Mechanical engineers design power-producing machines, such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines, as well as power-using machines, such as refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. Mechanical engineers design other machines inside buildings, such as elevators and escalators
Below are salaries earn by Mechanical Engineers Earn In South Africa
A person working as a Mechanical Engineer in South Africa typically earns around 31,500 ZAR per month. Salaries range from 14,500 ZAR (lowest) to 50,100 ZAR (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Mechanical Engineer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Mechanical Engineer Salary Distribution in South Africa
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Mechanical Engineer salaries in South Africa range from 14,500 ZAR per month (minimum salary) to 50,100 ZAR per month (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 34,000 ZAR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Mechanical Engineer(s) are earning less than 34,000 ZAR while the other half are earning more than 34,000 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 Mechanical Engineer(s) are earning less than 21,800 ZAR while 75% of them are earning more than 21,800 ZAR. Also from the diagram, 75% of Mechanical Engineer(s) are earning less than 45,400 ZAR while 25% are earning more than 45,400 ZAR.
Mechanical Engineer 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 Mechanical Engineer salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Mechanical Engineer with less than two years of experience makes approximately 16,400 ZAR per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 22,000 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 32,500 ZAR per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Mechanical Engineer(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 39,600 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 43,100 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 46,700 ZAR per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Mechanical Engineer average salary change by experience in South Africa
| 0 – 2 Years | 16,400 ZAR | |
| 2 – 5 Years | +34% | 22,000 ZAR |
| 5 – 10 Years | +48% | 32,500 ZAR |
| 10 – 15 Years | +22% | 39,600 ZAR |
| 15 – 20 Years | +9% | 43,100 ZAR |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 46,700 ZAR |
Mechanical Engineer 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 Mechanical Engineer salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor’s Degree, the average salary of a Mechanical Engineer is 19,100 ZAR per month.
While someone with a Master’s Degree gets a salary of 36,900 ZAR per month, 93% more than someone having a Bachelor’s Degree degree.
Mechanical Engineer average salary difference by education level in South Africa
| Bachelor’s Degree | 19,100 ZAR | |
| Master’s Degree | +93% | 36,900 ZAR |
Mechanical Engineer 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 Mechanical Engineer employees in South Africa earn 12% more than their female counterparts on average.
| Male | 33,200 ZAR | |
| Female | -11% | 29,700 ZAR |
Mechanical Engineer Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in South Africa
How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for Mechanical Engineer(s)
? How often do employees get salary raises?
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer(s) in South Africa are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 11% every 19 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 18 months.
Mechanical Engineer Bonus and Incentive Rates in South Africa
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
A Mechanical Engineer 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 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus
58%
No Bonus
42%
Mechanical Engineer Average Hourly Wage in South Africa
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in South Africa is 180 ZAR. This means that the average Mechanical Engineer in South Africa earns approximately 180 ZAR for every worked hour.
Which engineering has highest salary in South Africa?
At the top are software engineers who are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software programs. They usually have a degree in computer science and programming. A software engineer can earn about 1.2 million Rands annually. The second high paying job in South Africa is that of a pilot.
What is the highest salary for a mechanical engineer South Africa?
The average mechanical engineer salary in South Africa is R 720 000 per year or R 369 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 360 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 7 800 000 per year.
How much does a junior mechanical engineer earn in South Africa?
The average junior mechanical engineer salary in South Africa is R 240 000 per year or R 123 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 192 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 4 224 000 per year.
How much do mechanical technicians earn in South Africa?
The average mechanical technician salary in South Africa is R 300 000 per year or R 154 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 214 502 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 3 184 562 per year.
Is Mechanical Engineering a good career in South Africa?
Working in two of the most in-demand fields in South Africa, energy and mechanical engineering technologists are especially well-paid. To qualify, a bTech is strongly advised. An engineering technologist earns an average salary of R295, 225 per year and up to R575, 784 according to Payscale.
Are Mechanical Engineers in demand in South Africa ?
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS ARE IN DEMAND:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected Mechanical Engineers employment rate will go up by 9% by 2026. Driving this growth are innovations within the automation, medical device, biotechnology and aerospace industries.