How much do doctors earn in South Africa: List of highest-paid doctors in 2024

Medicine is among the world's most prestigious careers, but it is frustrating at the same time if you work in a country that has poor wages and working conditions. South Africa is among the best African countries for medical practitioners in terms of salaries and working environment. Knowing how much doctors earn in South Africa can guide a professional who plans to work in this country, a high school kid aspiring to become a doctor, and a student about to specialize in a particular field of study within a degree program.

This article quotes doctors' monthly and annual salaries as estimated by Salaryexpert.com and other platforms that specialize in collecting and analyzing data about wages of different professions. Find out how much do doctors earn in South Africa per month below.

How much do doctors earn in South Africa?

The salary of medical practitioners in South Africa depends on someone's experience level, educational level, area of specialization, and other factors. This article shares salary estimates for these types of doctors in South Africa:

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• Chief of Surgery
• Orthopedic surgeon
• Transplant surgeon
• Plastic surgeon
• Pediatric surgeon
• Trauma surgeon
• Anesthesiologist
• Cardiologist
• Dermatologist
• Nephrologist
• Neurologist
• Specialist internal medicine doctor

South Africa is among the countries with the most advanced medical care in Africa. As a result, doctors working in this country are among the highest-paid medical practitioners on the continent. Below is a list of different types of doctors and salaries in South Africa per month:

12. Specialist doctor - R107,240 pm/ R1,286,888 pa

An internist or specialist internal medicine doctor specializes in adult medicine. The doctor is specially trained to solve diagnostic problems, manage severe long-term illnesses, and help patients with multiple complex chronic conditions.

Internists only treat adults, while general practitioners care for patients of all ages. An internist specialist doctor's salary per month is R107,240 (R1,286,888 annually).

11. Neurologist - R166,072 pm/ R1,992,864 pa

Neurologists treat and manage brain, spinal cord, and nervous system disorders. They handle Alzheimer's disease, concussion, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), migraine, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke, among other conditions.

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A neurologist earns an average salary of R166,072 monthly or R1,992,864 yearly in South Africa.

10. Nephrologist - R175,105 pm/ R2,101,267 pa

A nephrologist is a medical doctor specializing in treating kidney diseases and failure. These doctors also diagnose how kidney conditions affect other parts of your body, including the immune system, the cardiovascular system, and blood pressure.

Nephrologists perform kidney dialysis, transplant, biopsy, and functionality tests like X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds.

A nephrologist has an average monthly pay of R175,105 or R2,101,267 per annum in Mzansi.

9. Dermatologist - R190,348 pm/ R2,284,180 pa

Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions of the skin, hair, and nails. These conditions range from ordinary rashes to wrinkles, psoriasis, melanoma, scleroderma, cellulitis, and skin cancer.

These doctors can recognize symptoms on your skin that may indicate problems inside your body, like immune system problems, organ disease, or organ failure.

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A dermatologist takes home an average salary of R190,348 monthly or R2,284,180 annually.

8. Cardiologist - R215,869 pm/ R2,590,432 pa

Cardiologists treat diseases and conditions of the cardiovascular system, which is the heart and blood vessels. Some of the medical conditions these doctors handle include coronary artery diseases, heart rhythm disorders, heart attacks, heart defects & infections, and related disorders.

The average pay of a cardiologist in SA is R215,869 monthly or R2,590,432 per year.

7. Anesthesiologist - R216,908 pm/ R2,602,903 pa

Anesthesiologists specialize in anesthesia care, pain management, and critical care medicine. They are medical doctors, just like your primary care physician and surgeon.

These hospital-based specialists give anesthetics for surgical, medical, and psychiatric procedures. They also facilitate pain-free childbirth, run chronic pain services in intensive care units, and resuscitate acutely unwell patients.

An anesthesiologist earns an average salary of R216,908 monthly or R2,620,794 yearly in SA.

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6. Trauma surgeon - R220,794 pm/ R2,649,528 pa

Trauma surgeons (critical care, acute care, or accident surgeons) utilize operative and non-operative procedures to treat traumatic injuries.

They specialize in traumatic injuries caused by impact forces like traffic accidents, falls, sports and crush injuries, gunshots, or stab wounds.

Critical care surgeons complete residency training in general surgery and then do their fellowship training in trauma or urgent surgical care.

These surgeons receive an average income of R220,794 monthly or R2,649,528 annually in SA.

5. Pediatric surgeon - R244,397 pm/ R2,932,773 pa

Pediatric surgeons treat infants, toddlers, children, and young adults. Pediatric care is the core of their medical practice. Also, these surgeons can work as general surgeons in various subspecialties like neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons.

