Data Scientist Salary in South Africa: Salary Insights
Data Science is one of the most sought-after skill sets globally today. It is a fast-growing and continuously evolving domain, making it both a rewarding and demanding course.
Data Science uses data or information to make predictions and understand processes. This domain can be widely used for business intelligence predictive modelling, data interpretation and more.
An essential aspect of data science is the collection and analysis of data, which requires various skills, tools and techniques. Developing these skills helps individuals to separate themselves from the crowd of career applications as the data scientist is highly competitive. With the average data scientist salary in South Africa ranges between R240,000 and R800,000 per year.
In this article, we will learn more in detail about the average Data Scientist Salary in South Africa both monthly and yearly, the Skills required to become a Data Scientist, how to become a Data Scientist, and the factors affecting the salary ranges.
Data Scientist Salary in South Africa
The average data scientist’s salary in South Africa ranges between R240,000 and R800,000 per year. Many factors influence salary levels, including experience, skill set, industry, and location. An average entry-level data scientist’s salary in South Africa is around R240,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can earn up to R800,000 or more.
Industries such as finance, technology, and healthcare typically offer higher salaries for data scientists.
The demand for data scientists in South Africa is rapidly increasing, with businesses across industries recognising the value of data-driven insights.
Several factors can influence your data scientist salary in South Africa:
- Experience: Gaining experience can help distinguish your position from others. As you gain experience and expertise, your earning potential increases significantly.
- Entry-Level: Freshers or professionals with less than two years of experience who are just starting in this field typically receive lower salaries.
- Mid-Level: With two to five years of expertise and handling more projects, mid-level employees’ pay increases significantly, indicating a promising career process in data science.
- Senior Level: Over five years of experience or more, especially in specialised or leadership roles, commands the highest salaries, underscoring the value of expertise and advanced skills in the field of data science.
- Skills & Certifications: Possessing in-demand skills like machine learning, natural language processing, and specific programming languages (Python, R) can boost your value.
- Location: Salaries tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas like Johannesburg and Cape Town compared to smaller cities. This is mainly due to higher living costs and demand for data science skills, while positions in less urbanised areas or smaller cities may offer lower salaries.
- Industry: Certain industries, such as finance and technology, typically offer higher salaries for data scientists. High salaries are expected due to the crucial role of data in financial decision-making, and other specialised knowledge in these fields can result in higher salaries.
- Company Size: Larger companies often have bigger budgets for talent acquisition, potentially leading to higher salaries.
- Startups: Startups might offer lower base salaries but can provide equity options and other incentives.
- Large Corporations: Bigger companies usually have more substantial budgets, leading to higher salaries and better benefits.
- Consulting Firms: Data scientists in consulting firms often enjoy higher earnings, reflecting their various positions and high expectations.
- Education: While not always mandatory, a Master’s degree in a relevant field like data science or statistics can enhance your earning potential.
Businesses across a wide range of industries are realising the benefits of data-driven insights, which is driving up demand for data scientists in South Africa. Comprehending data scientist wages is crucial if you consider pursuing a career in this fascinating subject.
Here is the complete information on Data Scientist Salary in South Africa.
Read more – How Long Does it Take to Become a Data Scientist- Enrol in Digital Regenesys’ 30-Week course!
Average Data Scientists Salary in South Africa
According to PayScale, the average annual income for a data scientist in South Africa ranges between R240,000 and R800,000. Many factors affect salary grades. At the entry-level, Data Science professionals should expect to make about R240,000 per year, while more experienced ones can make up to R800,000. Overall, the field of data science in South Africa offers competitive salaries and opportunities for growth. According to Glassdoor, here is the average annual income for a Data scientist in South Africa:
| Average Data Scientists Salary in South Africa | |
| Entry-Level Data Scientists | ZAR400,000 and ZAR500,000 annually |
| Mid-Level Data Scientists | ZAR600,000 and ZAR800,000 annually |
| Senior Data Scientists | ZAR800,000 and ZAR1,200,000 annually |
Per Month Data Scientist Salary in South Africa
According to Glassdoor, the Data Scientist with appropriate years of experience makes, on average, between R35,000 and R35,776 per month. However, as the designation and experience increase, the monthly pay will rise exponentially
According to Glassdoor, here is the average monthly income for a Data scientist in South Africa :
| Per Month Data Scientist Salary in South Africa | |
| Entry-Level Data Scientists | Average Monthly Salary: ZAR33,000 – ZAR42,000 |
| Mid-Level Data Scientists | Average Monthly Salary: ZAR50,000 – ZAR67,000 |
| Senior Data Scientists | Average Monthly Salary: ZAR67,000 – ZAR100,000+ |
Data Scientist Salary in South Africa: Designation Wise
Data scientists job profiles have several areas of specialisation, each handling different tasks. According to the Payscale, the average annual salary for the various designations in the Data science profile is as follows:
| Salary of a Data Scientist: Designation Wise | |
| Position | Average Salary |
| Quantitative Analyst | Average R490,758 per year |
| Data Scientist | Average R464,800 per year |
| Data Engineer | Average R454,466 per year |
| Business Analyst | Average R404,629 per year |
| Database Administrator | Average R223,636 per year |
| Junior Data Analyst | Average R139,196 per year |
Highest paying cities in South Africa for Data Scientists
Along with many other factors, location also plays a vital role in determining the salary of a Data Scientist. South Africa is an established hub for technology and is home to several large corporations.
