Biomedical scientists are responsible for investigating and diagnosing patient illnesses such as HIV, cancer, diabetes, food poisoning, hepatitis and meningitis. Most work is laboratory-based.
Biomedical Scientist Salaries In South Africa
A person working as a Biomedical Scientist in South Africa typically earns around 73,600 ZAR per month. Salaries range from 33,800 ZAR (lowest) to 117,000 ZAR (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Biomedical Scientist salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Biomedical Scientist salaries in South Africa range from 33,800 ZAR per month (minimum salary) to 117,000 ZAR per month (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 79,400 ZAR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Medical Scientist(s) are earning less than 79,400 ZAR while the other half are earning more than 79,400 ZAR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Medical Scientist(s) are earning less than 51,000 ZAR while 75% of them are earning more than 51,000 ZAR. Also from the diagram, 75% of Medical Scientist(s) are earning less than 106,000 ZAR while 25% are earning more than 106,000 ZAR.
Biomedical Scientist Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does experience and age affect your pay?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Biomedical Scientist salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Biomedical Scientist with less than two years of experience makes approximately 38,400 ZAR per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 51,300 ZAR per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year’s experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 75,800 ZAR per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Biomedical Scientist(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 92,400 ZAR per month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 101,000 ZAR per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 109,000 ZAR per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Biomedical Scientist average salary change by experience in South Africa
| 0 – 2 Years | 38,400 ZAR | |
| 2 – 5 Years | +34% | 51,300 ZAR |
| 5 – 10 Years | +48% | 75,800 ZAR |
| 10 – 15 Years | +22% | 92,400 ZAR |
| 15 – 20 Years | +9% | 101,000 ZAR |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 109,000 ZAR |
Biomedical Scientist Salary Comparison By Education
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Biomedical Scientistsalaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor’s Degree, the average salary of a Medical Scientist is 43,800 ZAR per month.
While someone with a Master’s Degree gets a salary of 68,700 ZAR per month, 57% more than someone having a Bachelor’s Degree degree.
A PhD gets its holder an average salary of 115,000 ZAR per month, 68% more than someone with a Master’s Degree.
Biomedical Scientist average salary difference by education level in South Africa
| Bachelor’s Degree | 43,800 ZAR | |
| Master’s Degree | +57% | 68,700 ZAR |
| PhD | +68% | 115,000 ZAR |
Biomedical Scientist Salary Comparison By Gender
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Biomedical Scientist employees in South Africa earn 12% more than their female counterparts on average.
| Male | 77,700 ZAR | |
| Female | -11% | 69,500 ZAR |
Biomedical Scientist Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in South Africa
How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for Medical Scientist(s)? How often do employees get salary raises?
Medical Scientist
Biomedical Scientist(s) in South Africa are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 13% every 19 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 18 months.
Biomedical Scientist Bonus and Incentive Rates in South Africa
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
A Biomedical Scientist is considered to be a moderate bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement indirect revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
39% of surveyed staff reported that they haven’t received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 61% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus
61%
No Bonus
39%
Biomedical Scientist Average Hourly Wage in South Africa
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in South Africa is 420 ZAR. This means that the average Medical Scientist in South Africa earns approximately 420 ZAR for every worked hour.
What does a Biomedical Scientist earn in South Africa?
The average salary for a Biomedical Scientist in SA is R 187 404 gross per year (R 15 620 gross per month), which is 34% lower than the South Africa’s national average salary. Salary Range: a Biomedical Scientist can expect an average starting salary of R 125 000. The highest salaries can exceed R 303 120.
How do I become a Biomedical Scientist in South Africa?
In order to qualify as a Biomedical Scientist, you will need to obtain a formal qualification. This qualification will come from the Health Sciences faculty – you will either study towards a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Sciences or a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Sciences.
Is biomedical science a good degree in South Africa?
Biomedicine represents the interface between medicine and biology. South Africa is in great need of skilled workers in the science and technology fields, and students studying MGI’s BSc in Biomedicine degree can be assured of gaining both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field.
Which university is best for biomedical science in South Africa?
Stellenbosch University.
University of Cape Town.
University of Pretoria.
University of Witwatersrand.
University of KwaZulu Natal.
How many years does it take to become a biomedical scientist in South Africa ?
program in biological sciences, which takes around six years of study and allows them to specialize in their chosen field, or they can choose to enroll in a medical doctor program at medical college, which takes around 7 to 8 years of study.
What can I do with a biomedical science degree in South Africa?
Biomedical Scientist.
Forensic Scientist.
Healthcare Scientist.
Medical Sales Representative.
Microbiologist.
Research Scientist.
Science Journalist/Writer.
Do I need to go to med school to be a biomedical scientist in South Africa ?
To become a biomedical scientist, you need a bachelor’s degree in a scientific subject like biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, or bio-engineering. Some biomedical scientists also hold a doctor of medicine degree.
Are medical scientists in demand in South Africa?
Demand for Doctors in Africa
There is a huge demand for medical specializations in South Africa to meet the needs of its rate the of population which is growing at a rate of 1.58% a year.