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In South Africa, published figures put pay for a journalist at R 13,505–R 43,127 a month.

5 figures from 3 documents by WageIndicator, quoted as printed · updated 1 Nov 2026

Published rates R 13,505–R 43,127 a month3 figures
Sources 1 document3 figures from 1 body

What journalist work in South Africa pays, according to the documents that set rates there, each quoted as printed. How the pay guide works →

What the published rates say

Month

Monthly after 5 years’ service, 45-hour weekWageIndicator · Crowdsourced list R 19,072–R 32,999
Monthly salary range for most journalistsWageIndicator · Crowdsourced list R 13,505–R 43,127
Monthly net at the start of the jobWageIndicator · Crowdsourced list R 13,505–R 23,952

Each published rate as a day's pay

US$ a day at the ECB rate for the month. A month is 12 payments over 260 working days, or 13 or 14 where the agreement says so; a year is 260 days; a shift counts as a day.

Type of workWhatAs printedUS$ a daySource
On staffMonthly net at the start of the jobR 13,505–R 23,952 a month$52.31WageIndicator · Crowdsourced list
On staffMonthly after 5 years’ service, 45-hour weekR 19,072–R 32,999 a month$72.72WageIndicator · Crowdsourced list
On staffMonthly salary range for most journalistsR 13,505–R 43,127 a month$79.09WageIndicator · Crowdsourced list

Every figure, as printed

Open a row for the wording in the document and its dates.

Printedfrom R13 505 to R43 127 per month - 2026 DocumentSouth Africa journalists’ salary range, WageIndicator (2026) · Crowdsourced list StatusIn force
Printedbetween R13 505 and R23 952 net per month at the start of the job DocumentSouth Africa journalists’ salary range, WageIndicator (2026) · Crowdsourced list StatusIn force
Printedbetween R19 072 and R32 999 per month for a working week of 45 hours DocumentSouth Africa journalists’ salary range, WageIndicator (2026) · Crowdsourced list StatusIn force
Printeda 4.5% salary increase for non-unionised employees in the 2025/26 financial year DocumentSABC salary increase of 4.5% for 2025/26, from 1 Nov 2025 · Employers’ offer StatusIn talks · 1 Nov 2025
Printed6% increase DocumentSABC wage deal of 6% for 2023/24, Apr 2024 · Collective agreement StatusReplaced or expired

Questions people ask

In South Africa, published figures put pay for a journalist at R 13,505–R 43,127 a month.

WageIndicator, in 3 documents.

About this data. These rates are compiled from publicly available sources and quoted as printed, with their date. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any figure. For information only: Journalist.net does not recommend or set rates. How we count