Pay by Role
South Africa · Salary comparison

Nurse Practitioner vs Surgeon salary

In South Africa, a surgeon earns about 107% more than a nurse practitioner $109,462 vs $52,896 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

Healthcare
Nurse Practitioner
$52,896/yr
Monthly
$4,409
Hourly
$25
Range
$38,617$70,355
10-yr outlook
+45%
Pays more
Healthcare
Surgeon
$109,462/yr
Monthly
$9,124
Hourly
$53
Range
$70,056$157,625
10-yr outlook
+3%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileNurse PractitionerSurgeon
Entry (10th)$38,617$70,056
25th$45,754$89,759
Median$52,896$109,462
75th$61,623$133,543
Senior (90th)$70,355$157,625

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 surgeon earn more in South Africa?
A surgeon earns more, at about R 1 790 000 per year vs R 865 000 for a nurse practitioner — roughly 107% (R 925 000) 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 surgeon earns R 1 145 600–R 2 577 600 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 surgeon about R 149 200.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Africa, a nurse practitioner earns about R 631 500 while a surgeon earns about R 1 145 600 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 surgeon earns about R 2 577 600 per year.
Are nurse practitioner and surgeon 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.