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South Africa's 10 Highest-Paying Careers in 2026 — And What It Really Takes to Get There

From petroleum engineers earning R2.1 million annually to specialist surgeons and derivatives traders — we mapped the salaries, qualifications, and paths that lead to the top of South Africa's income ladder.

MzansiInsider Updated January 2026 Read Guide →

Salaries

  • Software Developer
    R480k – R990k p.a.
  • Chartered Accountant
    R610k – R1.2m p.a.
  • Registered Nurse
    R310k – R530k p.a.
  • Civil Engineer
    R530k – R940k p.a.
All Salaries →

Bursaries

  • Closing Soon
    Anglo American Engineering Bursary 2026
  • Open
    NSFAS 2026 — All Qualifying Students
  • Open
    Eskom Engineering Bursary Programme
  • Open
    Sasol Technology Bursary — STEM Fields
All Bursaries →

Learnerships

  • FNB Retail Banking NQF 5 Learnership
    Stipend: R4,500/month
  • Transnet Logistics & Supply Chain NQF 4
    Stipend: R3,800/month
  • Vodacom ICT Support NQF 5
    Stipend: R5,200/month
  • Department of Labour: Safety Management NQF 4
    Stipend: R3,200/month
All Learnerships →

Net Worth

  • Elon Musk
    SA-born · Tesla, SpaceX
    $1.3tn
  • Nathan Kirsh
    SA-born · Jetro / Restaurant Depot
    $20.3bn
  • Johann Rupert
    Luxury · Richemont
    $16.4bn
  • Nicky Oppenheimer
    Diamonds · De Beers
    $10.6bn
Full List →

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