The average Chief Operating Officer salary in South Africa is R52,600 per month. COOs are in charge of a company’s operations, and in many cases, they are only second in command to the CEO. The Chief Operating Officer collaborates with directors and managers to ensure that the company’s standards are reflected in processes, training, and output quality.
The Chief Operating Officer’s job has a busy schedule and requires a lot of quality work for the company to run smoothly. COOs receive bonuses from their employers in recognition of their efforts. A COO’s annual bonus ranges from R27,000.00 to R488,000.00.
A COO’s bonus structure varies by company, but the majority of COOs in South Africa receive a bonus. According to Salary Explorer, 79% of South African COOs received a bonus in 2023, while 21% did not. The COOs who received a bonus in 2023 reported that it ranged from 6% to 8% of their annual salary.
COO salaries in South Africa are not evenly distributed between genders. Male COOs earn more than females, with an average monthly salary of R54,000.00, whereas females earn an average monthly salary of R50,900.00.
Aside from the gender pay disparity, other factors influence a COO’s salary. Below, we look at the factors that influence a COO’s salary.
Because of the responsibilities assigned to them, COOs earn more than the national average salary. Their salary, however, is heavily influenced by their level of education. A COO with a high school certificate, for example, earns an average monthly salary of R37,000.00.
COOs with a national diploma earn R42,800.00 per month on average, which is 14% more than COOs with a high school certificate. COOs with a bachelor’s degree earn an even higher salary, with an average monthly salary of R60,300.00, which is 41% higher than a COO with a national diploma.
Those with a master’s degree earn the highest average salary for COOs, with an average salary of R73,100.00 per month. COOs with a master’s degree earn 21% more than COOs with only a bachelor’s degree.
A COO’s salary is also influenced by the city in which they work. According to Indeed.com, the following are the highest paying cities for COOs in South Africa:
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | Johannesburg North, Gauteng | R98,138.00 |
| 2 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R79,717.00 |
| 3 | Randburg, Gauteng | R74,970.00 |
| 4 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R73,440.00 |
| 5 | Johannesburg | R64,130.00 |
Another factor that influences a COO’s salary is their level of experience. We investigate the impact that a COO’s level of experience has on his or her salary.
A COO with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R31,100.00 per month on average. COOs with 0 to 1 year of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R27,400.00.
COOs with 2 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average salary of R33,200.00 per month.
A COO with 3 to 5 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R41,700.00. The salary represents a 34% increase over the average salary of a COO with 0 to 2 years of experience.
COOs with 5 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R44,800.00. COOs with 3 years experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R35,500.00.
A COO with 6 to 10 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R54,200.00. The average salary for COOs with 3 to 5 years of experience is 30% higher.
COOs with 6 years of experience earn the lowest salary in this category, with an average monthly salary of R48,900.00. Those with 10 years of work experience earn the most in this group, with an average monthly salary of R62,000.00.
A COO with 11 to 15 years of experience earns R65,600.00 per month on average. The average salary of COOs with 11 to 15 years of experience is 21% higher than that of COOs with 6 to 10 years of work experience.
COOs with 15 years of experience earn the most in this category, earning an average monthly salary of R68,200.00. COOs with 11 years of experience earn the least, on average, R63,700.00 per month.
A COO with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R71,700.00. The salary represents a 9% increase over the average salary of COOs with 11 to 15 years of experience.
COOs with 20+ years of experience earn the highest salaries, with an average monthly salary of R75,500.00. COOs with 20+ years of experience working for publicly traded companies earn millions of rands per year.
COOs are at the top of a company’s management, and directors delegate many responsibilities to them. Their salary is well deserved because the work requires dedication and a high level of focus. Obtaining a postgraduate degree and working for a rewarding company can help you earn a high salary as a COO.
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