“That’s a Lot of Money”: Man Lists SA’s Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs on TikTok
- A TikTok video revealed South Africa’s top 10 highest-paying jobs, from petroleum engineers to neurosurgeons
- The ranking listed monthly salaries ranging from R67,000 to R417,000, sparking debates about careers and opportunities
- The video went viral with over 12,000 likes and 1,200 shares in one day, though the figures were only estimates
South Africans engaged in lively debates after a viral TikTok listed the country’s top-paying jobs, from engineers to surgeons, with earnings in the hundreds of thousands.
Source: TikTok
A South African TikTok creator, @justrandomstats, caused a stir on 16 September 2025 after posting a video ranking the top 10 highest-paying jobs in South Africa. The clip quickly gained traction, with more than 12,000 likes and 1,200 shares in just one day. The video broke down monthly earning estimates for various careers, sparking conversations about salaries and aspirations.
The list began with petroleum engineers at number 10, who can earn about R116,000 per month, followed by airline pilots at ninth place with roughly R125,000. In eighth came software architects earning R150,000, while corporate lawyers sat at seventh with around R67,000. Mining engineers took sixth place with R183,000, and actuaries ranked fifth with about R250,000.
Neurosurgeons lead the salary rankings
The top four jobs included ship captains earning about R292,000, radiation oncologists at R300,000, cardiothoracic surgeons at R375,000, and finally neurosurgeons at number one with an impressive R417,000 per month. While many users were impressed, @justrandomstats made it clear that these figures are estimates rather than guarantees, depending on experience, demand, and specialisation.
The video sparked debate online, with people discussing education costs, career accessibility, and the sacrifices behind such high salaries. Some praised the transparency, while others joked about needing a career switch. Regardless, the clip gave South Africans a snapshot of where the country’s biggest earners can be found and opened up important conversations about work, money, and opportunity.
Source: TikTok
Mzansi reacted to the video
User6022489523880 commented:
"Nope, 1st place is an ANC politician where you earn billions per year. 😳"
Kekana wrote:
"Here is my Top 5: 5) Zama Zama, 4) Traffic Cop, 3) Chiefs Soccer Player, 2) Company CEO, 1) ANC Politician."
Lamiin said:
"Life is so unfair, 'cause there's an influencer/content creator out there making such without studying 7+ Years. 💔"
Unbox_kid added:
"The 'up to' isn’t correct. I know actuaries who are earning 700k per month in SA."
Rolf-Weichelt wrote:
"Pilots earn a lot more and are by far the highest earning in SA because most of them get paid under the table for spraying Chem Trails."
Noddy Badge wrote:
"What about pastors taking in R1.3m a month?"
MaBiyela said:
"1st place: Corruption."
@blessly_music typed:
"You forgot a Chief Marine Engineer, their salaries are almost equal to those of Ship Captains."
Check out the TikTok video below:
Reasons some careers pay higher in South Africa
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), several factors determine high-paying jobs in South Africa. The industry or sector plays a big role. Fields like finance, mining, information technology, engineering, law, and healthcare generally offer the highest salaries because they require specialised knowledge and skills.
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A physiotherapist’s payslip breakdown on TikTok sparked salary transparency in South Africa
Education and qualifications are also important. People with degrees, diplomas, or professional certifications usually earn more. Experience and seniority matter too, as managers or experts in their field often receive higher pay. Skills that are in short supply, such as data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and petroleum engineering, can attract premium salaries.
Location also affects pay, with big cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria offering more opportunities and higher wages than smaller towns. Lastly, the size and success of a company influence salaries, as large, profitable companies tend to pay better than smaller businesses.
3 other Briefly News stories about salaries
- A TikTok video revealed the salary of a 25-year-old receiving clerk, sparking discussions about pay and transparency.
- A South African teacher shared her salary and monthly expenses, prompting netizens to share opinions on black tax.
- A content creator and career coach shared a physiotherapist’s pay slip, earning viral attention on social media.
Hilary Sekgota, human interest head of desk at Briefly News, contributed to this article.
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Source: Briefly News
