Salary guide
Monthly gross in rands, by seniority. Ranges most people sit within, not promises. Verified July 2026.
| Role | Intern | Junior | Mid | Senior | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Analyst | R6,000 to R12,000 | R15,000 to R25,000 | R25,000 to R40,000 | R45,000 to R70,000 | R55,000 to R75,000 |
| Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst / Developer | n/a | R18,000 to R28,000 | R28,000 to R45,000 | R45,000 to R65,000 | R60,000 to R85,000 |
| Data Engineer | R12,000 to R20,000 | R25,000 to R40,000 | R40,000 to R60,000 | R65,000 to R90,000 | R85,000 to R120,000 |
| Data Architect | n/a | R40,000 to R55,000 | R55,000 to R75,000 | R75,000 to R100,000 | R95,000 to R130,000 |
| Data Scientist | R10,000 to R18,000 | R25,000 to R40,000 | R40,000 to R60,000 | R60,000 to R85,000 | R80,000 to R120,000 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | R12,000 to R20,000 | R30,000 to R45,000 | R45,000 to R65,000 | R65,000 to R95,000 | R90,000 to R130,000 |
| AI Engineer | R15,000 to R22,000 | R35,000 to R50,000 | R50,000 to R75,000 | R75,000 to R110,000 | R100,000 to R150,000 |
| Prompt Engineer | n/a | R30,000 to R45,000 | R45,000 to R65,000 | R65,000 to R90,000 | R85,000 to R110,000 |
| Software Developer / Engineer | R8,000 to R18,000 | R23,000 to R40,000 | R40,000 to R65,000 | R65,000 to R95,000 | R90,000 to R130,000 |
| Cloud / Solutions Architect | n/a | R40,000 to R55,000 | R55,000 to R80,000 | R80,000 to R115,000 | R110,000 to R150,000 |
| Cybersecurity Analyst / Engineer | R10,000 to R16,000 | R22,000 to R35,000 | R35,000 to R55,000 | R55,000 to R85,000 | R80,000 to R120,000 |
| DevOps Engineer | R12,000 to R20,000 | R38,000 to R55,000 | R55,000 to R85,000 | R80,000 to R110,000 | R95,000 to R120,000 |
How to read these numbers+
A word about the salary tables, because I want you to read them wisely rather than emotionally.
Every figure in this program was checked against real, current South African sources in July 2026, drawing on places like OfferZen, MyBroadband salary surveys, and the public job listings where these roles are actually advertised. That is the verified date. Salaries drift over time, so treat July 2026 as the honest snapshot it is, and expect the numbers to move as the market moves.
Now the most important part. These are ranges, not promises. A range tells you where most people in a role sit, from the newcomer at the bottom to the seasoned hand at the top. It does not tell you what you personally will earn on your first day, because that depends on things no table can capture, your interview, your portfolio, your negotiation, and a little luck.
Read the numbers with three questions in mind. First, which company, a bank like Standard Bank pays differently from a Cape Town startup, and a global firm hiring remotely pays differently again. Second, which city, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban rates are not the same, and a small town role rarely matches a metro one. Third, remote or not, because a South African who earns in dollars or pounds for an overseas company can sit far above every local figure on this page, which is one of the real prizes these skills unlock.
So use the tables as a compass, not a contract. They point you toward the roles worth aiming for and the rough shape of the reward. Where you land on the scale is decided by the work you put in, and that part is genuinely in your hands.
Verified July 2026 against OfferZen, MyBroadband, PayScale South Africa, Glassdoor and live listings. Ranges, not guarantees.