A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual cell, a multicellular organism, or a community of interacting populations. They usually specialize in a particular branch of biology and have a specific research focus.
Below are salaries earn by A Biologist In South Africa
A person working as a Biologist in South Africa typically earns around 70,100 ZAR per month. Salaries range from 34,300 ZAR (lowest) to 109,000 ZAR (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Biologist salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Biologist Salary Distribution in South Africa
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Biologist salaries in South Africa range from 34,300 ZAR per month (minimum salary) to 109,000 ZAR per month (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 71,500 ZAR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Biologist(s) are earning less than 71,500 ZAR while the other half are earning more than 71,500 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 Biologist(s) are earning less than 47,600 ZAR while 75% of them are earning more than 47,600 ZAR. Also from the diagram, 75% of Biologist(s) are earning less than 92,200 ZAR while 25% are earning more than 92,200 ZAR.
Biologist 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 Biologist salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Biologist with less than two years of experience makes approximately 40,700 ZAR per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 52,300 ZAR per month, 29% more than someone with less than two year’s experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 72,200 ZAR per month, 38% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Biologist(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 89,400 ZAR per month, 24% 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 95,800 ZAR per month, 7% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 102,000 ZAR per month, 7% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Biologist average salary change by experience in South Africa
| 0 – 2 Years | 40,700 ZAR | |
| 2 – 5 Years | +29% | 52,300 ZAR |
| 5 – 10 Years | +38% | 72,200 ZAR |
| 10 – 15 Years | +24% | 89,400 ZAR |
| 15 – 20 Years | +7% | 95,800 ZAR |
| 20+ Years | +7% | 102,000 ZAR |
Biologist 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 Biologist salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor’s Degree, the average salary of a Biologist is 47,800 ZAR per month.
While someone with a Master’s Degree gets a salary of 65,800 ZAR per month, 38% more than someone having a Bachelor’s Degree degree.
A PhD gets its holder an average salary of 108,000 ZAR per month, 64% more than someone with a Master’s Degree.
Biologist average salary difference by education level in South Africa
| Bachelor’s Degree | 47,800 ZAR | |
| Master’s Degree | +38% | 65,800 ZAR |
| PhD | +64% | 108,000 ZAR |
Biologist 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 Biologist employees in South Africa earn 8% more than their female counterparts on average
| Male | 72,300 ZAR | |
| Female | -7% | 67,000 ZAR |
Biologist Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in South Africa
How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for Biologist(s)?
How often do employees get salary raises?
Biologist
Biologist(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.
Biologist Bonus and Incentive Rates in South Africa
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
A Biologist is considered to be a moderate bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
42% of surveyed staff reported that they haven’t received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 58% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus
58%
No Bonus
42%
Biologist Average Hourly Wage in South Africa
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in South Africa is 400 ZAR. This means that the average Biologist in South Africa earns approximately 400 ZAR for every worked hour.
How much money does a Biologist make in South Africa?
The average pay for a Biologist is ZAR 392,227 a year and ZAR 189 an hour in South Africa. The average salary range for a Biologist is between ZAR 281,316 and ZAR 489,385. On average, a Bachelor’s Degree is the highest level of education for a Biologist.
Where can a biologist work in South Africa ?
Most biologists are employed by governmental agencies, universities, or private industry laboratories. Many biologists at universities are also professors, and spend most of their time teaching students research methods, assisting with the development of the students’ projects, as well as working on their own projects.
Is a biology degree worth it in South Africa ?
Many people with biology degrees become doctors. In fact, biology degrees are the No. 1 bachelor’s degree that aspiring doctors earn before starting medical school; this type of degree provides a good foundation for students interested in medicine.
What do biologists do in South Africa ?
A Day in the Life of a Biologist. Biologists study humans, plants, animals, and the environments in which they live. They may conduct their studies–human medical research, plant research, animal research, environmental system research–at the cellular level or the ecosystem level or anywhere in between.
What are the benefits of being a biologist in South Africa ?
Pros of Pursuing a Biology Major
Lots of opportunities. Biology graduates are highly sought after as candidates for medical, dental, and veterinary schools.
High salaries.
Opportunities for world-class research.
Learn important problem-solving skills.
How many hours does a biologist work in South Africa ?
Biologists usually work 40 hours per week in offices and laboratories where they spend time researching and analyzing data. In some jobs, you may have to work overtime for certain research projects in order to meet deadlines.