The average social workers salary in South Africa is R13,971.00. A social worker’s salary can be supplemented with bonuses. A social worker’s bonus can range between R3,000.00 and R31,000.00 per year. Aside from bonuses, an employer may also give a social worker contributions, which may raise the costs for the employer.
The employer of a social worker can help pay for the worker’s health insurance, annuities, and other retirement products. A number of factors influence a social worker’s salary in South Africa. Below, we go over the various factors that influence a social worker’s salary.
How to get a higher salary as a Social Worker in South Africa 2024
The salary of a social worker is influenced by the following:
1. Level of Education
The salary of a social worker is heavily influenced by their level of education. A social worker with a high school education, for example, earns an average monthly salary of R6,900.00. A social worker’s salary can increase by 43% to R9,880.00 per month with a higher certificate or diploma in the field.
A social worker’s salary increases even more for those with a bachelor’s degree. In 2024, a social worker with a Bachelor’s degree earns an average monthly salary of R13,971.00. The salary is 38% higher than the average salary for those with a higher certificate or diploma.
2. Employer
Social Workers salary is also influenced by the employer where he or she works. As a social worker, it is difficult to find the right employer. To assist in obtaining a higher salary as a Social Worker in South Africa, we have compiled a table of some of the top employers for Social Workers below.
| # | Company Name | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | Western Cape Government | R22,013.00 |
| 2 | New Lovelife Trust | R16,822.00 |
| 3 | Department of Social Development | R14,797.00 |
| 4 | AmCare | R13,285.00 |
| 5 | Khulisa Social Solutions | R12,640.00 |
3. City of employment
A social worker’s salary can be increased by moving to a city that has high salaries for social workers. The highest-paying cities in South Africa are in peri-urban areas, followed by cities in urban areas.
The following cities in South Africa have the highest pay for social workers.
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | East London, Eastern Cape | R24,483.00 |
| 2 | Soweto, Gauteng | R23,246.00 |
| 3 | Eerste River, Western Cape | R14,971.00 |
| 4 | Randburg, Gauteng | R14,367.00 |
| 5 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R11,940.00 |
| 6 | Stellenbosch, Western Cape | R11,609.00 |
The salary of a social worker is also highly dependent on the level of experience that one possesses. Below, we look at social workers’ salaries based on their level of experience in 2024.
Salary of a Social Worker in South Africa is based on their level of experience
Average Social Workers salary with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
A social worker with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R5,810.00 per month on average. The lowest-paid social workers in this category are those with 0 years of experience, with a monthly salary of R5,110.00.
Social Workers with a Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of experience earn the highest salary in this category, with an average monthly salary of R16,500.00. Social Workers with 2 years of experience but only a high school certificate earn an average monthly salary of R6,500.
Average Social Workers salary with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
A Social Worker with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R7,800.00 per month on average. The salary is 34% higher than the average salary for Social Workers with 0 to 2 years of experience.
A Social Worker with 5 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree earns an average monthly salary of R18,200.00 which is the highest salary in this category.
A Social Worker’s salary can be very low, especially for those with only a high school education. A Social Worker with only a high school education earns an average monthly salary of R16,150.00 with 3 years of working experience.
Average Social Workers salary with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
The average salary of a Social Worker with 6 to 10 years of work experience is R10,101.00 per month. The salary represents a salary increase of 30% from the average salary of Social Workers with 3 to 5 years of work experience.
The lowest salary that is earned in this category is earned by social workers with 6 years of work experience, which is R8,700.00 per month.
Average Social Workers salary with 11 – 20 years of work experience
A social worker with 11 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R20,800.00. The salary represents a 106% increase over the average salary of social workers with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Those with 11 to 15 years of work experience earn the least in this category, earning R12,300.00 per month. Social Workers with 11 to 15 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree earn a higher monthly salary of R16,300.00.
Social Workers with a Bachelor’s degree and 20 years of experience are the highest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R24,500.00.
Conclusion
The salary of a social worker is reliant on a number of factors that, when symbiotic, can provide one with an above-average salary. Working towards a bachelor’s degree is one thing that a social worker should do to earn a high income.
