Pay by Role
South Africa · Salary comparison

QA Engineer vs Systems Administrator salary

In South Africa, a qa engineer earns about 20% more than a systems administrator $39,565 vs $33,083 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
Technology
QA Engineer
$39,565/yr
Monthly
$3,296
Hourly
$19
Range
$26,748$55,232
10-yr outlook
+20%
Technology
Systems Administrator
$33,083/yr
Monthly
$2,758
Hourly
$16
Range
$22,963$45,454
10-yr outlook
+4%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileQA EngineerSystems Administrator
Entry (10th)$26,748$22,963
25th$33,157$28,020
Median$39,565$33,083
75th$47,399$39,272
Senior (90th)$55,232$45,454

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

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a qa engineer or systems administrator earn more in South Africa?
A qa engineer earns more, at about R 647 000 per year vs R 541 000 for a systems administrator — roughly 20% (R 106 000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Africa?
A qa engineer typically earns R 437 400–R 903 200, while a systems administrator earns R 375 500–R 743 300 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Africa?
On a monthly basis before tax, a qa engineer averages about R 53 900 and a systems administrator about R 45 100.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Africa, a qa engineer earns about R 437 400 while a systems administrator earns about R 375 500 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Africa, a qa engineer earns about R 903 200 while a systems administrator earns about R 743 300 per year.
Are qa engineer and systems administrator 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.