Aerospace Engineer salary in South Africa
See if Aerospace Engineer is worth pursuing in South Africa based on pay, demand, difficulty and time to start earning.
Work out your take-home pay ↓Should you become a Aerospace Engineer in South Africa?
Salary breakdown
How long to reach R120 000 per month?
Progression is steady. The biggest jumps come from rare skills, larger employers and proven delivery.
Aerospace Engineer salary by city
Aerospace Engineer salary Durban
Durban roles usually track local employer budgets and sector demand.
See Aerospace Engineer salary in Durban →Aerospace Engineer salary Johannesburg
Johannesburg pay often reflects larger company hiring and specialist demand.
See Aerospace Engineer salary in Johannesburg →Aerospace Engineer salary Cape Town
Cape Town salaries can rise with scarce skills and competitive employers.
See Aerospace Engineer salary in Cape Town →Skills that increase salary
Scarce, in-demand skills lift offers fastest. Estimates assume strong, job-ready capability.
How Aerospace Engineer compares
Alternatives to consider
Is Aerospace Engineer worth it?
What does a Aerospace Engineer do?
Designs, develops and tests aircraft, spacecraft and related systems. Most work involves Aerodynamics, CAD / FEA, Avionics and close collaboration with engineering teams. Daily output is typically measured in delivery, accuracy and stakeholder impact rather than hours worked.
Good for
People who enjoy hard problems and want long-term income upside.
Avoid if
Anyone unwilling to commit to multi-year training and continuous learning.
Salary depth in South Africa
Industry variation
- • Construction - site-based, project payR69 000
- • Mining - remote sites, premium payR88 500
- • Private sector - stable, contract workR75 000
Experience curve
- • Year 0–2R32 000/mo
- • Year 3–5R65 000/mo
- • Year 6–10R120 000/mo
- • Year 10+R180 000/mo
Monthly vs hourly
- • Entry: R32 000/mo ≈ R185/hr
- • Mid: R75 000/mo ≈ R434/hr
- • Senior: R120 000/mo ≈ R694/hr
- Based on a 40-hour week (~173 hrs/month).
Real-world context
- • Most aerospace engineers in South Africa fall between R55 000 and R120 000 per month.
- • Top 20% reach R180 000+ in senior, specialist or leadership roles.
- • Pay scales fastest with scarce skills, engineering demand and proven delivery.
Aerospace Engineer - quick answers
Aerospace Engineer salary per month in South Africa
Aerospace Engineers in South Africa earn between R32 000 and R120 000 per month. Mid-level pay sits around R75 000/month, with top earners reaching R180 000+.
Aerospace Engineer hourly rate in South Africa
Aerospace Engineer hourly rate in South Africa is roughly R185/hr at entry, R434/hr at mid level and R694/hr at senior level (based on a ~173-hour month).
Entry-level aerospace engineer salary in SA
Entry-level aerospace engineer salary in South Africa starts around R32 000/month and reaches R55 000 within the first 1–2 years.
Is Aerospace Engineer a good career in South Africa?
Aerospace Engineer is a solid career in South Africa, with mid pay around R75 000/month and low demand.
Is Aerospace Engineer in demand in South Africa?
Aerospace Engineer demand in South Africa is more selective - opportunities exist but vary by region and employer.
How long does it take to become a Aerospace Engineer?
Typically Design or maintenance of aircraft systems for entry-level roles. Education path: BEng Aeronautical or Mechanical Engineering.
Aerospace Engineer take-home pay
How to reach this salaryMore than about 50% of Aerospace Engineer salaries in SA.
Estimated mid benchmark.
Estimate only. Uses SARS individual tax brackets, the primary rebate and UIF capped at R177.12. Excludes medical aid credits, pension and other deductions.
Does this match what you earn or see?
One tap helps us keep Aerospace Engineer figures honest.
Use these numbers in a pay talk
Copy a clean summary for HR, a recruiter or WhatsApp.
Career verdict
Career progression
Trending comparisons to compare careers
Demand
Difficulty
Related careers
Mechanical Engineer salaryMechanical Engineer salary in South Africa
Electrical Engineer salaryElectrical Engineer salary in South Africa
Commercial Pilot salaryCommercial Pilot salary in South Africa
Industrial Engineer salaryIndustrial Engineer salary in South Africa
People also explore
Higher paying careers
FAQ
What does an Aerospace Engineer earn?+
Mid-level R75 000/month. Senior engineers reach R120 000-R180 000.
Explore Aerospace Engineer in South Africa
Drill into Aerospace Engineer salary by city, the most-asked comparisons and related career paths in engineering.