How much do registered nurses earn in South Africa? Salary figures revealed - IOL

Nurses are essential to South Africa’s healthcare system. New salary data shows how much they earn, with pay increasing steadily as nurses gain experience and professional expertise

Registered nurses play an important role in South Africa’s healthcare system, providing patient care, administering treatment and supporting doctors and other healthcare professionals.

They work in different healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centres, with their responsibilities ranging from routine patient care to responding to medical emergencies.

However, how much do registered nurses earn in South Africa, and how does their salary change as they gain experience?

According to salary data published by PayScale, the average salary for a registered nurse (RN) in South Africa is R283,456 per year in 2026.

The figures are based on 871 salary profiles, with the latest update recorded on July 5, 2026.

PayScale reports an average annual base salary of R283,456 for registered nurses in South Africa.

This amounts to approximately R23,621 per month before deductions.

The salary data shows that earnings vary, and those at the 90th percentile can earn approximately R418,000 per year.

PayScale also lists additional forms of compensation, including bonuses ranging from R10,000 to R41,000, profit sharing between R116 and R27,000, and commission ranging from R5,000 to R44,000.

The platform reports total pay ranging from R39,000 to R429,000 annually.

PayScale’s figures show differences in average total compensation according to years of experience.

Registered nurses with less than one year of experience earn an average of R226,067 per year.

Those with one to four years of experience earn an average of R264,600 annually.

For nurses with five to nine years of experience, the average total compensation is R295,642 per year.

Those with 10 to 19 years of experience earn an average of R308,893 annually.

Meanwhile, registered nurses with 20 years or more of experience earn an average total compensation of R345,009 per year.

* The salary figures in this article are based on PayScale data from 871 salary profiles and should be regarded as an indication rather than a definitive measure of earnings for all registered nurses in South Africa. The figures were published by PayScale and reflect the data available at the time of publication.