How To Become A Software Engineer In South Africa

A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software.

What’s the Employment Outlook for a Software Engineer?

The employment outlook for software engineers is very positive. Employment of software developers is projected to grow by 22 percent between 2019 and 2029. This growth is much faster than the average growth for all other occupations in the United States during the same period, which is just four percent.

How Much Does a Software Engineer Make?

According to the South Africa. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, the median annual wage for software developers was R 1588012.93. (The BLS lumps software developers and engineers into the same category.) In the same year, the lowest 10 percent of software engineer earned less than R 948878.72, and the highest 10 percent earned more than R 2431132.44.

Here are the estimated salaries for software engineers across a range of experience levels: 

Level of ExperienceEstimated Salary
Entry levelR 948878.72
Mid levelR 1588012.93
High levelR 2431132.44

Below are steps to Become A Software Engineer In South Africa

Step 1: Take the Right Classes in High School

During high school, it’s important to take as many math and science courses as you can to start you on the right path. Software engineering requires the kind of logic and reasoning you’ll learn in math and science courses.

If your school offers any kind of computer science, computer programming, or engineering courses, plan to take those as well. 

Step 2: Choose an Educational Path

When thinking about how to become a software developer, there are two main educational paths you can take: getting a college degree, or completing an alternative training program. You’ll need to think about your goals and future career trajectory before deciding which path to take. 

Step 3: Choose a Specialization and Start Practicing

Software engineering is one of those fields that values real-world practice. Many of the most successful software engineers spend lots of time learning programming languages, designing systems for fun, and practicing their coding skills. The good news is that you can practice all of these skills outside of a classroom, too. 

Step 4: Get Required Certifications (Maybe)

The next step in how to become a software engineer is getting certifications in the programming languages you’re trained in. Unfortunately, though, the field isn’t in total agreement about the importance of certifications.

Some are considered outdated, and some companies don’t require them at all. Like with other aspects of how to become a software developer, you’ll have to do research on what certain companies expect to decide if pursuing certifications is worth your time.

How do you become a software engineer in South Africa?

A person who has obtained a recognized BSc (Eng) or BEng degree is eligible for registration as Engineer in Training. After gaining at least 3 years of appropriate practical experience, a computer engineer may register as a Professional Engineer under the auspices of the Engineering Council of South Africa.

Where can I study to become a software engineer in South Africa?

WHERE CAN I STUDY?

University of the Witwatersrand. Various Programmes.

University of Cape Town. Various Programmes.

North-West University. Various Programmes.

University of Johannesburg. Various Programmes.

University of Pretoria. Various Programmes.

University of Stellenbosch.

UNISA.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

How long does it take to become a software developer in South Africa?

The new route – With just 6-12 months of full or part-time education, you can learn focussed skills in software development and cover the fundamentals of Computer Science. Software development is one of the few fields where you don’t need a formal degree or diploma to get a job.

How many software engineers are in South Africa?

The top-17 software development countries in Africa consists of: South Africa – 133,195. Egypt – 125,270. Nigeria – 114,536.

Which university is best for Software Engineering in South Africa?

In the 2020 field of study ranking, seven South African universities placed among the top 1000 for technology, with six in the ranking for engineering.

Computer Science.

Global rankUniversity
501-600University of Cape Town
501-600University of Pretoria
501-600Stellenbosch University
601-800University of Johannesburg

How much does a junior software engineer earn in South Africa?

In the middle: Mid-career software developers 5 years experience or more will be earning R37,000 – R45,000. The newbies: Junior software developers in South Africa typically start off in the range of R14,000 – R24,000.

Is software engineers in demand in South Africa?

Software development continues to be the most in-demand job in South Africa. During 2018, numerous reputable sources reported that software development was the most in-demand job in South Africa and in various countries across the globe. Not much has changed in 2019.

How much are engineers paid in South Africa?

On average a skilled automotive engineer earns between R26 922 and R32 202 per month in SA and a senior automotive engineer between R29 917 and R43 333 per month. Salaries for civil engineers range from R30 862 to R57 073 per month, while electrical engineers earn between R33 981 and R56 218 per month.