Environmental Engineer pay in South Africa: Johannesburg leads, Johannesburg trails
The South Africa national median for a environmental engineer is R 616 000 a year. Among 1 metros with observed data, pay runs from about R 431 000 in Johannesburg to R 431 000 in Johannesburg (1×).
Environmental engineers design solutions to protect and improve the environment. Common screening skills include Water systems, Remediation, Regulations, and Analysis.
A modeled national band runs about R 427 500–R 846 400 around that midpoint. Licensing and immigration rules are independent of this cash sort. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +7% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every South African city.
When metro percentiles appear, prefer those over this national midpoint for a named city. Until then, treat R 616 000 as a country-level sketch and pressure-test any offer with tax and cost-of-living tools.
South Africa shows about 3.2% CPI in 2025. A environmental engineer raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby engineering titles on this site include Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, and Chemical Engineer.
How to use Environmental Engineer pay data in South Africa
Start with the national median (R 616 000), then pick the metro where you would actually work. Observed city rows below are stronger than a pay-index guess. If your city is missing, stay on this page for the country figure and check the South Africa hub for other careers.
Convert gross through the salary calculator before comparing two cities — tax and rent often reorder a cash ranking. Figures are estimates for research, not employer bands.
National band vs top metro
National sketch: R 427 500 (10th) → R 616 000 (median) → R 846 400 (90th). Johannesburg’s observed median is R 431 000, with a local band about R 294 000–R 634 000. If an offer is “at the South Africa median” but the job is in Johannesburg, you may still be under local market.