The doctor salary in South Africa is worth knowing for anyone who intends to practice in the country.
An entry-level Doctor, with less than a year of experience, can earn an average total stipend (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of R405,835 based on 18 salaries in South Africa.
An early career medical Doctor, General Practice with 1-4 years of experience earns an average of R450,946 based on 136 salaries. While a mid-career Doctor, General Practice with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R591,300 based on 66 salaries in South Africa.
Whereas an experienced medical doctor, with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R824,242 based on 47 salaries.
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Introduction to the Doctor salary in South Africa
Although practicing as a physician in South Africa is lucrative in both public and private sectors. With relatively low costs of living, one can live a financially secure lifestyle as a medical doctor in South Africa.
The table shows a raw estimate of the median annual doctor salary in south Africa at varying levels
| Grade | working Year | Salary in Rands |
| Fresher | 3+ | 487 000 |
| Early career medical doctor | 5+ | 557 000 |
| Experienced | 10+ | 646 000 |
| General Practice | 4 | 300 000 – 500 000 |
| Consultant | – | 500 000 + |
From the table above it seems like the general practitioner earns the least, don’t get it twisted there are more to that.
The work of a general practitioner, or general physician, is to diagnose and assist patients with routine checkups and examinations.
A general physician is the first person whom patients will see when an illness or ailment is troubling them.
Therefore, a physician must be able to complete a number of tasks, including collecting, recording, and maintaining patient information such as medical histories, reports, and examination results.
Although, the general practitioner generally works for a private clinic or hospital. He or she must be capable of working with a number of nurses, assistants, and other practitioners in order to ensure the best possible treatment for the patient.
The works of a general practitioner are demanding like other specialties. A physician must be able to remain on his or her feet for long periods, as well as be able to lift and move heavy medical equipment.
Is essential to note that there are different specialties for doctors in South Africa as well as the whole world and each specialization requires a unique skill and training to be outstanding.
Is no doubt that some specializations are more demanding than others although all lies in a personal interest and choice. Is important to note, “variations in the salaries of the medical doctors, depends on the area of specialization and other important factors such as location”.
In this article, the two principal determinants of doctor salary in South Africa would be considered in relation to working experience.
Some specialties have low demand compared to others and such might affect the average doctor salary in South Africa.
Below are the different specializations groups in medicine
- The Surgical specialties focus on manually operative and instrumental techniques to treat disease.
- Medical specialties deal with the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of disease.
- Diagnostic specialties concentrate on the diagnosis of diseases.
What are the surgical specialties?
According to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American College of Surgeons recognizes 14 surgical specialties namely:
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Colon and rectal surgery
- General surgery
- Gynecology and obstetrics
- Gynecologic oncology
- Neurological surgery
- Ophthalmic surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Orthopedic surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Pediatric surgery maxillofacial
- Plastic and surgery
- Urology surgery
- Vascular surgery
General surgeons are trained to manage a broad spectrum of surgical conditions affecting different parts of the human body.
A surgeon is involved in the diagnosis, provides preoperative, operative, and post-operative care to patients, and is often responsible for critically sick patients.
Compared to doctors’ salaries in South Africa, the mean annual salary of a medical specialist in the US as of 2006 was $175,011 and $272,000 for surgeons.
The table below details the average range of salaries for physicians in the United States of America of some of the specialties as of July 2010.
| Specialties | Median salary (USD) | Average hours
work/week |
Anaesthesia |
331,000 to $423,507 | 61 |
| Dermatology | 313,100 to $480,088 | 45.5 |
| Emergency medicine | 239,000 to $316,296 | 46 |
| Cardiac Surgery | 218,684 to $500,000 | 55 |
| Family medicine | 175,000 to $220,196 | 52.5 |
| Internal medicine | 184,200 to $231,691 | 57 |
| Neurology | 213,000 to $301,327 | 55.5 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 251,500 to $326,924 | 61 |
| Ophthalmology | 150,000 to $351,000 | 47 |
| Orthopedic surgery | 397,879 to $600,000 | 58 |
| Otolaryngology | 191,000 to $393,000 | 53.5 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 260,000 to $440,210 | 53 |
| Pediatrics | 160,111 to $228,750 | 54 |
| Psychiatry | 173,800 to $248,198 | 48 |
| Radiology (diagnostic) | 377,300 to $478,000 | 58 |
| Surgery (general) | 284,642 to $383,333 | 60 |
| Urology | 331,192 to $443,518 | 60.5 |
| Neurosurgery | 350,000 to $705,000 | |
| Plastic surgery | 265,000 to $500,000 | |
| Gastroenterology | 251,026 to $396,450 |
Doctor salary in South Africa considering some of the specialties
- Neurosurgeon
- Obstetrician
- Dermatologist
- Pediatrician
- Surgeons Salary In South Africa
- Dentist
- Neurologist
Neurosurgeon
The average doctor salary in South Africa is R 3,470,022 or with an equivalent of R 1,668 hourly rate. The Neurosurgeon can also earn an average of R 834,540 as a bonus.
Obstetrician
On average, the salary of an Obstetrician in South Africa is R 1,697,493, he or she can equally earn an average of R 108,300 as a bonus.
