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Teachers' Salaries In South Africa

Updated on Feb 13, 2023 37580 views
Teachers' Salaries In South Africa

How much does a teacher earn per month in South Africa?

Teaching is one of the best paying professions in South Africa, with teachers earning a salary of R189 per hour, an average of R32,704 monthly, and a whopping average of (or more than) R 392,444 yearly.

Teaching also happens to be one of the most compensated professions, because in addition to taking home salaries that could make other professionals’ salaries blush, some teachers like the ones in the public sector, receive benefits such as medical aid contribution, pension contribution, and house subsidy from the government as well.

Teachers work hard and they have contributed to the development of some of the greatest minds in the world, for that they deserve every form of compensation they receive.

So, how much do they earn exactly? Below is a break down of teachers’ salaries in South Africa.
 

Check out the latest teaching jobs in South Africa now.

 

How Much Do Teachers Earn in South Africa Per Month

The average salary of a teacher in South Africa is R32,704 monthly. A teacher can earn as much as R189 per hour, and a whopping average of (or more than) R 392,444 yearly.

 

Breakdown of Teachers Salary in South Africa per month

  • Daycare teacher- R357, 840 per year
  • Preschool teacher- R266,360 per year
  • Nursery school teacher- R278, 288 per year
  • Kindergarten teacher-269,688 per year
  • Primary school teacher- R302,875  per year
  • Middle School teacher- R332,188 per year
  • High school teacher- R362,431 per year
  • Teacher’s assistant- R276, 622 per year
  • Special education teacher-R326,731
  • Lecturer salary-R467,073 per year

 

1. Daycare Teacher- Average Salary R357,840 

Who Is A Daycare Teacher?
A daycare teacher is a person who watches and teaches children who haven’t reached the age of schooling. They mainly indulge the children in engaging activities like painting, which will contribute effectively to their development.

 

What Does A Daycare Teacher Do?
Daycare teachers work mainly with toddlers. These teachers need to possess physical and mental awareness so they can assist the children with their daily activities, plan new and projects for them, and also be aware of their health and safety at all times.

 

They usually collaborate with other teachers such as lead teachers and teachers aids. They help the children with their playtime and lunch, and also plan activities to ensure that the class is kept neat at all times.

 

Duties Of A Day Care Teacher

  • Plan daily activities and schedule.
  • Prepare educative and engaging activities to teach the children
  • Prepare and clean up after lunch
  • Communicate effectively to parents with regards to any problems or children’s needs
  • Monitor the children’s play and makes sure that the centre is safe for the children to be in

 

Qualifications Of A Daycare Teacher

A Daycare teacher can possess any of the following qualifications:

  • National Senior Certificate
  • Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education
  • Early Childhood Education Certificate
  • Child Development Certificate
  • Montessori Certificate
  • Specialized training in First Aid or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

 

Skills:

  • Childhood education
  • Activities for children
  • Curriculum planning
  • Oral/Verbal communication
  • Cleaning

 

2. Preschool Teacher- Average Salary  R266,360 per year

Who Is A Preschool Teacher?
A Preschool teacher is a teacher who focuses on teaching young children between the ages of 1-3 years. They specialise in early childhood education.

 

What Do Preschool Teachers Do?
A Preschool teacher basically work with children who haven’t reached the age to attend school. They could be somewhere between the ages of 1-3 years.

The teacher engages the children in activities that are not too difficult but still has educational merits.

These activities could be finger painting, putting on a short play, singing, and reading to them. It is the duty of the preschool teacher to prepare the pupils for elementary school and Kindergarten.

