The average mining engineer salary in South Africa is R68,000 per month. As a result, mining engineers are among the highest-paid professionals in South Africa. Their salary is accompanied by a high level of responsibility. My Engineers provide mining construction estimates and participate in the equipment selection process for a company’s mining operations.
Because their roles are well-defined, the level of education required is extremely high. A Bachelor’s degree is required for the position of mine Engineer. A mine engineer’s salary rises at a faster rate than the national average. Mine engineers in South Africa receive a 12% salary increase every 17 months, which is higher than the 8% increase for all professions.
Most mine Engineers receive bonuses because their profession requires hard work and has time-sensitive projects. Mine Engineers in South Africa receive annual bonuses ranging from R9,000.00 to R145,000.00. The bonus is regarded as moderate due to its limited involvement in revenue generation.
Mine Engineers who receive bonuses account for 52% of the workforce, while 48% of mine Engineers do not receive any bonus (Salary Explorer). Those who receive a bonus typically receive a bonus ranging from 2% to 5% of their annual salary.
As it is obvious that a mine Engineer’s income is made up of salaries and bonuses, the salary of a mine Engineer has its own determinants. Below, we look at the factors that influence a mine engineer’s salary.
Factors that influence the salary of a mine engineer
Employer
A mine engineer’s salary and benefits are determined by the employer for whom they work. A good employer will provide reasonable raises as well as benefits. Among the best employers for mine engineers are:
- Exxaro,
- Kumba Iron Ore,
- Anglo-American, and more.
Education
A mine engineer’s salary is affected by their level of education. A Bachelor’s degree is required for a mine engineer role, and mine engineers with a bachelor’s degree earn an average monthly salary of R24,500.00, according to Salary Explorer.
Mine engineers with a master’s degree earn an average monthly salary of R34,000.00. A mine engineer with a master’s degree earns an average salary that is 39% higher than that of a mine engineer with a bachelor’s degree.
City of Employment
A mine engineer’s salary is also affected by the city in which they work. According to Indeed.com, the following cities in South Africa have the highest pay for mine engineers.
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | Postmasburg, Northern Cape | R92,491.00 |
| 2 | Northern Suburbs, Western Cape | R74,881.00 |
| 3 | Kimberly, Northern Cape | R66,353.00 |
| 4 | Polokwane, Limpopo | R43,134.00 |
| 5 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R39,795.00 |
Another factor that influences a mine engineer’s salary is their level of experience, and we will look at how this influences their salary further down.
Salary of a mine engineer based on their level of experience
Salary of a mine engineer with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2022
A mine engineer with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R23,800.00 per month on average. Mine engineers with 0 years of experience earn the lowest salaries in this group, with an average monthly salary of R21,300.00.
Mine Engineers with 2 years of experience earn the highest salary in this category, with an average monthly salary of R26,900.00.
Salary of a mine engineer with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2022
A mine engineer with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R32,850.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 38% increase over the average salary of mine engineers with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Mine Engineers with 5 years of experience earn the highest salary in this category, with an average monthly salary of R37,400.00. Mine Engineers with 3 years of experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R29,700.00.
Salary of a mine engineer with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2022
A mine engineer with 6 to 10 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R43,400.00. The salary represents a 32% increase in salary over the average salary of mine engineers with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Mine Engineers with 10 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R49,100.00. Those with 6 years of experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R45,000.00.
Salary of a mine engineer with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2022
A mine engineer with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R55,400.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 28% increase over the average salary of mine engineers with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Mine engineers with 15 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R58,100.00. Mine Engineers with 11 years of experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R52,200.00.
Salary of a mine engineer with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2022
A mine engineer with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R62,500.00. The salary represents a 12% increase over the average salary of mine engineers with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Mine Engineers with 20+ years of experience earn the most, with an average monthly salary of R71,200.00. A mine engineer with 20+ years of experience and a master’s degree can earn up to R110,000.00 per month working in a senior position.
Conclusion
A mine engineer’s salary in South Africa is high when compared to the national average for all professions. A bachelor’s degree is required to work as a mine engineer, and a postgraduate degree in the field is necessary to earn a higher salary.
