Pay by Role
South Africa · Salary comparison

Nurse Practitioner vs Optometrist salary

In South Africa, a nurse practitioner earns about 4% more than a optometrist $52,896 vs $50,817 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

Pays more
Healthcare
Nurse Practitioner
$52,896/yr
Monthly
$4,409
Hourly
$25
Range
$38,617$70,355
10-yr outlook
+45%
Healthcare
Optometrist
$50,817/yr
Monthly
$4,238
Hourly
$24
Range
$37,095$67,585
10-yr outlook
+9%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileNurse PractitionerOptometrist
Entry (10th)$38,617$37,095
25th$45,754$43,956
Median$52,896$50,817
75th$61,623$59,201
Senior (90th)$70,355$67,585

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

More Healthcare comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a nurse practitioner or optometrist earn more in South Africa?
A nurse practitioner earns more, at about R 865 000 per year vs R 831 000 for a optometrist — roughly 4% (R 34 000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Africa?
A nurse practitioner typically earns R 631 500–R 1 150 500, while a optometrist earns R 606 600–R 1 105 200 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Africa?
On a monthly basis before tax, a nurse practitioner averages about R 72 100 and a optometrist about R 69 300.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Africa, a nurse practitioner earns about R 631 500 while a optometrist earns about R 606 600 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Africa, a nurse practitioner earns about R 1 150 500 while a optometrist earns about R 1 105 200 per year.
Are nurse practitioner and optometrist similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Healthcare 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.