The idea that South African software developers are frequently securing high-paying jobs with foreign companies while staying in the country is not as widespread as it might seem.
According to software development firm Entelect, while some South African developers are drawn to international opportunities due to financial incentives and remote work flexibility, the overall impact on local hiring is relatively minor.
The Risks of International Employment
Despite the allure of earning in foreign currency, working for international companies comes with significant risks—one of the biggest being job security.
“We’ve seen some developers take the leap only to return to the local job market after their overseas startup—often US-based—lost funding and shut down,” Entelect explained.
Global Developer Salaries vs. South Africa
A report by CodeSubmit ranks the United States as the highest-paying country for software developers, with an average annual salary of $110,140 (over R2 million). Switzerland follows at R1.8 million, while Israel sits at R1.3 million.
On the other end of the spectrum, Nigeria has the lowest average software developer salary at just R133,148 per year, followed by India, the Philippines, and Brazil.
South Africa ranks fifth, with an average developer salary of R351,471 per year (roughly R30,000 per month).
However, senior-level professionals earn significantly more, according to a recent analysis of 16,000 South African tech job listings on Indeed:
- Senior Java developers ranked as the second-highest earning tech professionals, with an average salary of R813,831 per year.
- Senior software engineers and senior developers earned R798,534 annually, placing them in third.
What South African Developers Actually Earn
While job listings provide some insight, Analytico’s survey of over 2,500 tech professionals in Gauteng and Cape Town presents a different perspective.
Here’s what software developers earn at various experience levels:
- Entry-level (0–2 years): R39,000 per month (R468,000 per year)
- Mid-level (3–5 years): R55,000 per month
- Experienced (5–10 years): R79,000 per month
- Senior developers: R105,000 per month
- Top-tier earners: R150,000 per month
Salaries by Programming Language
The OfferZen Software Developer Salary Benchmark report further breaks down salaries by programming language, based on survey data from 3,400 South African developers.
- Best-paying languages (0–2 years experience):
- Ruby: R28,125/month
- PHP: R26,287/month
- Lowest: Kotlin (R16,041/month)
- Best-paying languages (4–6 years experience):
- Ruby: R57,500/month
- Lowest: PHP (R41,734/month)
- Best-paying languages (6–10 years experience):
- Java: R79,408/month
- Go: R78,676/month
- Lowest: PHP
- Best-paying languages (10+ years experience):
- Go: R125,694/month (highest-paying)
What This Means for Local Companies
Despite international opportunities, South African developers still have strong career prospects within the country. With competitive salaries—especially for experienced professionals—local companies remain attractive employers.
While the lure of earning in dollars or euros may tempt some developers, factors like job security, economic stability, and professional growth continue to influence career decisions in South Africa’s thriving tech industry.
Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash
