"It Depends": SA Expat in Canada Reveals How Much Teachers Earn Compared to Back Home
- A South African teacher living in Canada answered a popular question about teacher salaries in a TikTok video that caught viewers' attention
- The teacher, who has 20 years of experience, explained that Canadian salaries vary by province and years of experience on a structured pay scale
- South Africans in the comments flooded the post with questions about how to relocate and teach in Canada
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Source: TikTok
A South African teacher now living in Canada gave viewers an honest breakdown of what educators earn in the country. @mpumehh_s posted the selfie-style walking video on 29 September 2026, and it quickly drew interest from South Africans curious about teaching opportunities abroad.
Walking through city streets, she explained that it is difficult to give a single salary figure because teachers in Canada earn different amounts depending on which province they work in. She also noted that pay is tied directly to years of experience, with a structured grid determining where a teacher falls on the scale.
She used her own journey as an example. Despite having taught for 20 years in total, only 11 of those years were recognised when she submitted her documents in Canada. Her teaching licence sits at Certificate 4, which placed her at the 11-year mark on the provincial pay scale.
What Canadian teacher salaries look like in rands
The numbers tell a striking story when converted to South African Rand. An entry-level teacher in Canada earns roughly C$52,000 to C$54,000 per year, which translates to between R600,000 and R623,000. Mid-career teachers earn C$65,000 to C$70,000, or roughly R750,000 to R808,000 annually. At the top of the scale, experienced teachers can earn C$80,000 to C$90,000 or more, equivalent to over R923,000 in South African money.
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By comparison, South African teachers earn between R169,707 at the starting notch and up to R794,151 for a Master Teacher, making Canadian salaries roughly two to three times higher in absolute terms.
Cost of living changes the picture
The gap is not as simple as it looks. Canada's cost of living is considerably higher, with rent, taxes, heating and groceries consuming a much larger share of income than they would in South Africa. Both countries do offer benefits packages, including medical coverage and pension plans, though the structures differ.
Watch the video that sparked the conversation below:
Mzansi wants in
South Africans in the comments section on the TikTok page had plenty to say:
@Evidence of life wrote:
"Evidence of life ❤️🥹"
@Mrs N. asked:
"How is safety there? Housing? Does it leave room to save after paying those?"
@Blueberries said:
"Teaching for 20 years but you look 20 😩😭"
@Londzy commented:
"Hi sisi, how can I apply for a teaching job? I am holding a degree in education"
@Billionaire Patience wrote:
"Hook me up with a job 😪 Qatar or Canada, I'm tired of interviews and no response."
@Butheleziiii🤍 said:
"Haibo, I need to follow you. I'm finishing my degree soon! Please help me 🥺❤️"
@Molly added:
"Perhaps it also depends on where you choose to teach, right? I suppose in rural Canada the demand is high because most teachers are from urban areas. I stand to be corrected."
More on South African teachers and cost of living
- Briefly News recently reported on how Mzansi households are cutting back on everything from food deliveries to medical aid to survive rising costs.
- A tax comparison between South Africans earning R30,000 and Germany’s top earners left Mzansi venting over the financial burden.
- Two deputy ministers racked up R6.4 million in travel costs in one year, with car rentals making up the biggest expense.
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Source: Briefly News
