Pay by Role
South Africa · Salary comparison

Data Engineer vs Product Manager salary

In South Africa, a product manager earns about 10% more than a data engineer $59,134 vs $53,936 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is ZAR). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Technology
Data Engineer
$53,936/yr
Monthly
$4,495
Hourly
$26
Range
$34,520$77,669
10-yr outlook
+30%
Pays more
Technology
Product Manager
$59,134/yr
Monthly
$4,929
Hourly
$28
Range
$35,187$88,407
10-yr outlook
+19%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileData EngineerProduct Manager
Entry (10th)$34,520$35,187
25th$44,225$47,160
Median$53,936$59,134
75th$65,799$73,767
Senior (90th)$77,669$88,407

National South Africa figures in ZAR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a data engineer or product manager earn more in South Africa?
A product manager earns more, at about R 967 000 per year vs R 882 000 for a data engineer — roughly 10% (R 85 000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Africa?
A data engineer typically earns R 564 500–R 1 270 100, while a product manager earns R 575 400–R 1 445 700 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Africa?
On a monthly basis before tax, a data engineer averages about R 73 500 and a product manager about R 80 600.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Africa, a data engineer earns about R 564 500 while a product manager earns about R 575 400 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Africa, a data engineer earns about R 1 270 100 while a product manager earns about R 1 445 700 per year.
Are data engineer and product manager similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Technology category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.