 

Duties Of A Preschool Teacher

  • Lead classroom activities and teach according to the curriculum
  • Maintain order in the class
  • Ensure that the classroom is clean, healthy and safe for the pupils
  • Conduct students evaluation and report back their performance to parents and guardians

 

Skills:

  • Childhood Education
  • Activities for Children
  • Curriculum Planning
  • Oral/ Verbal Communication
  • English Language

 

Qualifications Of Preschool Teacher

  • High School Diploma
  • Certification in Early Childhood Education
  • Certification in Child Development
  • Associate’s Degree (Associates in Arts in Teaching
  • Bachelor’s Degree (Bachelor’s Degree in Education)
  • Teaching License

 

3. Nursery School Teacher- Average Salary R278,288 Per Year

Average Nurser School Teacher Salary Based On Experience:

  • 0-2 years- R147,757 per year
  • 2-5 years- R193,911 per year
  • 5-10 years- R299,643 per year
  • 10-15 years- R292,175 per year
  • 15-20 years- R327, 907 per year
  • 20+ years- R391, 927 per year

 

Who Is A Nursery School Teacher?
A nursery teacher is a professional who plays an important role in the development of a child’s intellectual growth, knowledge, and personality at their early years.

 

What Do Nursery School Teachers Do?
Nursery school teachers typically teach children ages 3-5. They help to nurture their development, knowledge, and social skills in order to give them the best start to their education.

 

Duties Of A Nursery School Teacher

  • Development and implementation of work scheme
  • Providing a safe and stimulating environment that enhances learning
  • Creating engaging and educating activities that can develop the children’s mental capacity
  • Supervising work, play and lunch hours of the student
  • Collaborate with parents, caregivers and health workers
  • Maintain academic records
  • Update parents and caregivers on the children’s performance in the classroom

 

Skills:

  • High School Diploma
  • Certification in Early Childhood Education
  • Certification in Child Development
  • Associate’s Degree (Associates in Arts in Teaching
  • Bachelor’s Degree (Bachelor’s Degree in Education
  • Teaching License

 

4. Kindergarten Teacher- Average Salary 269,688 Per Year

Who Is A Kindergarten Teacher?
Kindergarten teachers are responsible for teaching children basic skills like Mathematics, reading, and simple English Language that will prepare them for elementary school grades. 

 

What Does A Kindergarten Teacher Do?
Kindergarten teachers are responsible for teaching children basic skills that will prepare them for elementary school. The main subjects that pupils are taught are Reading, Mathematics, English.

 

Teachers also create lesson plans, grade pupils’ classwork and homework, manage classroom behaviour and work with parents to ensure that the pupils are performing well both in school and at home.

 

Duties Of A Kindergarten Teacher

  • Planning, implementing and assessing lessons
  • Designing a teaching plan that carries all the pupils along
  • Using activities and instructional method to teach and motivate pupils
  • Make sure that the classroom is safe and conducive for learning
  • Observe and evaluate children's behaviour, performance, social development and physical health

 

Qualifications Of A Kindergarten Teacher

  • BSc Degree in  Education or any relevant field
  • Certification in Early Childhood Education
  • Certification in Child Development

 

Skills:

  • Knowledge and understanding of child development and the latest educational theories and practices
  • Creative and artistic teaching abilities
  • Patience and flexibility
  • Strong communication skills
  • Proven experience as a Kindergarten teacher, kindergarten assistant or teacher’s aide

 

5. Primary School Teacher Salary- R302,875  Per Year

Who Is A Primary School Teacher?
A primary school teacher is a type of teacher who is solely involved in the social, intellectual, physical and moral development of pupils in their classroom.

 

What Do Primary School Teachers Do?
Primary school teachers teach 6-11-year old pupils in grades 1-5 or 6. These teachers teach pupils of this age, laying the foundation of reading, writing, mathematics and English language. 

 

They use these foundational subjects, to broaden the knowledge and understanding of the pupils in other subjects like science and social studies and also make sure that pupils are taught developmental subjects like arts and physical education as well.

 

It is a primary school teacher’s duty to make sure that every child in the class is carried along by developing engaging and interactive study materials and teaching styles, challenged students get special attention to ensure that they can understand what is being taught, and they also have to provide pupils with tests and exams as a way to assess their performance in class.

