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Freelance Writer salary in South Africa

Average Yearly Salary of Freelance Writer in South Africa is approximately 133,310 ZAR (6,657 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 Freelance Writer do?

occupation personasA freelance writer is a self-employed individual who writes content for various clients on a project basis. They have the freedom to choose their own projects, set their own schedules, and work from anywhere. Freelance writers are skilled in researching, writing, editing, and proofreading a wide range of content such as articles, blog posts, social media posts, website copy, press releases, and more. They may specialize in specific niches or industries, depending on their expertise and interests.

Skills: freelance writer, content writer, remote work, flexible schedule, self-employed, creative writing
Job industry: Media and communications


How much does Freelance Writer make?

Salary details
How much does Freelance Writer make?
Estimated Yearly Salary: 133,310 ZAR
Estimated Monthly Salary: 11,109 ZAR
Estimated Weekly Salary: 2,564 ZAR per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 64 ZAR per hour
Values are pre-tax
Last revision of data: 2025-01-04

Comparing salary to last year:
Estimated Yearly Salary: 128,580 ZAR
Estimated Monthly Salary: 10,715 ZAR
Estimated Weekly Salary: 2,473 ZAR per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 62 ZAR per hour
Last revision of data: 2024-01-07



Freelance Writer estimated salary in USD
For easier comparison here is an estimated salary in USD:
Estimated Yearly Salary: 6,657 USD
Estimated Monthly Salary: 555 USD
Estimated Weekly Salary: 128 USD per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 3 USD per hour


Difference in salary year over year or average salary increase is approximately up arrow 4 %

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 Freelance Writer job salary compared to average salary in South Africa.
Comparison shows that a person working as Freelance Writer in South Africa earns on average:
1.05 times the average salary (or 105% of average salary).

Is Freelance Writer a well paid job?

Yes, our data show that Freelance Writer is an averagely well paid job that still allows for some yearly savings. With years and experience the salary might increase even further, resulting in higher satisfaction.

What is considered a high salary for Freelance Writer?

High salary for Freelance Writer would be somewhere between 146,641 ZAR and 193,300 ZAR. However this is an estimation based on Gaussian Distribution.

How much can you save working as Freelance Writer 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: 133,310 ZAR
Estimated Monthly Salary: 11,109 ZAR
Estimated Weekly Salary: 2,564 ZAR per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 64 ZAR per hour
By working as Freelance Writer a person can save up to 284 USD per month or 3,403 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 Freelance Writer

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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The salary figures presented here are intended for reference purposes only.
The salary data on this site is designed for reference purposes exclusively. We provide salary insights derived from multiple sources, but cannot guarantee absolute precision. Users should consistently cross-check salary details with other reliable sources before making career-related choices. Fluctuations in salary amounts may arise due to several factors, including company policies, market demand, and individual skills. We do not offer any warranty regarding the entirety of the provided salary information. Use of optisalary.com implies acceptance of these conditions.
Salary details displayed on this website are meant for informational purposes only. Our data is sourced through various inputs and may not necessarily be accurate. Users should cross-reference salary information through other means before making financial commitments. The figures listed here may fluctuate due to variables such as location, industry standards, and individual skill sets. We do not guarantee that the data provided is flawless. By using this website, you accept that salary information is presented 'as is' and without warranties.