In South Africa, the average excavator operator earns R13,757.00 per month. Excavator operators are in charge of digging holes and trenches as well as moving materials with an excavator machine. They work in a variety of industries, including mining, construction, and agriculture.
Excavator operators are some of the most motivated workers because the job requires them to work toward a goal. By completing a target on time or on time, excavator operators can earn bonuses. Excavator operators usually receive a bonus ranging from R997.00 to R15,000.00 per year (Payscale).
However, only a few excavator operators in South Africa receive a bonus according to a study by Salary Explorer. According to the study, only 26% of excavator operators received bonuses in 2021. As a result, 74% of excavator operators did not receive a bonus in 2021. Those that received a bonus in 2021 received a bonus ranging from 1% to 3% of their annual salary.
Excavator operators are 100% male, according to Payscale, implying that females are not in the field. Despite the fact that men dominate the field, their pay is significantly lower than the national average for men. The average salary for men in South Africa is R32,500.00 per month whereas for excavator operators the average salary is R10,900.00 per month.
The salary of excavator operators is influenced by a number of factors. We look at the factors that influence the salary of an excavator operator below.
Factors that influence the salary of an excavator operator
Employer
The employer for whom an excavator operator works is very important in determining their salary. This is due to the fact that the employer has the final say on the salary of an excavator operator. Bonuses and other incentives are at the discretion of an employer; therefore, working for a company that provides bonuses and incentives should be prioritized.
Education level
The level of education that an excavator possesses influences their salary. For example, excavator operators with a high school certificate earn an average salary of R7,100.00 in 2022.
Excavator operators with a higher certificate, on the other hand, earn an average monthly salary of R10,200.00. Excavator operators with a higher certificate earn 43% more than those with a high school certificate.
City of Employment
A city where an excavator operator is employed plays a big role. The highest-paying cities for excavator operators are cities that have mining or construction activities. The highest-paying cities for excavator operators are Johannesburg, Kriel, Pretoria, Rustenburg, Durban, Kathu, and Emalahleni.
Another factor that influences an excavator operator’s salary is their level of experience. We examine an excavator operator’s salary based on their level of experience in the field below.
Salary of an excavator operator based on their level of experience in the field
Salary of an excavator operator with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
An excavator operator with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R5,980.00 per month on average. Excavator operators with 0 years of experience earn the least in this category, earning an average salary of R5,260.00.
Excavator operators with 2 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R6,500.00. Those with a higher certificate and 2 years of experience in the field can earn up to R7,100.00 per month.
Salary of an excavator operator with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
The average salary of an excavator operator with 3 to 5 years of work experience is R8,020.00 per month. The salary represents a 34% increase over the average salary of an excavator operator with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Excavator operators with 5 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, earning an average of R9,050.00 per month. Excavator operators with 3 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R7,800.00.
Salary of an excavator operator with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
The average salary of an excavator operator with 6 to 10 years of work experience is R10,400.00 per month. The salary represents an average salary increase of 30% from the average salary of excavator operators with 3 to 5 years of work experience.
Excavator operators with 10 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R11,200.00. Excavator operators with 6 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R9,680.00.
Salary of an excavator operator with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
The average salary of an excavator operator with 11 to 15 years of work experience is R12,600.00 per month. The salary represents a 21% increase over the average salary of excavator operators with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Excavator operators with 15 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, earning an average of R13,000.00 per month. Excavator operators with 11 years of work experience are the lowest earners in this group as they earn an average salary of R11,900.00 per month.
Salary of an excavator operator with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024
An excavator operator with 16 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn R13,800.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 9% increase in salary over the average salary of excavator operators with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Excavator operators with more than 20 years of experience earn the highest average salary of R14,500.00 per month. An excavator operator with a higher certificate and 20+ years of work experience can earn up to R17,000.00 working as an excavator operator.
Conclusion
Excavator operators with 0 to 1 year of working experience earn a very low salary but their salary increases at a rapid rate as they stay in the profession. Excavator operators can expect a salary increase of 8% every 19 months.