 

Duties Of A Primary School Teacher

  • Connect syllabus standards to daily objectives and teach students according to the instructional goals.
  • Keep parents and guardians updated about the progress of the pupils
  • Create, develop and implement classroom activities, materials, and resources
  • Supervise and assess pupils’  progress and achievement
  • Maintain a safe and healthy class environment and ensure the pupils’ physical and mental security.

 

Qualifications Of A Primary School Teacher

  • Three to Four-year Bachelor of Education Degree
  • Bachelor of Arts with QTS
  • Bachelor of Science with QTS
  • One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education 

 

Skills:

  • Childhood Education
  • English Language
  • Curriculum Planning
  • Oral/ Verbal Communication
  • Mathematica

 

6. Middle School Teacher-  Average Salary R332,188 Per Year

Who Is A Middle School Teacher?
A middle school teacher helps pupils to build on the fundamentals they were taught in Primary School, and prepare them for the more advanced subjects they will face in High School.

 

What Do Middle School Teachers Do?
Middle school teachers usually teach children between the ages of 11-14 and most times to oversee a class of 30 pupils or more. 

 

They are expected to create lesson plans for teaching students, based on the syllabi given to them by the school or according to the guidelines of the state they are being taught in. The teacher has to prepare lessons in a way that it meets the basic requirements but also grips the attention and understanding of the pupils.

 

Duties Of A Middle School Teacher

  • Adjust teaching methods so that it suits the learning needs and styles of the students
  • Prepare materials for the student’s learning activity
  • Grade tests and assignments, and maintain academic records according to laws and school regulations

 

Qualifications Of A Middle School Teacher

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Education
  • Master’s Degree in Education
  • Teacher’s License

 

Skills:

  • English Language
  • Curriculum Planning
  • Mathematica
  • Childhood Education
  • Team Leadership

 

7. High School Teacher- R362,431 Per Year

Who Is A High School Teacher?
A high school teacher prepares and teaches academic, technical, vocational, and specialized subjects at both public and private high schools. High school teachers teach any subject within the disciplines of Chemistry, Mathematics, English Language, Biology, Physics, Literature, Government, etc.

 

What Do High School Teachers Do?
High school teachers, also known as Secondary school teachers, teach students in or more areas of study within a public or private high school. They prepare lessons in a way that the student can easily understand.

They are also responsible for supervising extracurricular activities (like excursions), invigilate state exams, assist with college duties (write letters of recommendation),  and supervise after classes lessons or detention.

 

Duties Of A High School Teacher

  • Teach classes according to the prescribed syllabus
  • Check students' learning with homework, test, group work, and student’s presentation
  • Grade students work on time
  • Maintain academic records
  • Give feedback about students’ performance which students can use in class and later in life
  • Enforce school regulations to imbibe good behaviour in the students

 

Qualifications Of A High School Teacher

  • Bachelor’s Degree depending on the course they wish to teach
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Education
  • Post Graduate Certification in Education

 

Skills:

  • English Language
  • Mathematica
  • Curriculum Planning
  • Oral/ Verbal Communication

 

8. Teacher’s Assistant- Average Salary R276, 622  Per Year

Who Is A Teacher’s Assistant?
A teacher’s assistant is someone who works under a teacher’s supervision and guidance to give students additional instructions and attention. They work in either public or private schools or at childcare centres.

 

What Do Teachers’ Assistants Do?
Teachers are the ones who introduce new lessons and materials to the students and the teacher’s assistant, on the other hand, enforces the lesson or material by working closely with students to make sure that they understand what they have been taught.

 

They can also help with grading and checking assignments, monitor students progress and send reports to the teachers and in some cases depending on their qualification, they can teach some subjects to the students.

