Women currently account for approximately 43.8 percent of the workforce in South Africa, and only 32 percent of managers in South African businesses are women.
Finding high-paying employment for women in South Africa can be challenging, especially when the country’s widening gender pay gap is factored into the equation. The good news, though, is that there are still good jobs to be found, especially as new legislation is rolled out to try and address income inequality between men and women.
This guide to the top careers for women in South Africa is a great starting point for women who want to earn a high salary and find a rewarding, high-growth job.
We have other guides on our website that provide insight into the highest paying jobs in South Africa, as well as the country’s most in-demand jobs, but this guide is geared specifically toward women who are looking to reenter the workforce or make a career change.
What Are the Top 10 High-Paying Careers for Women Working in South Africa?
When they start searching for top careers for women in South Africa, one of the first things job seekers take into account is their salary and earning potential. If you’re looking for the top high-paying careers for women in South Africa, this list of 10 great options is an excellent starting point:
Job Description: Pharmacists fill prescriptions and offer advice on medication usage to pharmacy customers.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: This is one of the top high-paying careers for women in South Africa because it requires an advanced degree and comes with a lot of responsibility.
Average Salary: R560,000 per year
Job Description: Nurse practitioners coordinate patient care, write prescriptions, and work independently or alongside physicians.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who want a high-paying position in the healthcare field but don’t want to spend as much time in school as physicians, this is a good alternative.
Average Salary: R490,000 per year
Job Description: Information system managers analyze, coordinate, and oversee various IT-related projects.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: The tech field isn’t particularly female-dominated right now, but more women are pursuing tech-related careers every day, and this is a good one to work toward because it comes with a high salary and a lot of responsibility.
Average Salary: R570,000 per year
Job Description: Lawyers are responsible for advising and representing clients in court.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who have a passion for the law, want to earn a high salary, and aren’t afraid of spending a lot of time in school, a career as a lawyer is an excellent choice.
Average Salary: R606,000 per year
Job Description: Engineers specialize in a variety of disciplines (civil engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.) and design and oversee various projects within those fields.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: If you’re looking for South Africa jobs for women with high salary, a career in engineering is an excellent choice that also gives you an opportunity to pave the way for more women in the engineering industry.
Average Salary: R620,000 per year
Job Description: Human resources managers work for various organizations and oversee personnel matters like hiring, onboarding, and firing.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who want to work in the business sector, a career as a human resources manager is one that offers a high salary and lots of opportunities to support others.
Average Salary: R620,000 per year
Job Description: Physicians are in charge of diagnosing and treating patients in hospitals and clinics.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: A career in the healthcare field is one of the highest-paying options for women in South Africa, and working as a physician is one of the highest-paying options within this industry.
Average Salary: R1,550,647 per year
Job Description: Software engineers are responsible for designing and developing software programs for various organizations.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: A career as a software engineer is a good fit for women who want to work in the tech world and need to get a foot in the door.
Average Salary: R371,058 per year
Job Description: Accountants work with individuals and businesses to help them manage their money and make wise financial decisions.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For financially savvy women, a career as an accountant is a good one to strive for, especially if you’re looking for a high salary and lots of job options.
Average Salary: R275,218 per year
Job Description: IT managers oversee IT-related matters for various organizations.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: A career as an IT manager is another good option for those looking for South Africa jobs for women with high salary. It offers a lot of job stability and provides an opportunity to lead a team.
Average Salary: R491,999 per year
What Are the Top 10 High-Growth Careers for Women Working in South Africa?
In addition to a high salary, most women also want to find a job in a quickly growing field. These types of jobs often offer more security, as well as room for promotions in the future.
Here’s a list of the top 10 high-growth careers for women in South Africa to consider:
Job Description: Web and software developers designing and developing websites, apps, software programs, and other, similar technologies.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: The tech industry is booming in South Africa, which means there are lots of job opportunities, and lots of growth opportunities, for women in this country.
Average Salary: R183,736 per year
Job Description: Medical and health services managers are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating services for hospitals and clinics.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: This is a rapidly growing field in South Africa, particularly for women who want to work in healthcare but don’t want to work directly with patients.
Average Salary: R280,000 per year
Job Description: Post-secondary school teachers instruct students in universities and colleges.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: Teaching is a great career path for women in South Africa, and there are lots of openings at the post-secondary level for those who want to earn higher salaries.
Average Salary: R676,144 per year
Job Description: Nurses work alongside physicians to care for patients.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: Nursing is a popular career option for women in South Africa, and there’s a particularly high demand for skilled nurses here right now.
Average Salary: R247,166 per year
Job Description: Financial managers work with businesses and individual clients to help them make appropriate investment and money management decisions.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: This is one of the top jobs for women in South Africa who want to work in finance because the demand for professionals in this field is growing quickly.
