In South Africa, published figures put pay for a journalist at R 13,505–R 43,127 a month.
Published rates
R 13,505–R 43,127 a month
Sources
1 document
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
On staff · 3 figures
R 13,505–R 23,952 a month
R 13,505–R 43,127 a month
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 work | What | As printed | US$ a day | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On staff | Monthly net at the start of the job | R 13,505–R 23,952 a month | $52.31 | WageIndicator · Crowdsourced list |
| On staff | Monthly after 5 years’ service, 45-hour week | R 19,072–R 32,999 a month | $72.72 | WageIndicator · Crowdsourced list |
| On staff | Monthly salary range for most journalists | R 13,505–R 43,127 a month | $79.09 | WageIndicator · Crowdsourced list |
Every figure, as printed
Open a row for the wording in the document and its dates.
Printed
from R13 505 to R43 127 per month - 2026DocumentSouth Africa journalists’ salary range, WageIndicator (2026) · Crowdsourced list StatusIn force
Printed
between R13 505 and R23 952 net per month at the start of the jobDocumentSouth Africa journalists’ salary range, WageIndicator (2026) · Crowdsourced list StatusIn force
Printed
between R19 072 and R32 999 per month for a working week of 45 hoursDocumentSouth Africa journalists’ salary range, WageIndicator (2026) · Crowdsourced list StatusIn force
Printed
a 4.5% salary increase for non-unionised employees in the 2025/26 financial yearDocumentSABC salary increase of 4.5% for 2025/26, from 1 Nov 2025 · Employers’ offer StatusIn talks · 1 Nov 2025
Printed
6% increaseDocumentSABC 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