The average mechanical engineer salary in South Africa is R23,311.00 per month in 2024. The salary is based on 168 salaries of jobs that require a mechanical engineer (Indeed). In South Africa, mechanical engineers receive generous pay and other perks for their work.
In South Africa, the following are in-demand abilities for mechanical engineers:
- Computer-Aided Design,
- Engineering Design,
- Project Management,
- Problem-solving,
- Strategic project management,
- C++ programming language,
- Computational fluid dynamics,
- SolidWorks, and
- Microsoft Office.
The list above makes it clear why mechanical engineers in South Africa are paid so well. Mechanical engineers earn an average pay of R14,070.00 per month, with the top paid earning R73,000.00. The most important factors influencing a mechanical engineer’s salary are their education and job history.
The entry-level employment pays the least, and those who hold it are recent Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s degree grads. Mechanical engineers with 20+ years of experience earn the highest salaries, and the majority of these professionals hold a postgraduate degree in the discipline.
The salaries for a Mechanical Engineer in South Africa in 2022 are shown below, according to the individual’s degree of experience.
Mechanical Engineer Salary with 0–3 years work experience in 2024
Mechanical engineers with 0 to 3 years of experience can expect to make a yearly salary of R200,000.00 (Jobted). As a junior-level position in the industry, this job is typically held by recent graduates. Junior mechanical engineers make a minimum salary of R14,500.00 (Salary Explorer).
The high-earning Mechanical Engineers are those with two to three years of experience. A year’s compensation for mechanical engineers with two to three years of work experience can reach R300,000 per annum. This demonstrates the yearly growth in mechanical engineers’ salary.
Mechanical Engineer Salary with 4-to-5 years of work experience in 2024
Mechanical engineers with 4 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn an annual income of R307,000.00 (Payscale). This average wage was obtained from payscale job search’s postings of salaries. To determine the average pay, 820 incomes for workers with 0 to 4 years of experience were averaged together.
The job of a Mechanical Engineer with 4 to 5 years of work experience comes with benefits. Benefits can include provident fund contributions, employer medical aid contributions, commissions, and more. Benefits are provided based on the employer.
Those with 4 years of job experience earn the least in this category. In South Africa, a mechanical engineer with four years of experience earns an average salary of R22,000.00 per month. With 5 years of experience, the highest earners can make up to R50,781.00 each month.
Mechanical Engineer Salary with 6-9 years work experience in 2024
Mechanical engineers with 6 to 9 years of experience can expect to earn an average salary of R320,000.00 per year (Jobted). Mechanical engineers with 6 to 9 years of experience are expected to supervise and manage others. As a result, a Mechanical Engineer with 6 to 9 years of work experience must exercise great caution and demonstrate good leadership.
According to other statistics, people with 6 to 9 years of job experience typically make more money. For instance, Salary Explorer calculates the average monthly wage for Mechanical Engineers with 6 to 9 years of experience to be R32,500.00. Mechanical engineers’ salaries climb by 48% when they move into this category, according to Salary Explorer.
Those with 8 to 9 years of job experience receive the highest salaries in this category. The average income for those with 8 to 9 years of experience is R45,000.00 per month. The top-paid individuals in this group typically hold a masters degree in mechanical engineering.
Mechanical Engineer Salary with 10-20 years working experience in 2024
An average salary for a Mechanical Engineer with 10 to 20 years of work experience is R684,000.00 per year. Given that a 10-year period is a focus, the income discrepancy in this category is enormous. Bonuses, commissions, and other employer contributions are just a few of the advantages that mechanical engineers in this category enjoy.
Those with 10 to 15 years of professional experience make the least money in this group. A Mechanical Engineer with 10 to 15 years of experience may expect to make R39,600 per month on average. A postgraduate degree is likely necessary at this level, in addition to having mastered the trade.
Those with 15 to 20 years of experience earn the most money in this group. In South Africa, a Mechanical Engineer with 15 to 20 years of experience makes an average monthly pay of R43,100.00. This is a 9% increase from the average salary of those with only 10 to 15 years of work experience.
Mechanical Engineer Salary with 20+ years of working experience in 2024
A Mechanical Engineer with 20+ years of experience can expect to make an average salary of R875,685.00 per year. Males predominately hold this position. Furthermore, the highest salaries in South Africa for Mechanical engineers with 20+ years of experience are found in Richards Bay, Johannesburg, East London, and Cape Town.
Conclusion
Given their critical role in the economy of the nation, mechanical engineers in South Africa are well-paid and have been for many years. Years of expertise and, in some situations, a postgraduate degree in the field are necessary for Mechanical Engineers to earn the highest salaries. Both men and women can find long-term satisfaction in a career in the field.