According to Glassdoor and Indeed, here are some of the highest-paying cities in South Africa for Data Scientists. A key insight for those interested in tech careers.
| Highest paying cities in South Africa for Data Scientists | |
| Cities In South Africa’s | Average Salary |
| Johannesburg, Gauteng | R920,367 per year |
| Cape Town, Western Cape | R861,841 per year |
| Data Analysts in Cape Town | R4,00,000 per year |
| Quantitative Analyst in Capetown | R5,20,500 per year |
| Randburg, Gauteng | R814,655 per year |
| Johannesburg North, Gauteng | R761,483 per year |
| Sandton, Gauteng | R717,244 per year |
| Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | R689,636 per year |
| Stellenbosch, Western Cape | R654,086 per year |
| Midrand, Gauteng | R623,346 per year |
| Centurion, Gauteng | R574,554 per year |
Read more – Data Analyst Salary in South Africa: Beginners to Seniors
Top Companies Salary for Data Science Roles
Numerous leading IT firms, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Citrix, have offices globally. These companies hire freshers and experienced professionals across various job profiles and designations.
According to Glassdoor, here are some of the top companies that pay high salaries for Data Science job roles:
| Top Companies Salary for Data Science Roles | |
| Company Name | Average Salary |
| Apple | $120,000 – $200,000 |
| $130,000 – $200,000 | |
| Amazon | $110,000 to $160,000 |
| $120,000 to $190,000 | |
| Microsoft | $118,000 and $170,000 |
Top Countries Paying High Salary for Data Science Job Roles
Data science is one of the top three career choices in terms of compensation. It is important to note that data science salaries can vary significantly. With the growth in the demand for Data Science, there has been a significant increase in demand for Data Scientists globally.
This table illustrates that some of the top countries offer high-pay packages to Data Scientists. This provides a clear understanding of the average wages in selected countries, giving you a real-world perspective on the implications of your career choices.
According to Glassdoor, here are some of the top countries that offer high-pay packages to Data Scientists:
| Top Countries Paying High Salary for Data Science Job Roles | ||
| Job Role | Country | Salary Range |
| Data Analyst | Japan (JP ¥ ) | JP¥50.0L – JP ¥80.0L |
| Data Engineer | Canada (CA $) | CA$77T – CA$1L |
| Data Scientist | Germany (€) | €60T – €78T |
| Data Analyst/ Researcher | Australia (A$) | A$80 K- A$110 K |
| Senior Data Scientist | Switzerland (CHF) | CHF1L – CHF1L |
Data Scientist Salary vs Data Analyst Salary
The salary differences between data analysts and data scientists generally reflect the variation in their skills, responsibilities, and the complexity of their tasks. Typically, data scientists earn more than analysts because of their advanced technical skills, higher educational requirements, and the strategic nature of their work.
According to Glassdoor, a data scientist’s salary in Johannesburg, South Africa, ranges between ZAR4L and ZAR7L per annum, while Pay scale notes an average of ZAR3L and ZAR3.5L for data analysts.
Read more – Why Should I Study Data Science: Learn With Digital Regenesys!
According to PayScale, here is the annual salary comparison between the Data Analysts and Data Scientists:
Data Scientist Salary vs Data Analyst Salary:
| Position | Average Annual Salary | ||||
| US
(US $) | UK
(£) | Australia
(AU $) | South Africa
(R) | India
(₹) | |
| Data Analysts | $4L – $10.0L | £30T – £47T | A$ 80T – A$1L | R22T – R42T | ₹4L – ₹10.0L |
| Data Scientists | $8L – $18.0L | £43T – £67T | A$1L – A$1L | R4L – R7L | ₹8L – ₹18.0L |
How to Become a Data Scientist in South Africa?
Becoming a Data scientist involves a combination of education, skills development, practical experience, and continuous learning. Enrol in the Digital Regenesys Data Science certification course to gain these criteria.
Digital Regenesys is one of the leading educational platforms which provides innovation and excellence in digital education. The Digital Regenesys Data Science course is designed to provide learners with the essential tools and techniques for making informed business decisions.
After completing this course, learners will receive a recognised certification; they also gain practical programming language skills and experience working with large datasets.
Skills Required to Become a Data Scientist in South Africa
Data Science skills are highly technical and include proficiency in SQL and Python. Many skills are required, such as programming, manipulating databases, advanced mathematics, data visualisation, and soft skills like collaboration and public speaking.
Some of these essential technical skills and soft skills required to become a data scientist include:
Technical skills:
- Data analysis and visualisation,
- Programming skills including Python, R, SQL,
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI),
- Mathematics, statistical analysis, and probability and
- Data visualisation requires translating data to a visual context using a graph, chart, bar, or other visual aid.
Soft Skills:
Along with these technical skills, data scientists must build their soft skills, including:
- Continuous learning
- Strong business acumen
- Strong communication skills
- Teamwork and other essential soft skills include storytelling, data ethics, problem-solving, decision-making, analytical mindset, structured thinking, environmental awareness, and a passion for steep learning curves.
The Digital Regenesys Data Science course comprises various topics, including machine learning, AWS Cloud Computing, Deep Learning, Web development with Flask, Streamlit, and big data technologies. Along with these skills, gain hands-on experience with real-world data sets and industry-standard tools like Python, R, SQL, and other Business Intelligence Tools.
The Digital Regenesys Data Science course curriculum is designed to align with the latest trends and demands in the data science industry. Learn from experienced professionals and industry experts who provide practical insights and mentorship.
Enrol in the Digital Regenesys Data Science course and gain the in-depth Knowledge and skills required to excel in the rapidly growing field of data science.
Last Updated: 22 November 2025
