Pay by Role
Education · South Africa

Professor Salary in South Africa

Professors teach at the college level and often conduct original research in their field. The South Africa median is $36,018 per year. Pick a city below for a local breakdown.

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

National median
$36,018
per year
Monthly (national)
$3,003
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$36,018
Cape Town, ZA
Hourly (national)
$17.32
varies by city

Professor salary by city in South Africa

CityPer year
Cape Town, ZA$36,018
Durban, ZA$36,018
Pretoria, ZA$36,018
Gqeberha, ZA$36,018
Pietermaritzburg, ZA$36,018
Bloemfontein, ZA$36,018
East London, ZA$36,018
Vereeniging, ZA$36,018
Welkom, ZA$36,018
Newcastle, ZA$36,018
Krugersdorp, ZA$36,018
Johannesburg, ZA$25,195

Professor salary in other countries

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Related Education salaries in South Africa

TeacherSchool Principal

Frequently asked questions

How much does a professor make in South Africa?
The national median professor salary in South Africa is about R 589 000 per year (R 49 100 per month). Across 12 cities, pay ranges from about R 412 000 to R 589 000.
Which South Africa city pays professors the most?
Cape Town, ZA pays the most at about R 589 000 per year.
Which South Africa city pays professors the least?
Among cities we cover, Johannesburg, ZA is on the lower end at about R 412 000 per year for a professor.
What is the typical salary range for a professor in South Africa?
Across South Africa cities we cover, professor pay commonly spans from about R 311 000 at the entry end in lower-paying markets up to about R 848 200 for senior pay in higher-paying cities. Open a city page for the full local percentile band.
How many South Africa cities have professor salary data?
Pay by Role publishes professor pay for 12 cities in South Africa, all shown in ZAR.
Is professor in demand in South Africa?
Employment for this role is projected to change by about +8% over the next decade. Related education roles on Pay by Role include Teacher, School Principal.