducting business matters. No individual or business organization is immune from this. Legal matters require expert legal understanding and advise and this makes lawyers be constantly in high demand. Starting salaries for qualified lawyers in South Africa are between R643,440 and R655,000 per annum. This increases with more years of practice and higher expertise.
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Air Traffic Controller
This is also another impressive career path in the aviation sector. Air Traffic Controllers coordinate the movement of air traffic to ensure that aircraft stay safe distances apart. Not so many people are willing to undertake it as it is one of the most stressful jobs because a great amount of concentration will be required to ensure that no aircraft moves in the wrong lane at the wrong time. The tasking requirements of this job are also rewarding as air traffic controllers can be expected to earn around R583,450 yearly.
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OTHER ENGINEERING FIELDS.
The average salary for a Mechanical Engineer is R 466 662 per year in South Africa. Also, according to payscale.com, an early career Civil Engineer with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R326,150 based on 853 salaries. Furthermore, on average a skilled automotive engineer earns between R26 922 and R32 202 per month in SA and a senior automotive engineer between R29 917 and R43 333 per month.
Conclusion
If you are deciding on a career path, then this article will help you to learn more about your job prospects after you graduate or qualify to work in your chosen field. Learning about the earning potential of your prospective profession can motivate you to work hard and sacrifice now.
