The average Psychologist salary in South Africa is R35,434.00 per month. The level of training needed for the profession justifies the psychotherapist’s salary. A degree in the subject of psychology must be earned before one can practice as a psychologist.
A psychology degree can be combined with a master’s degree at universities like the University of the Witwatersrand, where some students study psychology for seven years. Most of these psychologists who complete 7 years of education earn more than ordinary psychologists in South Africa.
Aside from their salary, psychologists make additional income directly related to their profession. Psychologists receive performance bonuses for their work. A psychologist earns a bonus of R2,000.00 to R300,000.00 per year.
Benefits can also be earned so that the net income of a Psychologist can be higher. Employers can contribute towards medical aid, provident funds, preservation funds, retirement annuities, and more. Employers can contribute up to 50% of the premiums payable.
The salary of a Psychologist is also influenced by the city in which they work. Cities with the highest per capita in South Africa tend to pay more for Psychologists. Below is a table of the highest-paying cities for Psychologists on average.
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R42,351.00 |
| 2 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R33,696.00 |
| 3 | Pretoria, Gauteng | R28,571.00 |
| 4 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R25,600.00 |
| 5 | Parktown, Gauteng | R20,000.00 |
| 6 | Sandton, Gauteng | R17,182.00 |
The salary of a Psychologist in the South is also determined by the years of experience in the field. We look at the salary of a Psychologist based on their level of experience below.
Average Psychologist salary with 1 year of working experience in 2024
The average salary of a psychologist with 1 year of working experience is R202,000.00 per year. This salary is mainly for junior psychologists who have just finished their studies. Compensation can also be earned by psychologists working as interns.
Particularly for those employed in the private sector, the salary of a psychologist might be relatively modest. A psychologist with one year of professional experience can earn as little as R15,000.00 per month in salary.
A psychologist with one year of professional experience can, however, also earn a very high salary. Psychologists with one year of experience can make up to R30,000.00 per month.
Average Psychologist salary with 2 – 4 years of work experience in 20224
An average salary of a Psychologist with 2 to 4 years of work experience is R208,126.00 per year. This salary represents a 3% salary increase from the salary of Psychologists with 1 year of working experience.
The early stages of being a psychologist don’t pay much, and the increase in salaries is also low. Those with a master’s degree can get a higher average salary with 2 to 4 years of work experience as psychologists.
A Psychologist with 2 to 4 years of working experience can get up to R35,000.00 per month. This salary is highly dependent on the employer and the level of education that one possesses. The lowest salary in this category is R15,500.00 per month.
Average Psychologist salary with 5 – 9 years of work experience in 2024
The average salary of a psychologist with 5 to 9 years of work experience is R479,000.00 per year. The salary represents an average salary increase of 130% from the average salary of psychologists with 2 to 4 years of work experience.
The high increase in the salary for psychologists with 5 to 9 years of work experience is because of their level of education. Psychologists with 5 to 9 years of work experience are likely to possess a postgraduate degree, which enables them to earn higher salaries.
The highest salary that can be earned by Psychologists with 5 to 9 years of work experience is R48,900.00 per month. The lowest salary for Psychologists with 5 to 9 years of working experience is R27,000.00 per month, which is likely to be earned by those with only a Bachelor’s degree.
Average Psychologist salary with 10 – 19 years of work experience in 2024
The average salary of a psychologist with 10 to 19 years of work experience is R480,000.00 per year. The salary represents an average salary increase of less than 1% from the average salary of psychologists with 5 to 9 years of work experience.
The lowest salary that can be earned by a Psychologist with 10 to 19 years of work experience is R30,600.00 per month. This salary is most likely to be earned by Psychologists with 10 to 12 years of work experience.
Psychologists with 19 years of work experience earn the highest salary in this category as they average a monthly salary of R47,000.00 per month. The salary of a Psychologist with 19 years of experience and a master’s degree can be as high as R52,500.00 per month.
Average Psychologist salary with 20+ years of work experience in 2024
An average salary of a Psychologist with 20+ years of work experience is R638,000.00 per year. The salary of Psychologists with 20 years or more represents a salary increase of 38% from the average salary of Psychologists with 10 to 19 years of experience.
The highest salary that can be earned by a psychologist with 20 years of work experience is R64,000.00 per month (Jobted). Psychologists in senior positions or who run their own practice can earn more than R750,000.00 per year.
Conclusion
The salary of a psychologist is very high and multiple times higher than the national minimum wage. Psychologists are therefore some of the most well-paid professionals in South Africa. However, a high salary also comes with many years of education and mastery of the trade.