The income of pediatric surgeons in South Africa is around R244,397 monthly or R2,932,773 yearly. In most cases, pediatric neurosurgeons and general pediatric surgeons earn higher salaries than pediatric orthopedic surgeons.

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4. Plastic surgeon - R244,711 pm/ R2,936,542 pa

Plastic surgeons perform repair or reconstructive surgery on burns, scars, injuries, and congenital defects in any external body part.

These doctors repair birth abnormalities like cleft lips and palates, webbed fingers, and birthmarks. They also reconstruct areas damaged by the removal of cancerous tissue, such as from the face or breast.

In SA, plastic surgeons earn an average salary of R244,711 monthly or R2,936,542 per year.

3. Transplant surgeon - R220,794 pm/ R2,649,528 pa

A transplant surgeon performs organ transplants. These doctors transplant kidneys, livers, the pancreas, hearts, lungs, intestines, faces, tracheal (windpipe) tissue, and penises.

They remove viable organs from donors and implant them into patients whose organs have failed or are damaged beyond repair.

A transplant surgeon in SA earns an average of R220,794 monthly or R2,649,528 a year.

2. Orthopedic surgeon - R261,189 pm/ R3,134,279 pa

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Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the musculoskeletal system, which consists of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.

These doctors can be generalists or specialize in certain areas of the musculoskeletal system. Some top-paying orthopedic surgery sub-specialties include spine, oncology, and joint replacement.

Orthopedic surgeons in SA get an average pay of R261,189 monthly or R3,134,279 annually.

1. Chief of Surgery - R285,845 pm/ R3,430,147 pa

The Chief of Surgery is a doctor who directs a hospital's surgical department's staff members. The doctor also oversees programs in the surgical department.

The surgeon chief works closely with hospital staff, department directors, and other physicians to ensure the highest standards of quality and service are observed and maintained in the surgical department.

A surgeon chief in Mzansi earns an average salary of R3,430,147 annually or R285,845 monthly.

What job pays 100k a month in South Africa?

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Some of the medical jobs that pay 100k or more a month are:

How much does a doctor earn per month?

A general doctor's salary in South Africa is R138,053 monthly (R1,656,641 annually).

How much is a doctor paid in South Africa?

An entry-level specialist doctor's salary in South Africa per month is R107,240 monthly (R1,286,888 annually). The specialist internal medicine doctor treats adults suffering from long-term illnesses and multiple complex chronic conditions.

What is the government doctor's salary in South Africa?

The average salary for a government physician is R31,117 per month in South Africa.

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What is the doctor's salary in Pretoria?

Pretoria-based physicians earn around R84 403 per month. Pretoria is among the highest-paying cities for doctors in South Africa.

What is the doctor's salary in Johannesburg‌?

Johannesburg-based physicians earn around R49,922 monthly (R22,801 per month on average).

How much is a neurologist's salary in South Africa?

A neurologist earns an average salary of R166,072 monthly or R1,992,864 yearly in South Africa.

Which doctor gets paid the most in South Africa?

The Chiefs of Surgery are arguably the highest-paid doctors in South Africa. They earn an average annual salary of R3,430,147 (R285,845 monthly).

How much do intern doctors earn in South Africa?

In South Africa, medical interns earn a gross salary of R57,349,77 to R 63,790,63 per month.

Who is the richest doctor in South Africa?

Patrick Soon-Shiong is the wealthiest doctor in South Africa, with an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion. The Chinese-South African transplant surgeon/businessman invented Abraxane, an effective lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer drug.

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Which job has the highest salary in South Africa?

Some jobs with the highest salaries in South Africa are:

What is considered a high salary in South Africa?

A monthly salary of R30,000 or more is considered to be good in South Africa.

What is the middle-class salary in South Africa?

A household earning R5,000 and R20,000 monthly is considered middle-class in South Africa.

Knowing how much doctors earn in South Africa is essential because people should consider their passions and the potential pay when selecting a career and where to work. One of the main reasons individuals work is money. A career that provides enough income to support a respectable lifestyle motivates an individual to put in more effort.

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Briefly.co.za published a list of old age homes in South Africa. These homes provide senior citizens companionship, safe, secure, affordable housing, and access to medical care.

Doctors offer senior citizens in nursing homes emergency services 24 hours daily. On top of this, these citizens get nutritious food and help with daily tasks like maintaining personal hygiene.

Source: Briefly News