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Design Engineer salary in South Africa

Average Yearly Salary of Design Engineer in South Africa is approximately 187,570 ZAR (9,402 USD). Data is for 2025 and indicates a pre-tax value. The salary itself depends on multiple factors such as seniority, job performance, certifications, experience or any other bonuses. The value indicated is an average amount based on records we have in database. Real values may vary. The data is for orientational purposes.

What does Design Engineer do?

occupation personasA design engineer is responsible for creating and developing new products or improving existing ones. They work across various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and electronics, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the feasibility, functionality, and cost-effectiveness of their designs. Design engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create detailed drawings, models, and prototypes, and conduct thorough analysis and testing to validate the performance and safety of their designs. They also consider factors such as materials, manufacturing processes, and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and optimize the product's efficiency. Additionally, design engineers may provide technical support during the production phase and collaborate with suppliers and manufacturers.

Skills: Design engineer, Product development, CAD software, Prototyping, Testing, Manufacturing processes
Job industry: Engineering


How much does Design Engineer make?

Salary details
How much does Design Engineer make?
Estimated Yearly Salary: 187,570 ZAR
Estimated Monthly Salary: 15,631 ZAR
Estimated Weekly Salary: 3,607 ZAR per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 90 ZAR per hour
Values are pre-tax
Last revision of data: 2025-01-04

Comparing salary to last year:
Estimated Yearly Salary: 181,800 ZAR
Estimated Monthly Salary: 15,150 ZAR
Estimated Weekly Salary: 3,496 ZAR per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 87 ZAR per hour
Last revision of data: 2024-01-03



Design Engineer estimated salary in USD
For easier comparison here is an estimated salary in USD:
Estimated Yearly Salary: 9,402 USD
Estimated Monthly Salary: 784 USD
Estimated Weekly Salary: 181 USD per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 5 USD per hour


Difference in salary year over year or average salary increase is approximately up arrow 3 %

About these results Data confidence is - relatively high
Data fetched from dabase: 14 submissions.
Results are anonymized. Amounts indicated are pre-tax, meaning no deductionts yet have been made to the basic salary. Salaries where there are less than 3 entries are not displayed.

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Salary comparison to National average

South Africa is a diverse and vibrant country located at the southernmost tip of the African continent. It has a population of approximately 59 million people and covers an area of around 1.2 million square kilometers. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and abundant wildlife.

Estimated national average yearly salary is 126,956 ZAR (6,780 USD). Value indicated is pre-tax. Below graph shows estimated Design Engineer job salary compared to average salary in South Africa.
Comparison shows that a person working as Design Engineer in South Africa earns on average:
1.48 times the average salary (or 148% of average salary).

Is Design Engineer a well paid job?

Yes, our data shows that Design Engineer is a well paid job. With years and experience the salary might increase even further, resulting in higher satisfaction.

What is considered a high salary for Design Engineer?

High salary for Design Engineer would be somewhere between 206,327 ZAR and 271,977 ZAR. However this is an estimation based on Gaussian Distribution.

How much can you save working as Design Engineer in South Africa?

Living in South Africa the approximate monthly expenses are: 271 USD. This amount covers basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, healthcare and education costs for a single person. No luxury expenses such as traveling, leisure, hobbies are included in the estimation.

Estimated Yearly Salary: 187,570 ZAR
Estimated Monthly Salary: 15,631 ZAR
Estimated Weekly Salary: 3,607 ZAR per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 90 ZAR per hour
By working as Design Engineer a person can save up to 512 USD per month or 6,148 USD yearly. Values are pre-tax.

NOTE: These values are estimates and are averaged for the whole country. Furthermore the value is likely exaggerated as no other expenses are taken into account in the projection. Unessential expenses are very subjective and are difficult to assess. Most likely the previously estimated number is significantly lower for majority of people. Expenses in different cities across the country may vary. Above values accuracy is low and is based on limited set of data obtained.

For more information regarding expenses in South Africa, see costs of living in South Africa.

Salary comparison to region and neighbouring coutries

Country's neighbours are: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho.
To make it easier for comparison a conversion from local currency to USD has been made (conversion rates may vary).

Estimated Yearly Salary for Design Engineer

Last revision of data: 2025-01-04

Salary increase per years of experience

Based on data available the salary increase per years of experience is as following

    0 years (beginner) equals base salary
    1 to 5 years of experience yields up arrow+12% salary increase
    6 to 10 years of experience yields up arrow+25% salary increase
    11 to 15 years of experience yields up arrow+16% salary increase
    16 to 25 years of experience yields up arrow+9% salary increase
    more than 25 years of experience yields up arrow+10% salary increase
NOTE: Details based on limited set of data. Percentages may vary. The salary increase over years of experience can vary widely based on factors such as job industry, job role, location, company size, and individual performance. To gain even larger increase in salary one is advised to switch jobs and / or employer.

Top 10 highest salaries in South Africa

(1,412,867 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,176,011 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,138,908 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,102,268 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,100,784 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,077,960 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,073,792 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,073,439 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,071,922 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)
(1,071,632 ZAR per year, pre-tax.)

Data as of 2025

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This website compiles salary information for educational use only. While we strive to deliver correct figures, we do not ensure their absolute precision. Users are highly advised to check with additional sources before making career-related decisions. Salary amounts fluctuate based on several factors, such as location, job role, and individual qualifications. We make no guarantees as to the validity of the listed information. Your access of this site acknowledges agreement of this disclaimer.
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