Midwife salary in South Africa
See if Midwife is worth pursuing in South Africa based on pay, demand, difficulty and time to start earning.
Should you become a Midwife in South Africa?
Salary breakdown
How long to reach R55 000 per month?
Progression is relatively fast. The biggest jumps come from rare skills, larger employers and proven delivery.
Midwife salary by city
Midwife salary Durban
Durban roles usually track local employer budgets and sector demand.
See Midwife salary in Durban →Midwife salary Johannesburg
Johannesburg pay often reflects larger company hiring and specialist demand.
See Midwife salary in Johannesburg →Midwife salary Cape Town
Cape Town salaries can rise with scarce skills and competitive employers.
See Midwife salary in Cape Town →Skills that increase salary
Scarce, in-demand skills lift offers fastest. Estimates assume strong, job-ready capability.
How Midwife compares
Alternatives to consider
Is Midwife worth it?
What does a Midwife do?
Provides care during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. Most work involves Maternal care, Emergency response, Patient support and close collaboration with healthcare teams. Daily output is typically measured in delivery, accuracy and stakeholder impact rather than hours worked.
Good for
People who value stable hiring and clear progression over the highest pay.
Avoid if
Anyone whose main goal is the highest possible income early on.
Salary depth in South Africa
Industry variation
- • Government - public sector scaleR36 100
- • Corporate / private - private employersR42 560
- • NGO / academic - mission-drivenR33 440
Experience curve
- • Year 0–2R18 000/mo
- • Year 3–5R34 000/mo
- • Year 6–10R55 000/mo
- • Year 10+R80 000/mo
Monthly vs hourly
- • Entry: R18 000/mo ≈ R104/hr
- • Mid: R38 000/mo ≈ R220/hr
- • Senior: R55 000/mo ≈ R318/hr
- Based on a 40-hour week (~173 hrs/month).
Real-world context
- • Most midwifes in South Africa fall between R30 000 and R55 000 per month.
- • Top 20% reach R80 000+ in senior, specialist or leadership roles.
- • Pay scales fastest with scarce skills, healthcare demand and proven delivery.
Midwife - quick answers
Midwife salary per month in South Africa
Midwifes in South Africa earn between R18 000 and R55 000 per month. Mid-level pay sits around R38 000/month, with top earners reaching R80 000+.
Midwife hourly rate in South Africa
Midwife hourly rate in South Africa is roughly R104/hr at entry, R220/hr at mid level and R318/hr at senior level (based on a ~173-hour month).
Entry-level midwife salary in SA
Entry-level midwife salary in South Africa starts around R18 000/month and reaches R30 000 within the first 1–2 years.
Is Midwife a good career in South Africa?
Midwife is a solid career in South Africa, with mid pay around R38 000/month and high demand.
Is Midwife in demand in South Africa?
Yes - Midwife is in high demand in South Africa, with employers across healthcare actively hiring.
How long does it take to become a Midwife?
Typically Maternity ward and labour room experience for entry-level roles. Education path: Diploma in Midwifery or Advanced Midwifery (post-nursing).
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FAQ
What does a Midwife earn?+
Mid-level R38 000/month. Specialists in private practice reach R55 000-R80 000.
Explore Midwife in South Africa
Drill into Midwife salary by city, the most-asked comparisons and related career paths in healthcare.