“A Crime Scene”: TikToker Slams Metallurgist’s Payslip After Seeing What a Masters Degree Earns
- A TikTok creator called a metallurgist's payslip a 'crime scene' after seeing what the engineer earns with a Master's degree and five years of experience
- The engineer holds a BTech and a Master's in Chemical Engineering, is registered with ECSA as a PrTech, and works in mineral processing
- South Africans flooded the comments with their own salary comparisons, sparking a heated debate about engineering pay in South Africa
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A South African TikTok creator sparked a fierce salary debate after reacting to a metallurgist's payslip and labelling it a "crime scene."
@liferesetwithboni posted the selfie-style reaction clip on 31 October 2026, overlaying their face onto a screenshot of the payslip while delivering a sarcastic, disbelieving commentary. The engineer in question holds a BTech and a Master's in Chemical Engineering, is registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a Professional Technology Engineer, and has five years of experience in mineral processing.
What should a metallurgist be earning?
A metallurgist is a materials scientist or engineer who studies the physical and chemical behaviour of metallic elements and alloys to extract, process, and shape them for industrial use. According to available salary data, the average base salary for a metallurgist in South Africa ranges from R425,000 to R684,000 per year depending on experience and sector. Mid-career professionals with four to eight years of experience typically earn between R380,000 and R600,000 annually, while senior specialists can earn upwards of R800,000, particularly in major mining hubs like Johannesburg or Krugersdorp.
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Watch the payslip reaction that set off the debate below:
Mzansi reacts to the 'Crime Scene' salary
The comment section on the TikTok page turned into a confessional booth, with engineers and industry workers sharing their own figures:
@TT said:
"The company is the problem."
@siyabulelamkhize, Pr. Tech Eng wrote:
"This is a pure crime scene. She/he needs to move; he should be earning 100k."
@Lwah shared:
"Crime for real. I only have a Diploma in Chem Eng and a project management Diploma and work for Rand Water, 4 years' work experience, and I'm getting R65k pm basic."
@Ntokzn said:
"30k is an EIT salary."
@Khali 3 zn revealed:
"I am a Chemical engineer earning 300k pm."
@Mazazi added:
"We should learn to name and shame companies."
@Cee_Mo offered a different perspective:
"His salary is in line with the market; that's exactly what we pay them at that level of experience. Ignore the Masters part; it will start to work when he goes into supervisory or management at 8-10 years' experience. He is on a correct progression track."
More on salaries in South Africa
- Briefly News recently reported on a 25-year-old who broke down his budget and retirement plan on a R7,000 monthly salary, and South Africans questioned his figures.
- A restaurant manager with only a matric shared what he takes home each month, which reignited the debate about qualifications and pay.
- A former Bafana midfielder also won his battle with his old club over outstanding salary payments.
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Source: Briefly News