 

Duties Of A Teacher’s Assistant

  • Reinforce lessons taught by the teacher by working closely with the students to help them understand the lesson.
  • Grade and check assignments
  • Maintain academic record
  • Evaluate students performance and report back to the teacher
  • Monitor students in the class and on field trips as well
  • Teach certain subjects
  • Make sure that students abide by the school or class rules

 

Qualifications Of A Teacher’s Assistant

  • High School Diploma
  • Certificate or Associate’s Degree
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Early Childhood Development Certification
  • Childhood Learning Certification

 

Skills:
Childhood Education
Activities for Children
English Language
Oral / Verbal Communication
Curriculum Planning

 

9. Special Education Teacher- Average Salary Per Year R326,731

Special Education Teachers’ Salaries Based On Experience:

  • 0-2 years- R176,664 per year
  • 2-5 years- R242,663 per year
  • 5-10 years- R272,363 per year
  • 10-15 years- R331,763 per year
  • 15-20 years- R391,163 per year
  • 20+ years- R452,212 per year

 

Who Is A Special Education Teacher?
A special education teacher is someone who works with children and youths who have various forms of disabilities. Children with disabilities need special care and attention, especially when it comes to learning, and special education teachers provide that.

 

What Do Special Education Teachers Do?
Special education teachers work with children and youths who either have mental, physical or learning disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects such as Maths, reading, and writing to children and youths with mild and moderate disabilities.

 

They also teach basic life skills like literacy and communication skills to students who have severe disabilities.

 

Duties Of A Special Education Teachers

  • Assess the students’ skills to determine their needs
  • Adjust lessons to meet the needs of students
  • Develop Individualized Education Programs for each special needs student
  • Plan, organize and assign activities that suit each students’ ability
  • Teach and mentor the students either in a class, as a small group or one-on-one lesson
  • Apply IEPS, assess student’s performance and track their progress
  • Update IEPS throughout the academic session to show students progress and achieve goals
  • Discuss student’s progress with parents, general education teachers and counsellors or administrators
  • Supervise and guide Teacher’s assistants who work with special needs students
  • Prepare and help students transition from grade to grade and for life after graduation

Skills:

  • Patience
  • Organization
  • Creativity
  • Acceptance
  • Intuitive and calming nature
  • Childhood Education

 

10. Lecturer- Average Salary R467,073 Per Year

Lecturer Salaries Based On Experience:

  • 0-2 years- R252,547
  • 2-5 years- R346,896
  • 5-10 years- R389,353
  • 10-15 years- R474,267
  • 15-20 years- R559,181
  • 20+ years- R646,453

 

Who Is A Lecturer?
A lecturer is a professional who teaches in a university or any other high institution on a contract-based, full-time or part-time basis.

Lecturers lecture either undergraduate or postgraduate university students in a specialised field of study like Psychology, Journalism, or Architecture, etc.

 

What Does A Lecturer Do?

Lecturers are employed by universities and other higher education institutions, to undertake teaching, research, and administrative duties in a specialised subject area.

 

Duties Of A Lecturer

  • Interview course applicants
  • Lecture planning, preparation and research
  • Teaching students
  • Checking and evaluating students work
  • Encouraging personal development of students through tutorials or pastoral work
  • Invigilate exams
  • Attend staff meetings.
  • Supervising PhD students and research staff

 

Skills:

  • Motivated
  • Presentation Skills
  • Research Skills
  • Written and Verbal Communication Skills
  • Expertise in a Particular Subject Area or Areas

 

Final Word:
Teachers in different sectors (Private and Public), schools, institutions, and provinces, with different levels of experience, skills and qualifications are paid differently. Typically, teachers with more years of experience receive more than their colleagues, teachers with less years of experience receive less.

 

If you are a teacher and you have more experience, but you think that what you are paid doesn’t measure up to your worth, then it may be time for you to start negotiating a bigger and better salary for yourself.

 

The same thing also applies to people looking to get into the teaching industry. Try to know what you should be paid before you start accepting offers or demanding salaries.

 

View the latest jobs in South Africa 

Checkout jobs in Durban

 

Staff Writer

This article was written and edited by a staff writer.

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