Categories: Career AdviceNews

Average SANDF Employee Salary in South Africa 2024

Published by
Lethabo Ntsoane

As a member of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), you can expect to earn an average annual salary of R207,935.00. The SANDF is made up of 74,500 active members in various positions and ranks, and its budget for 2024 is currently R51.8 billion, with R3.5 billion allocated to its employees. As an employee of the SANDF, you may be eligible for an annual bonus.

On average, SANDF employees receive an annual bonus of R21,000.00, with the range being from R2,000.00 to R51,000.00. However, according to Salary Explorer, not all SANDF employees receive a bonus. In 2021, only 31% of SANDF personnel received a bonus that ranged from 0% to 4% of their annual salary, while the remaining 69% did not receive any bonuses.

When compared to the national average, SANDF employees’ salaries are significantly higher. An SANDF employee’s salary increases by 10% every 16 months, which is faster than the national average of 8% every 18 months across all professions. However, it is important to note that an SANDF employee’s salary increase is influenced by a number of factors. These factors include rank, experience, and performance.

The SANDF is committed to providing its employees with competitive and fair compensation. The SANDF’s budget allocation for employee salaries and benefits is a significant portion of its overall budget, and it is regularly reviewed and adjusted to ensure its employees are properly compensated for their service and dedication. Furthermore, the SANDF is committed to providing its members with support to improve their salary and living conditions.

Factors that influence the Salary of a SANDF employee

Gender

There is a wage disparity between men and women who work for the SANDF. Men earn more than women in the SANDF, with an average monthly salary of R35,900.00. Women working in the SANDF  earn an average monthly salary of R32,100.00.

The average salary of men in the SANDF is 12% higher than that of women. When compared to the national average, the income disparity between genders is very large. The national average wage disparity between men and women is 8%, which is 33% lower than the income disparity between men and women in the SANDF.

Level of Education

Employees of the SANDF are paid according to their level of education. Employees with a high school education earn the least in the SANDF. A SANDF employee with a diploma earns 17% more than one with a high school certificate.

The gap between employees with a Bachelor’s degree and those with a diploma is wider. Employees in the SANDF with a Bachelor’s degree earn 24% more than those with a diploma. Employees in the SANDF with a Bachelor’s degree earn 45% more than those with only a high school education.

On average, a SANDF employee with a master’s degree earns 29% more than a SANDF employee with a bachelor’s degree. Employees in the SANDF with a PhD earn 23% more than those with a master’s degree, widening the gap even further. Those with a PhD earn 130% more than those with a high school education.

Experience level

A SANDF employee’s salary is affected by years of experience in a field, just like any other industry. The salary of a SANDF employee rises rapidly during the first 15 years of employment but gradually rises after 20 years of service.

Employees with 0 to 2 years of experience in the SANDF are the lowest paid. A SANDF employee with 3 to 5 years of work experience earns 32% more than the average employee with 2 to 0 years of work experience.

A SANDF employee’s salary rises even more for those with 6 to 10 years of experience. A SANDF employee with 6 to 10 years of work experience earns 36% more than a SANDF employee with 2 to 5 years of work experience.

On average, the salary of SANDF employees with 6 to 10 years of work experience would have increased by 79% when compared to SANDF employees with 0 to 2 years of work experience. Those with 11 to 15 years of work experience earn an additional 21% more than those with 6 to 10 years of work experience.

Increases are also visible for workers with 16 to 20 years of experience. When compared to the average salary of SANDF employees with 11 to 15 years of experience, the salary of SANDF employees with 16 to 20 years of experience increases by 14%.

Those with 20+ years of work experience earn the highest salaries, with an average salary increase of 9% over SANDF employees with 16 to 20 years of experience.

When compared to the average salary of SANDF employees with 0 to 2 years of experience, SANDF employees with 20+ years of experience would have earned 170% more. Working for the SANDF for a longer period of time is very rewarding because salaries increase by huge margins. 

SANDF Specific jobs and their average salary

The table below showcases the jobs within the SANDF and their average salary from a sampled number of jobs:

#Job titleAverage Monthly Salary
1Armed Forces Officer R27,000.00
2Army OfficerR25,600.00
3Cartographer R21,600.00
4Defense OfficerR34,700.00
5Military Personnel R36,600.00
6Soldier R24,400.00
7RiflemanR18,800.00
8CommanderR21,300.00

Conclusion

With a vast network of departments, the SANDF is one of South Africa’s leading recruiters. Jobs in the SANDF are extremely demanding, especially because they must be coordinated with one another. The salary of SANDF employees varies depending on the department in which they work, and a variety of factors influence their salary.

Working in the SANDF for a longer period of time raises one’s salary. Employees can work while pursuing other qualifications and eventually advance to senior positions with higher pay.

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Lethabo Ntsoane

Lethabo Ntsoane holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from the University of South Africa. He is a Financial Product commentator at Rateweb. He is an expect financial product analyst with years of experience in reviewing products and offering commentary. Lethabo majors in financial news, reviews and financial tips. He can be contacted: Email: lethabo@rateweb.co.za Twitter: @NtsoaneLethabo