The average physiotherapist salary in South Africa is R27 687.00 per month. A physiotherapist’s salary is supplemented significantly by commissions. Physiotherapist commissions in South Africa range from R18,000.00 to R397,000.00 per year (Payscale).
Bonuses can also contribute to a physiotherapist’s income. Physiotherapist bonuses in South Africa range from R3,000.00 to R44,000.00 per year. A physiotherapist’s income can be increased by up to 30% through commissions and bonuses.
Even though bonuses and commissions are at the discretion of the employer, not all employers are required to offer them. Only 79% of Physiotherapists in South Africa earned bonuses in 2021, with the remaining 21% earning R0.00 during the same year (Salary Explorer).
A Physiotherapist’s salary in South Africa is influenced by a variety of factors. Below, we look at the factors that influence a Physiotherapist’s salary in South Africa.
Factors that influence the salary
Level of Education
A physiotherapist’s level of education influences the salary that he or she is likely to earn. With a bachelor’s degree, a physiotherapist earns an average monthly salary of R43,000. A physiotherapist with a master’s degree earns an average salary of R53,700.00.
A Physiotherapist with a master’s degree earns 24% more than a Physiotherapist with a bachelor’s degree. A doctorate degree can significantly increase one’s earning capacity.
A physiotherapist with a Ph.D. earns an average monthly salary of R85,900.00. The salary is 60% higher than the average salary for physiotherapists with a master’s degree. When compared to physiotherapists with a bachelor’s degree, the salary of a Ph.D. graduate is 99% higher.
City where employed
A physiotherapist’s salary is also affected by the city in which they work. The highest-paying cities are a mix of periurban and urbanised areas, with both making their way into the top ten. The following is a list of the highest-paying cities in South Africa for physiotherapists.
| # | City | Monthly Average Salary |
| 1 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R37,553.00 |
| 2 | Rustenburg, North West | R30,000.00 |
| 3 | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape | R30,000.00 |
| 4 | Nelspruit, Mpumalanga | R30,000.00 |
| 5 | Kimberly, Northern Cape | R30,000.00 |
| 6 | Roodepoort, Gauteng | R30,000.00 |
| 7 | Polokwane, Limpopo | R30,000.00 |
| 8 | Soweto, Gauteng | R29,755.00 |
| 9 | Midrand, Gauteng | R29,462.00 |
A physiotherapist’s salary is heavily influenced by their level of experience. We look at physiotherapists’ salaries based on their level of experience in the profession below.
Salaries of a Physiotherapists based on their level of experience
Average Physiotherapist salary with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
A Physiotherapist with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R33,600.00 per month on average. Those with 0 years of experience earn the least as Physiotherapists in this category.
Physiotherapists with 0 years of experience earn an average monthly salary of R29,600.00. Those with 2 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R40,000.00.
Average Physiotherapist salary with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
A Physiotherapist with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R45,100.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 34% increase over the average salary of Physiotherapists with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Physiotherapists with 3 years of experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R42,500.00. Physiotherapists with 5 years of experience earn the highest salaries, with an average monthly salary of R47,900.00.
Average Physiotherapist salary with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
A Physiotherapist with 6 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn R58,600.00 per month on average. The salary is a 30% increase over the average salary of Physiotherapists with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Physiotherapists with 10 years of experience are the highest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R64,700.00. The lowest-paid physiotherapists in this category have 6 years of experience and earn an average monthly salary of R50,000.00.
Average Physiotherapist salary with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
A Physiotherapist with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R70,900.00 per month on average. The salary is a 21% increase over the average salary of Physiotherapists with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Physiotherapists with 11 years of experience are the lowest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R66,200.00. Physiotherapists with 15 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R73,110.00.
Average Physiotherapist salary with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024
A Physiotherapist with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R77,500.00. The salary represents a 9% increase over the average salary of Physiotherapists with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Physiotherapists with 20 or more years of experience are the highest paid, with an average monthly salary of R81,000.00. Physiotherapists with more than 20 years of experience and a Ph.D. in the field can earn up to R94,000 per month.
Conclusion
Physiotherapists are among the highest-paid professionals in South Africa, and their earnings are largely justified by their level of education and experience. The biggest influence of a Physiotherapist’s salary is their level of education. Getting a postgraduate degree in the field can help to increase a Physiotherapist’s salary.