Obstetrician Salary in south Africa by experience
An Obstetrician with (1-3 years of experience) R 1,139,110
The average level Obstetrician (4-8 years of experience) R 1,697,493
A senior-level Obstetrician (8+ years of experience) R 2,267,770.
Dermatologist
On average, the salary of a Dermatologist in South Africa is R 1,766,377 or with an equivalent of R 849 hourly rate, may also earn an average of R 106,689 as a bonus.
Dermatologist Salary in South Africa by experience
An entry-level Dermatologist (1-3 years of experience) R 1,183,522
The average level Dermatologist (4-8 years of experience) R 1,766,377
A senior-level Dermatologist (8+ years of experience) R 2,370,670
Pediatrician
The average salary of a Pediatrician in South Africa is R 1,264,509 or with an equivalent of R 408 hourly rate. The Pediatrician can also earn an average of R 52,983 as a bonus.
Pediatrician Salary in south Africa by experience
- An entry-level Pediatrician (1-3 years of experience) R 861,529
- The average Pediatrician (4-8 years of experience) R 1,264,509
- A senior Pediatrician doctor (8+ years of experience) R 1,650,400.
Surgeons Salary In South Africa
The average salary of a surgeon in South Africa is R 2,222,117 or with an equivalent of R 1,068 hourly rate. The surgeon can also earn an average of R 208,435 as a bonus.
Surgeon Salary in South Africa by experience
- An entry-level surgeon (1-3 years of experience) R 1,459,240
- The average level surgeon (4-8 years of experience) R 2,222,117
- A senior-level surgeon (8+ years of experience) R 3,094,046
Dentist
The average doctor salary in South Africa for a dentist is R 1,081,229 or with an equivalent of R 520 hourly rate. The dentist can also earn an average of R 37,735 as a bonus.
Dentist Salary in south Africa by experience
An entry-level dentist (1-3 years of experience) R 745,533
An average level dentist (4-8 years of experience) R 1,081,229
A senior-level dentist (8+ years of experience) R 1,367,920
Neurologist
The average salary of a Neurologist in South Africa is R 1,572,642 or with an equivalent of R 756 hourly rate. The Neurologist can also earn an average of R 86,967 as a bonus.
Neurologist Salary in south Africa by experience
An entry-level Neurologist (1-3 years of experience) R 1,060,169
An average level Neurologist (4-8 years of experience) R 1,572,642
A senior-level Neurologist (8+ years of experience) R 2,084,837
A senior-level Psychiatrist (8+ years of experience) R 1,596,511
Gynecologist
The average salary of a Gynecologist in South Africa is R 1,733,165 or with an equivalent of R 833 hourly rate. The Gynecologist can also earn an average of R 110,749 as a bonus.
Gynecologist Salary in south Africa by experience
An entry-level Gynecologist (1-3 years of experience) R 1,163,048
The average level Gynecologist (4-8 years of experience) R 1,733,165
A senior-level Gynecologist (8+ years of experience) R 2,320,761
Oncologist
The average salary of an Oncologist in South Africa is R 1,811,275 or with an equivalent of R 871 hourly rate. The Oncologist can also earn an average of R 122,080 as a bonus.
Oncologist Salary in south Africa by experience
An entry-level Oncologist (1-3 years of experience) R 1,211,746
The average level Oncologist (4-8 years of experience) R 1,811,275
A senior-level Oncologist (8+ years of experience) R 2,440,220
Psychiatrist
The average salary of a Psychiatrist in South Africa is R 1,225,147 or with an equivalent of R 589 hourly rate. The Psychiatrist can also earn an average of R 50,844 as a bonus.
Psychiatrist Salary in south Africa by experience
An entry-level Psychiatrist (1-3 years of experience) R 835,968
An average level Psychiatrist (4-8 years of experience) R 1,225,147
Medical Doctor salary South Africa by some of the locations
Capetown
The average salary of Doctors in Capetown is R 1,377,500 or an equivalent of R 662 hourly rate. This average salary in Capetown is about 8% (+R 105,610)
Bloemfontein
from our survey, the average salary of Doctors in Bloemfontein, South Africa is R 890,361 or an equivalent of R 428 hourly rate. This average salary in Bloemfontein is about 30% (-R 381,529) higher than what is obtained from the calculation of the general average salary in South Africa.
Kimberly, South Africa
The average salary of doctors in Kimberly, South Africa is R 918,330 or an equivalent of R 442 hourly rate. This average salary in Kimberly is about 28% (-R 353,560) lower than what is obtained from the calculation of the general average salary in South Africa
Johannesburg
From analysis, the average salary of Doctors in Johannesburg is R 1,695,443 or an equivalent of R 815 per hour. This average salary in Johannesburg is about 33% (+R 423,553) higher than what is obtained from the calculation of the general average salary in South Africa
Durban
From the survey, noticed that the average doctor salary in South Africa is R 1,102,757, or an equivalent of R 530 hourly rate.
This average salary in Durban is about 13% (-R 169,133) lower than what is obtained from the calculation of the general average salary in South Africa. In addition to this, doctors in Durban can earn up to an average of R 45,434 as a bonus.
Conclusion on the doctor salary in South Africa
There are variations in the doctor salary in South Africa, which makes it hard to really give an exact amount for a particular field of specialization.
These variations are a result of different factors of employment as explained earlier.
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