Physiotherapist’s Payslip Revealed on TikTok Sparks Salary Transparency Talk

• A content creator and career coach shared a physiotherapist’s pay slip, earning viral attention on social media
• The payslip showed a gross salary of R38,975.08 with deductions of R9,582.75, leaving a net of R29,392.33
• Many viewers said they value Boni’s series for opening conversations around salary transparency
• Briefly News reached out to Boni Xaba, the content creator who shares anonymous payslips online, to gain insight into his motivation and the impact of his work on salary transparency

South Africans reacted strongly after a physiotherapist’s pay slip breakdown on TikTok highlighted real earnings and deductions.

A career coach and TikTok content creator, @liferesetwithboni, posted a video on 15 September 2025 that quickly gained attention with over 1,000 likes in just one day. Boni is known for creating content around payslips and salaries, sparking conversations about income transparency across South Africa. In her latest upload, she broke down the monthly payslip of a physiotherapist, leaving many netizens engaged in the comments section.

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The payslip revealed a basic salary of R33,102.75 with an additional rural allowance of R3,972.33, bringing the gross income to R38,975.08. Viewers were particularly struck by the deductions, which amounted to R9,582.75, leaving a net salary of R29,392.33. Many people online appreciated the openness, saying such insights help others better understand what professionals in different fields actually take home.

Salary transparency content goes viral

Boni’s content continues to grow in popularity as she highlights real numbers that aren’t always openly discussed. By breaking down different professions’ earnings, she has built a platform where people feel both informed and connected. For many, the physiotherapist’s payslip offered a perspective on how much goes into deductions compared to the gross salary.

The video is part of Boni’s broader mission to normalise money conversations, particularly in a country where salaries often remain a taboo subject. As more viewers engage with her uploads, it’s clear that her salary transparency series is sparking not only curiosity but also important dialogue about financial realities.

Boni explained that he started sharing payslips to highlight well-paying jobs that don’t require a university degree, particularly for artisans and tech professionals with certifications. He said the idea grew organically after receiving a real payslip from an artisan fitter, which went viral and sparked a wave of submissions from other professions. She said:

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“I was sharing career content and featuring salaries from Google like everybody else, so the idea here was to show people that there are jobs that pay well even without a degree, and those are artisans and people who work in tech with certifications only. That video went viral, with about 200K views in 24 hours. After that, all other professions came through, and it began a positive competition that sought to encourage others.”

On how he selects payslips and protects privacy, Boni emphasised that trust and confidentiality are central to his work. He explained that he never exposes identities and only shares payslips that are highly requested or represent rare careers. She said:

“The one thing that I feel has kept me going for almost 3 years now… is the fact that I've never gotten anyone into any trouble, and I protect people’s identities. Most payslips are on YouTube because I create longer videos there, and on TikTok, I publish the highly requested ones, rare careers, and something that people are not familiar with.”

Boni added that the posts often reveal how underpaid many workers are and that the discussions sparked by the videos help guide people toward alternative career paths, particularly in tech. She said:

“Most people are underpaid, and they don't even know it. The payslips are part of my bigger mission to help people with career explorations, understanding what they can do outside of their degree and current circumstances.”

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Mzansi reacted to the video

Fufu wrote:

"Same salary in government for physio, occupational therapist, optometrist, radiographer, dietician."

Refilwe said:

"This is decent. With a little bit of overtime, bro can hit 37K."

Letago la morena commented:

"So little. 🥲🥲"

Ben wa Lebowa88 wrote:

"Same salary as a process control room operator with only grade 12."

Sanele Nene said:

"Hi Boni, can you please reveal a payslip for a clinical associate if you come across it? 😃"

Bongani Selepe786 commented:

"Can you also do Correctional Services and Border Management Authority payslips?"

Nojaminmyscone wrote:

"Guys, these jobs y'all talking about where you make the same with only matric ke which companies. 😭"

Dr SS Maluleka said:

"Government does not pay. 😭💔"

Check out the TikTok video below:

3 other Briefly News stories about payslips

• A TikTok video revealed a South African retail pharmacist's payslip, sparking widespread discussion.
• A post drew major attention by showing how much one could earn after pursuing further training after matric.
• A TikTok video showing the payslip of a traffic officer from the Western Cape quickly drew attention.

Source: Briefly News