“Numbers Are Way Too Low”: South African Man Ranks the 10 Highest-Paying Careers for 2026 in Video

• A South African finance creator shared a ranked list of the 10 highest-paying careers in the country for 2026
• Chief executives topped the list with base salaries reaching R5 million, while specialist doctors came in second
• South Africans flooded the comments debating what was missing, with many pointing fingers at politicians

A South African finance creator sparked a lively debate online after posting a video breaking down the 10 highest-paying careers in the country for 2026. He shared the ranked list on Instagram on 14 October, and it quickly drew thousands of reactions from people either validating the figures or questioning them entirely.

The video presented each career alongside an annual salary range, counting down from number 10 to the top spot. Rounding out the bottom of the list were mining engineers and geologists, earning between R730,000 and R1 million per year. Data scientists and AI specialists came in at number nine, while commercial pilots came in at number eight. Each pulls between R800,000 and R1.4 million annually.

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Petroleum engineers, actuaries, and chartered accountants filled positions seven to five, with chartered accountants and finance directors earning up to R1.5 million. TikTokker @julsfin.za reported that IT solutions architects came in at number four with earnings reaching R1.1 million, while corporate lawyers claimed the third spot at up to R1.5 million annually. Specialist doctors placed second, with salaries ranging from R1.4 million to R2.3 million per year. Chief executives took the top position, with base salaries spanning anywhere from R1 million to R5 million annually. Watch the full list breakdown here:

SA reacts to high-earning professionals

The comments section turned into a debate of its own, with viewers questioning the accuracy of the figures and calling out careers they felt were left off:

@takazweli_greencaliper_7.5r wrote:

"Number 1 should be politicians 😂"

@wagenaarbrad added:

"You forgot the proper no. 1. Being in the ANC Government. Fact!"

@hdlkotze said:

"Teachers deserve more than the peanuts we earn."

@carl_t84 noted:

"Software QA Engineer with some experience could easily reach between positions 7 and 10 without a degree. Complete some relevant certifications and get some experience and you are set."

@photo.monaheng pushed back on the figures:

"Nope, solution architects can make over R2 million. These numbers are way too low for most of these occupations."

@willem.olivier.397 questioned the data:

"You should not combine mining engineers and geologists! Maybe that is what a geologist earns! But mining engineers, I can assure you, are not earning that! That was only our bonus per year in 2010! Your data source is old!"

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Other Briefly News stories about job market trends

• Data from Pnet's Job Market Trends Report revealed key entry-level career pathways in South Africa that pay up to R248,820 annually (about R20,735 monthly) without requiring a university degree.
• A career advice video by TikTok creator @harjot.ai broke down the three university degrees offering South African graduates the highest job security: Health Sciences, Computer Science, and Engineering.
• A viral social media breakdown outlined lucrative career pathways in Mzansi that do not require a matric certificate, emphasising vocational skills, trade certifications, and hands-on experience.

Source: Briefly News