The average payroll manager salary in South Africa is R36,300.00 per month. Payroll managers keep all employee pay records, check sheets, and ensure that payroll is in order. Those in large corporations earn more than the national average.
Payroll managers are predominantly female in South Africa and they’re well compensated. According to Payscale data, 78.9% of South African payroll managers are female. Male payroll managers account for 21.1% of the workforce.
Despite the fact that women make up the majority of the workforce, they earn less than men. Men earn an average salary of R44,100 per month, while women earn an average of R39,500.00 per month, according to Salary Explorer data. As a result, men in the field earn 11% more than women.
Payroll managers receive bonuses and commissions in addition to their salaries. A Payroll Manager’s annual bonus ranges from R13,000.00 to R78,000.00. The majority of Payroll Managers in South Africa receive bonuses. In 2021, 84% of all South African payroll managers received a bonus (Salary Explorer).
In 2021, only 16% of Payroll managers did not receive any bonuses. Payroll managers who received a bonus stated that it ranged from 5% to 9% of their annual salary. Commissions range from R0.00 to R13,000.00 for those who earned them.
A variety of factors influence Payroll managers’ salaries. The following sections go over the factors that influence a Payroll Manager’s salary.
Factors that influence the salary of a Payroll Manager in South Africa
Education Level
A Payroll Manager’s salary is affected by their level of education. This is evident when looking at their salary level in relation to their level of education. A Payroll Manager with a diploma earns an average monthly salary of R24,900.00.
Payroll managers with a Bachelor’s degree earn a higher monthly salary of R39,000.00. When compared to Payroll Managers with a diploma, a Payroll Manager with a Bachelor’s degree earns 57% more.
A Payroll Manager with a master’s degree earns an even higher salary, earning an average of R65,500.00 per month. Payroll Managers with a Bachelor’s degree earn 68% more, while Payroll Managers with a Master’s degree earn 163% more than those with a diploma.
City of Employment
The city in which a Payroll Manager works also has a significant impact on their salary. According to Indeed.com, the following are the highest-paying cities in South Africa for Payroll Managers.
| # | City | Average Monthly Salary |
| 1 | Northern Suburbs, Western Cape | R44,407.00 |
| 2 | Johannesburg North, Gauteng | R42,806.00 |
| 3 | Sandton, Gauteng | R40,933.00 |
| 4 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R36,953.00 |
| 5 | Roodepoort, Gauteng | R34,277.00 |
| 6 | Centurion, Gauteng | R32,543.00 |
| 7 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R31,938.00 |
| 8 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R31,329.00 |
| 9 | Pretoria, Gauteng | R27,432.00 |
Another factor that influences a Payroll Manager’s salary is their level of experience in the field. Based on their level of experience, we examine the average salary of Payroll Managers in South Africa below.
Salary of A Payroll Manager based on their level of experience in the field
Salary of a Payroll Manager with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2022
A Payroll Manager with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R21,800.00 per month on average. Payroll Managers in South Africa earn an entry-level salary of R19,200.00 per month.
Payroll Managers with two years of work experience are the highest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R24,500.00 00.
Salary of a Payroll Manager with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2022
A Payroll Manager with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R29,100.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 34% increase over the average salary of Payroll Managers with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Payroll Managers with 5 years of experience earn the most in this group, with an average monthly salary of R33,800.00. Payroll Managers with three years of work experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R28,700.00.
Salary of a Payroll Manager with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2022
Payroll Managers with 6 to 10 years of experience earn an average monthly salary of R43,100.00. The salary represents a 48% increase over the average salary of Payroll Managers with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Payroll Managers with 10 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R46,000.00. Payroll Managers with 6 years of experience earn the lowest salaries in this group, with an average monthly salary of R38,900.00.
Salary of a Payroll Manager with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2022
A Payroll Manager with 11 to 15 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R52,500.00. The salary represents a 22% increase over the average monthly salary of Payroll Managers with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Payroll Managers with 15 years of experience earn the highest salary in this category, with an average monthly salary of R53,900.00. Payroll Managers with 11 years of experience earn the lowest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R48,000.00.
Salary of a Payroll Manager with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2022
A Payroll Manager with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R57,200.00. The salary represents a 9% increase over the average salary of Payroll Managers with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Payroll Managers with 20+ years of experience are the highest paid, with an average monthly salary of R61,900.00. Payroll Managers with a Master’s degree and 20+ years of experience can earn up to R66,400.00 per month.
Conclusion
A Payroll Manager’s salary rises at a rapid pace for those with a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree. Obtaining a master’s degree can significantly increase one’s salary; therefore, working toward a master’s degree to enhance your career as a payroll manager can be rewarding.
