Chartered Accountant salary in South Africa
See if Chartered Accountant is worth pursuing in South Africa based on pay, demand, difficulty and time to start earning.
Should you become a Chartered Accountant 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.
Chartered Accountant salary by city
Chartered Accountant salary Durban
Durban roles usually track local employer budgets and sector demand.
See Chartered Accountant salary in Durban →Chartered Accountant salary Johannesburg
Johannesburg pay often reflects larger company hiring and specialist demand.
See Chartered Accountant salary in Johannesburg →Chartered Accountant salary Cape Town
Cape Town salaries can rise with scarce skills and competitive employers.
See Chartered Accountant salary in Cape Town →Skills that increase salary
Scarce, in-demand skills lift offers fastest. Estimates assume strong, job-ready capability.
How Chartered Accountant compares
Alternatives to consider
Is Chartered Accountant worth it?
What does a Chartered Accountant do?
Qualified accountant (CA(SA)) working across audit, finance, advisory and executive roles. Most work involves IFRS, Audit, Financial reporting and close collaboration with finance 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
- • Corporate - large enterprise / banksR77 000
- • Startup / scale-up - equity + faster growthR70 000
- • Government / SOE - structured pay scalesR59 500
Experience curve
- • Year 0–2R28 000/mo
- • Year 3–5R57 500/mo
- • Year 6–10R120 000/mo
- • Year 10+R220 000/mo
Monthly vs hourly
- • Entry: R28 000/mo ≈ R162/hr
- • Mid: R70 000/mo ≈ R405/hr
- • Senior: R120 000/mo ≈ R694/hr
- Based on a 40-hour week (~173 hrs/month).
Real-world context
- • Most chartered accountants in South Africa fall between R45 000 and R120 000 per month.
- • Top 20% reach R220 000+ in senior, specialist or leadership roles.
- • Pay scales fastest with scarce skills, finance demand and proven delivery.
Chartered Accountant - quick answers
Chartered Accountant salary per month in South Africa
Chartered Accountants in South Africa earn between R28 000 and R120 000 per month. Mid-level pay sits around R70 000/month, with top earners reaching R220 000+.
Chartered Accountant hourly rate in South Africa
Chartered Accountant hourly rate in South Africa is roughly R162/hr at entry, R405/hr at mid level and R694/hr at senior level (based on a ~173-hour month).
Entry-level chartered accountant salary in SA
Entry-level chartered accountant salary in South Africa starts around R28 000/month and reaches R45 000 within the first 1–2 years.
Is Chartered Accountant a good career in South Africa?
Yes - Chartered Accountant is a strong career in South Africa with high demand and senior pay around R120 000/month.
Is Chartered Accountant in demand in South Africa?
Yes - Chartered Accountant is in high demand in South Africa, with employers across finance actively hiring.
How long does it take to become a Chartered Accountant?
Typically Articles + post-articles in audit for entry-level roles. Education path: SAICA-accredited BCom + CTA + Board exams + SAICA articles.
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FAQ
What does a CA(SA) earn?+
Newly qualified earn R45 000-R55 000/month. Senior CAs reach R100 000+ and CFOs R220 000+.
How long to qualify?+
About 7 years: 3 BCom + 1 CTA + 3 SAICA articles + Board exams.
Fast-track career options (6–12 months) →Explore Chartered Accountant in South Africa
Drill into Chartered Accountant salary by city, the most-asked comparisons and related career paths in finance.