We have seen that South Africa is fast progressing as far as technology is concerned with the industry of coders filled with minds as young as 12. The South African tech world defies all academic requirement parameters set for someone to get a job in IT. You will be shocked to know self-taught software developers tend to make more at entry-level than academically qualified due to entry-level software developer salary South Africa. Statistics show; one in every four developers are self-taught coders making over R50,000 rands and are in search of entry-level software developer salary South Africa . 

However, amateur software developers make less than most IT professionals. Established and experienced Java Developers, “Senior Software Developers or Full Stack Software Developers” get the most remuneration among software developers. Software programmers in South Africa make, on average a monthly salary, R 40 654 gross per month which translates to R 487 800 gross per year is the entry-level software developer salary South Africa. This surpasses the national average salary by 73 percent. 

How much a software developer earns in South Africa?

An average starting salary of R 22 488 should be the expectation of an entry-level software developer, while the most paid salaries can exceed R 85 700.  

You will realize trends in the IT sector favors the young. Look at salaries for fellow IT counterparts: 

On average a computer programmer who happens to be a developer in South Africa will take the sum of R 480 000 as their yearly income with entry-level positions salaries averaging R 360 000 per year. These salaries translate to R40 000 and R30 000 respectively. You can grow your salary by sticking around the campfire of the profession and gain experience where people at this level make up to R 9 000 000 per year. 

According to a survey by the technology talent market, State of the Software Developer Nation survey, “Python is one of the fastest-growing major programming languages, second only to Javascript in the ranks of programming languages that local developers want to use in 2020.” The survey polled about 40 000 developers and revealed the growth of income is directly proportional to age. “The younger developers start coding, the more they earn. Those who started coding before the age of 12 earn the biggest salaries when looking at entry-level software developer salary South Africa.” 

Is South Africa good for software developers?

Yes South Africa is very good for software developers, because benefits of the trade are flexible hours and being able to work from anywhere without being expected in the office at scheduled times. This way of working entices entrepreneurs like myself who find it difficult to be confined to a single stream of income. Apart from income itself, working long hours will have a pinch on every other aspect of your life. Company culture is prioritized over the tech stack. 

So reading through an article online I found not only found out a reason among more but the information itself that developers in South Africa turn down jobs. Chief among other reasons is a lack of growth opportunities. 

Lamentations from a ‘Tech-Guru’ reminded me of the agreeable fact software is literally changing the world and went on to point out, “software doesn’t write itself.” Recognition needs to be paid where is due. The people are the foundations of winning teams. 

With Technology taking over the economic space worldwide, computer technicians have become the strongholds of various industries. This places so much value on Information and Communication Technology qualifications such that the numbers of students who want to pursue the career keep increasing.

While some students even spend sums of money going overseas to study Computer Science, the question that comes to my head is do we really need to go overseas for things we can do and grow at home. 12-year-olds are coding, but someone will wait until they are 18 to graduate with a High School qualification to secure a place overseas to study something a toddler started doing at 12. 

Computer Science graduates are exposed to prestigious employment opportunities “as system analysts, independent consultants, software developers, programmers, data analysts, and managers.” Your first job usually comes with training schemes, entry-level programmer positions, and junior members of project teams.

Do software engineers get paid well in South Africa?

Computer Science graduates have the liberty to choose which sector they want to work in, given the high demand for talent across all sectors. The average starting salary for a Computer Science professional and software engeneers is £25,000 while the non-professional average entry salary sits at £16,500

Looking at the trends in the United Kingdom as expressed above, our developers need to be invested in a bit more if we are to catch up in terms of technology as a continent. Talent has, for a long time, displayed itself but the response is not satisfactory all across the continent. Entrepreneurial minds should be put to good use and brought together for a good cause. 

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