The average proofreader salary in South Africa is R23,125.00 per month. Proofreaders check the quality and consistency of written work, including images. Because their job requires diligence, employers often award them a performance bonus for doing a good job.
Proofreader bonuses in South Africa range from R3,000.00 to R20,000.00 per year. A proofreader’s annual bonus in South Africa is R3,462.00 (Salary Expert). However, not all Proofreaders in South Africa receive a bonus.
According to a Salary Explorer study based on data from 2021, only 30% of proofreaders received a bonus. This left 70% of South African proofreaders without a bonus.
The study also discovered that for all proofreaders who received a bonus, the bonus accounted for up to 4% of their annual salary. During the same time period, proofreaders received no commissions from their employers.
The majority of proofreaders in South Africa are women, who make up 94.4% of the workforce (Payscale). Women are paid more than men because they make up the majority of the workforce, making this one of the few jobs where women earn more than men.
Women earn an average monthly salary of R26,300.00, while men earn an average monthly salary of R24,400.00. As a result, women working as proofreaders earn 8% more than men.
A Proofreader’s salary is also influenced by a number of factors. Below, we look at the factors that influence proofreaders’ salaries in South Africa.
Factors that influence the salary of a Proofreader
Level of Education
Proofreaders’ salaries are determined by their level of education, as evidenced by the average salary of a Proofreader based on their qualifications. A proofreader with a high school education, for example, makes an average monthly salary of R18,500.00.
Proofreaders with a high school certificate earn 15% less than those with a diploma, earning R21,300.00 per month on average. Proofreaders with bachelor’s degrees earn an average monthly salary of R28,600.00.
A proofreader with a bachelor’s degree earns 35% more than those with a diploma and 54% more than those with a high school education. Proofreaders with a master’s degree earn an even higher monthly salary of R36,000.00.
Proofreaders with a master’s degree earn 26% more than those with a bachelor’s degree and 95% more than those with a high school education.
City of Employment
The city in which a proofreader works is likely to impact their salary. Johannesburg is the highest-paying city in South Africa for proofreaders, with an average monthly salary of R27,462.00.
The city of employment and level of education are essential factors in determining the salary of a Proofreader, but the level of experience is also as important. We examine the salary of a Proofreader below, based on their level of experience
Salary of a Proofreader based on their level of experience
Salary of a Proofreader with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2022
A Proofreader with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R14,800.00 per month on average. Proofreaders with 0 years of experience earn the lowest salaries, with an average monthly salary of R12,500.00.
Proofreaders with 2 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R16,840.00. A Proofreader with a postgraduate degree may earn a higher salary.
Salary of a Proofreader with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2022
A Proofreader with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R19,100.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 29% increase over the average salary of Proofreaders with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Proofreaders with 5 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R23,500.00. Proofreaders with 3 years of experience and a high school education earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R17,440.00.
Salary of a Proofreader with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2022
A Proofreader with 6 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn R26,300.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 38% increase over the average salary of Proofreaders with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Proofreaders with 10 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this field, with an average monthly salary of R29,710.00. Proofreaders with 6 years of experience are the lowest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R24,200.00.
Salary of a Proofreader with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2022
A Proofreader with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R32,600.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 24% increase over the average salary of Proofreaders with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Proofreaders with 11 years of experience and a high school education earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R30,100.00. Proofreaders with 15 years of experience earn the most, with an average monthly salary of R33,210.00.
Salary of a Proofreader with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2022
A Proofreader with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R34,900.00. The salary represents a 7% increase in salary over the average salary of proofreaders with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Proofreaders with 20+ years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R37,200.00. Proofreaders with 20+ years of experience and a master’s degree can earn up to R39,800.00 per month.
Conclusion
A Proofreader’s salary increases by 10% every 19 months, compared to an 8% increase for all professions in South Africa. This means that proofreaders’ salaries rise 18% faster than the average salary for all professions in South Africa, implying that staying in the field for a longer period of time can be financially rewarding.