Average Salary: R526,873 per year
Job Description: Personal care aides support those who are ill or injured to help them manage activities of daily living more easily.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: There’s a high demand in South Africa for personal care aides right now, and this is a good career option for women who want to earn a good salary but don’t have a lot of job experience.
Average Salary: R114,558 per year
Job Description: Statisticians collect and review data to help businesses make wise choices for the future.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who have a background in statistics or mathematics, there’s a lot of demand in South Africa right now for statisticians.
Average Salary: R348,224 per year
Job Description: Physical therapist aides work with physical therapists to help them support patients in their recovery.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: There’s a strong need for physical therapy aides in South Africa right now, making this a good career option for women looking to gain experience in the field.
Average Salary: R117,080 per year
Job Description: Occupational therapist aides work with occupational therapists to help them support patients as they learn to perform activities of daily living independently.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: There’s a lot of demand for occupational therapists and aides in South Africa right now, so plenty of jobs are available.
Average Salary: R214,160 per year
Job Description: Dental hygienists work with dentists to help them care for patients’ teeth and gums.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: This is one of the most in-demand and best jobs for women in South Africa, especially those who want to work in and learn about the dentistry field.
Average Salary: R440,562 per year
What Are the Top 10 Most Rewarding Careers for Women Working in South Africa?
Of course, in addition to earning a good salary and enjoying a certain amount of growth potential, most women also want to work in a job that’s rewarding and makes them feel as though they’re making a difference in someone else’s life.
If this sounds relevant to you, the following are 10 of the most rewarding careers for women working in South Africa to consider pursuing:
Job Description: Systems developers develop and implement programs for backend testing.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: This is one of the best jobs for women in South Africa who want to play an important role in the software development process.
Average Salary: R450,000 per year
Job Description: Business development executives work with various companies to help them improve practices and profitability.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For business-savvy women, a career as a business development executive is highly rewarding.
Average Salary: R1,567,276 per year
Job Description: Research assistants work in labs and other facilities to help researchers carry out various projects.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who are passionate about learning and research, a career as a research assistant is very fulfilling.
Average Salary: R186,857 per year
Job Description: Education administrators are in charge of running schools, managing teachers, and balancing budgets.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who are passionate about education but also want to earn a higher salary, this career is a great choice.
Average Salary: R737,408 per year
Job Description: Nurses work alongside physicians to care for patients.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who love to help others feel better, nursing is a very rewarding career.
Average Salary: R247,166 per year
Job Description: CEOs sit at the head of various companies and oversee various everyday and big picture decisions.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: For women who are business-minded and want to start their own companies, a career as a CEO offers a lot of fulfillment.
Average Salary: R1,277124 per year
Job Description: Recruiting managers help businesses to hire the right people for open positions.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: Many women find that they take a lot of pride in overseeing recruitment for various companies, making this a rewarding career.
Average Salary: R416,279 per year
Job Description: Marketing assistants work alongside other marketers and managers to create campaigns and promote businesses.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: Women in South Africa often find careers as marketing assistants to be very fulfilling and enjoyable.
Average Salary: R144,771 per year
Job Description: Human resources coordinators help human resources managers with hiring, onboarding, personnel management, and more.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: This is a rewarding career for women who want to gain experience in the HR field.
Average Salary: R158,264 per year
Job Description: Financial consultants work with businesses to help them assess their finances and make good investments for the future.
Why Is it a Top Career for Women in South Africa: This is one of the best careers for women in South Africa who want to work in the financial sector and feel that they’re making a difference to other businesses in the area.
Average Salary: R148,134 per year
How to Get Started in One of the Top Careers for Women in South Africa?
If you want to increase your chances of landing one of the top jobs for women in South Africa, there are some specific steps you’ll want to take when filling out your job application and attending job interviews. Here are some essential ones to keep in mind:
Update and Proofread Your CV
If it’s been a while since you last looked over your CV, now is a great time to do so. Go over it with a fine-tooth comb and make any necessary updates to your education or job experience.
Consider Taking Skills Courses Before Applying
If you’re lacking some of the in-demand skills for high-paying jobs in South Africa, it may be a good idea to take a course or two before you apply. This can help you feel more confident when applying for jobs that are outside of your wheelhouse.
Make Sure You Can Legally Work in South Africa
If you want to work in South Africa as a foreigner, you will need a work visa. Before you can be approved for this visa, your potential employer must have extended a job offer.
The only exception to this rule is if you are applying for a critical skills visa. This visa is offered to those whose skills and experience are considered to be needed in South Africa.
Final Thoughts on the Top Careers for Women in South Africa
Are you ready to apply for one of the top careers for women in South Africa? Is it time to sharpen your skills and get ready for your upcoming job interviews?
Remember the information discussed above so you can make a great first impression and get hired in no time.
If you need more help preparing for job interviews or finding job listings that check all your boxes, the GrabJobs search tool can help. Check it out today to simplify the job-seeking process.
