The average journalist salary in South Africa is R24,300.00 per month. A journalist’s salary in South Africa is accompanied by benefits that vary depending on the employer. Employers contribute to various policies to which a journalist has subscribed.
An employer may make contributions to a journalist’s medical aid, provident fund, preservation fund, pension fund, retirement annuities, and other accounts. Employer contributions for journalists include an 18% medical aid contribution and a 5% dental contribution, according to Payscale.
Bonuses can be part of a journalist’s remuneration in South Africa. Journalist bonuses in 2024 range from R1,000.00 to R90,000.00 per year. The average annual bonus for journalists is estimated to be R24,757.00. In 2023, only 56% of journalists received a bonus, while 44% did not.
Journalists received a bonus ranging from 3% to 6% of their salary in 2023. A journalist’s salary is expected to rise in the coming years. A journalist’s salary rises by 12% every 18 months, according to Salary Explorer. Every 18 months, the national average for all professions is an 8% increase.
A journalist’s job is very rewarding if one stays in the profession for a long time. A checklist is required to earn a high salary as a journalist. There are several factors that influence a journalist’s salary in South Africa. These factors are discussed further below.
Factors that influence the salary of a Journalist
Level of Education
A journalist’s salary is heavily influenced by their level of education. A journalist with a high school education, for example, earns an average monthly salary of R27,800.00, while a journalist with a diploma- earns an average monthly salary of R31,900.00.
A journalist with a diploma earns 15% more than a journalist with only a high school certificate. When comparing journalists with a high school education to journalists with a bachelor’s degree, the gap widens. Journalists with a bachelor’s degree earn 54% more than those with only a high school education.
Journalists with a master’s degree earn R54,100 on average, which is 26% more than those with a bachelor’s degree. According to the analysis in this discussion, the level of education clearly plays a significant role in the salary of a journalist in South Africa.
Employer
A journalist’s salary is determined by the company for which he or she works. A journalist’s benefits are also dictated by his or her employer; thus, journalists may be eligible for employer contributions and other benefits. Here are some of the best South African employers for journalists:
- Media 24 with an average salary of R183,126.00 per year;
- SABC with an average salary of R233,744.00 per year; and
- Claxton with an average salary of R115,100.00 per year.
City of Employment
A journalist’s salary is affected by the city in which they work. The following table shows the highest-paying cities in South Africa:
| # | City | Salary/month |
| 1 | Gauteng | R23,814.00 |
| 2 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R22,438.00 |
| 3 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R19,722.00 |
| 4 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R19,593.00 |
| 5 | Pretoria, Gauteng | R19,128.00 |
The salary of a journalist is also influenced by the level of experience. We look at the salary of a journalist below based on their level of experience.
Salary of a Journalist based on their level of experience
Average Journalist Salary with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
A journalist with 0 – 2 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R22,500.00. Journalists with a master’s degree and 0-2 years of experience earn, on average, R25,300 per month.
Those with 0 years of experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R12,000.00.
Salary of a Journalist with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
A journalist with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R28,600.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 29% increase over the average salary of journalists with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Journalists with 5 years of experience are the highest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R31,740.00. Those with 3 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R26,800.00.
Average Journalist Salary with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
A journalist with 6–10 years of experience can expect to earn R39,500.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 38% increase over the average salary of journalists with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Those with a master’s degree and 10 years of experience are the highest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R45,000.00. Those with 6 years of work experience earn the least in this category, earning R34,100.00 per month.
Salary of a Journalist with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
A journalist with 11 to 15 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R48,900.00. The salary represents a 28% increase over the average salary of journalists with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Those with a high school degree and 11 years of work experience are the lowest paid, with an average monthly salary of R46,600.00.
Salary of a Journalist with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024
A journalist with 16 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn R52,400 per month on average. The salary represents a 7% increase in salary over the average salary of journalists with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Journalists with 20+ years of experience earn the highest salaries of all journalists in South Africa, with an average monthly salary of R55,900.00. Journalists with 20+ years of experience can earn more than R60,000.00 per month in base pay.
Conclusion
A journalist’s salary is high when compared to the average salary of all professions in South Africa. Journalists must obtain a degree in order to earn a higher salary, and a postgraduate degree in order to earn an even higher salary. Journalists receive employer benefits and bonuses as a reward for their efforts.
