In South Africa, the average Occupational Therapist salary is R43,658.00. Through commissions and bonuses, occupational therapists can earn more than their base salary. As a result, occupational therapists can add up to 10% to their gross salary through bonuses.
In South Africa, the average annual bonus for an Occupational Therapist is R6,324.00 (Salary Expert). An Occupational Therapist can earn bonuses ranging from R0.00 to R37,000.00 per year. Bonuses are determined by the employer for which an Occupational Therapist works.
An Occupational Therapist’s earnings may include commissions. An Occupational Therapist earns between R0.00 and R190,000.00 in commissions per year. Commissions, like bonuses, are dependent on the employer, and the level of compensation as part of commissions varies.
The salary of an occupational therapist is determined by a variety of factors. These factors that influence an Occupational Therapist’s salary are discussed further below.
Factors that affect the salary of an Occupational Therapist
Level of Education
An Occupational Therapist’s level of education has a significant impact on their salary. Therapists with a postgraduate degree earn the most in the field, followed by those with a bachelor’s degree.
According to Salary Explorer, Occupational Therapists with a Bachelor’s degree earn an average monthly salary of R30,300.00. Occupational Therapists with a Master’s degree, on the other hand, earn an average monthly salary of R48,700.00
Earnings for Occupational Therapists with a Master’s degree are 60% more than those with a Bachelor’s degree. Obtaining a postgraduate degree is extremely rewarding due to the increase in salary level.
City of Employment
An Occupational therapist’s salary is affected by where they work. According to Indeed.com, cities in Gauteng province have the highest average pay in South Africa. The following cities in South Africa have the highest pay for occupational therapists:
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R48,128.00 |
| 2 | Pretoria, Gauteng | R47,774.00 |
| 3 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R47,185.00 |
| 4 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R46,000.00 |
| 5 | Midrand, Gauteng | R27,893.00 |
| 6 | Spartan, Gauteng | R27,387.00 |
| 7 | Kempton Park, Gauteng | R25,000.00 |
Employer
An Occupational Therapist’s salary can be made or broken by his or her employer. When negotiating a salary as an Occupational Therapist, getting a fair deal is critical, which is why one must work with a fair employer.
In general, for an Occupational Therapist to get a fair wage, it is usually determined by their level of experience and other factors. Furthermore, bonuses and incentives should be considered by the employer in order to provide a fair compensation structure for an Occupational Therapist.
The salary of an Occupational Therapist is also affected by their level of experience. We go into greater detail below about how work experience affects an Occupational Therapist’s salary.
Salary of an Occupational Therapist is based on their level of experience
Average Occupational Therapist salary with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
An Occupational Therapist with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R24,300.00 per month on average. Those with 0 years of experience earn the least as Occupational Therapists in this category. An Occupational Therapist with 0 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R20,500.00.
Occupational Therapists with 2 years of experience earn the most in this category. The average monthly salary for an Occupational Therapist with 2 years of experience is R26,700.00.
Average Occupational Therapist salary with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
An Occupational Therapist with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R31,200.00 per month on average. The salary is a 29% increase over the average salary of Occupational Therapists with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Occupational Therapists with 3 years of experience are the lowest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R27,800.00. Occupational Therapists with 5 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R37,000.00.
Average Occupational Therapist salary with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
An Occupational Therapist with 6 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn R43,100.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 38% increase over the average salary of Occupational Therapists with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Occupational Therapists with a master’s degree and 10 years of experience earn an average monthly salary of R49,200.00, which is the highest in this category.
Occupational Therapists with 6 years of experience earn the least in this category. An Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor’s degree and 6 years of experience can expect to earn R39,500.00 per month on average.
Average Occupational Therapist salary with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
An Occupational Therapist with 11 to 15 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R53,400.00. The salary represents a 24% increase in average pay for Occupational Therapists with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Occupational therapists with 11 years of experience earn the lowest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R47,500.00. Occupational therapists with 15 years of experience are the highest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R55,000.00.
Average Occupational Therapist salary with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024
An Occupational Therapist with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R57,200.00. The salary represents a 7% increase in salary more than the average salary of Occupational Therapists with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Occupational therapists with 20+ years of experience and a master’s degree can earn more than R60,000.00 per month. Salaries for occupational therapists with more than 20 years of experience, on the other hand, tend to stagnate for a few years.
Conclusion
The salary of an occupational therapist in South Africa is purely determined by a number of factors, and earning a higher-than-average salary requires dedication to the field. A postgraduate degree in the field can increase one’s salary by a significant amount, allowing one to receive higher incentives and bonuses.
