2026 comparison

IT Project Manager vs Chef salary in South Africa

Compare salary, demand, difficulty, and long-term growth to choose the right career path.

Quick answer

IT Project Manager vs Chef in South Africa

Higher paying career
IT Project Manager
Monthly difference
R35 000
Easier to enter
Chef
Better long-term
IT Project Manager

Winner summary

Winner for salary
IT Project Manager (+R35 000/month)
Easier entry
Chef
Best long-term
IT Project Manager
Verdict

Choose IT Project Manager if your goal is higher income and long-term growth.

Choose Chef if your goal is faster entry and lower barriers.

Career overview

IT Project Manager

Demand: 6/10

Salary guide
Requirements

IT or business degree, plus PMP, PRINCE2 or Agile certification.

  • Project management certification
  • Experience in an IT environment
  • Strong written communication
Salary
EntryR28 000
MidR58 000
SeniorR85 000
Upper benchmarkR120 000

Chef

Demand: 9/10

Salary guide
Requirements

Culinary diploma or apprenticeship.

  • Culinary qualification or apprenticeship
Salary
EntryR8 000
MidR28 000
SeniorR50 000
Upper benchmarkR90 000

Salary breakdown

Entry
IT Project ManagerR28 000
ChefR8 000
Mid
IT Project ManagerR58 000
ChefR28 000
Senior
IT Project ManagerR85 000
ChefR50 000
Upper benchmark
IT Project ManagerR120 000
ChefR90 000

Demand and difficulty

Demand

IT Project Manager (6/10)6/10
Chef (9/10)9/10

Difficulty

IT Project Manager (6/10)6/10
Chef (5/10)5/10
Salary difference
+R35 000/month

The salary gap at senior level is about R35 000 per month. IT Project Manager earns more due to higher demand and stronger salary growth at senior level.

See full IT Project Manager salary in South Africa →
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Key questions

Which pays more in South Africa?

IT Project Manager pays more, with senior salaries around R85 000 per month compared to R50 000 for Chef.

Which is easier to enter?

Chef is easier to enter due to lower difficulty and more accessible requirements.

Which is better long-term?

IT Project Manager offers stronger long-term potential based on higher salary ceilings and demand.

Detailed comparison

When comparing IT Project Manager vs Chef in South Africa, the senior-level salary difference is R35 000 per month.

Chef is better for quicker entry into the workforce. IT Project Manager is better for long-term earnings and career growth.

Skills and requirements

IT Project Manager

Core skills
  • Project planningHigh
  • Agile and WaterfallHigh
  • Stakeholder managementHigh
  • BudgetingMedium
  • Vendor managementMedium

Chef

Core skills
  • Cooking techniqueHigh
  • Menu planningHigh
  • Kitchen leadershipMedium

Side by side

Project planning
IT Project Manager needs this
Not used by Chef
Agile and Waterfall
IT Project Manager needs this
Not used by Chef
Stakeholder management
IT Project Manager needs this
Not used by Chef
Budgeting
IT Project Manager needs this
Not used by Chef
Vendor management
IT Project Manager needs this
Not used by Chef
Cooking technique
Not used by IT Project Manager
Chef needs this

Career progression

IT Project Manager

Project CoordinatorR32 000
IT Project ManagerR58 000
Senior IT Project ManagerR85 000
Programme ManagerR110 000

Chef

Commis ChefR10 000
Chef de PartieR22 000
Sous ChefR38 000
Head Chef / Executive ChefR90 000

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