Biomedical Engineering Salary in South Africa

Biomedical engineering is a perfect blend between theoretical science and its practical application by combining innovation with health care. They are skilled professionals responsible for designing and creating medical equipment and systems that help doctors with patients’ treatment. Moreover, many South Africans aspire to choose this noble profession as a career; however, understanding its financial potential beforehand is crucial.

Occupation:	Biomedical Engineers
Monthly Salary Range:	R 14900 – R 42300
Average Monthly Salary:	R 28600
Description:	Biomedical Engineers are skilled professionals who use laws of engineering and biological sciences to design and build health devices and systems, ensuring that they are safe and effective and help healthcare professionals.
Minimum Qualification:	The minimum qualification required to become a biomedical engineer in South Africa is a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject like biomedical science or engineering.

Biomedical engineers have an average base salary of R37500 per month, R450,000 per year, or R231 per hour. However, this is not the same for everyone, and it mainly depends on your education, experience, and gender. So, let’s break down the salary structure of a biomedical engineer in South Africa and the factors influencing it.

Overview: Biomedical Engineering Salary

Biomedical Engineering is a bridge between science, engineering, and healthcare and is considered a prestigious profession in South Africa. They bring technological advances into medicine and build innovative tools to improve human health. Moreover, the minimum salary of a biomedical engineer in South Africa is R14,900 per month or approximately R178,800 per year.

The maximum salary of a biomedical engineer with experience is around R507,600 per year or R42,300 per month. Likewise, their average gross salary is R37500 per month or R450,000 per year.

Extras

Biomedical engineers earn an average bonus of R25,857 per year. Moreover, they receive 27% medical and some more additional benefits. However, these benefits depend on the employer and the organization that they work for.

Salary Structure

There are multiple factors that determine the salary of biomedical engineers in South Africa. These factors include gender, experience, skills, and education. Moreover, other factors like your company/organization, job location, and age also have an impact on your salary as a biomedical engineer in South Africa.

Salary Variation Based on Experience

Your salary as a biomedical engineer fluctuates significantly due to experience and age. With age, a biomedical engineer gains experience, and with experience comes more in-depth insight, knowledge, and skills relevant to the field. Therefore, experienced employees always earn more than a beginner.

A beginner biomedical engineer with no experience makes R14,900 per month or R178,800 per year. On the other hand, one with experience earns around R507,600 per year or R42,300 per month. Here is a table on how experience influences salary.

Years of Experience	Increase in Salary	Salary (Monthly)
0 – 2 Years	–	14,900 ZAR
2 – 5 Years	+34%	19,900 ZAR
5 – 10 Years	+48%	29,400 ZAR
10 – 15 Years	+22%	35,800 ZAR
15 – 20 Years	+9%	39,000 ZAR
20+ Years	+8	42,300 ZAR

Salary Variation Based on Education

The level of education also serves as a key determinant of a biomedical engineer’s earning potential. Someone with a degree in higher education will always make more than an undergraduate degree holder. Moreover, a biomedical engineer with a Master’s degree has a 93% higher salary than others.

A bachelor’s degree holder makes an average salary of only R17,300 per month. However, if they acquire a master’s degree, their salary will increase dramatically to an impressive figure of R33,400 per month.

Salary Variation Based on Gender

Gender also has an impact on the salary of a biomedical engineer. Ethically, it should not have any influence on salary. However, a female biomedical engineer earns 11% less than a male solely based on gender.

Responsibilities of a Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers combine engineering and science to design equipment for human health improvement. Moreover, it focuses on innovative technology and builds machines doctors use for various medical procedures. Here are some of the key responsibilities of a biomedical engineer;

• Design and create medical equipment and devices.
• Research on improving healthcare technology.
• Maintain and repair medical center equipment and devices.
• Test and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medical equipment.
• Evaluate and optimize healthcare systems and processes.

How much are biomedical engineers paid in South Africa?

Biomedical engineers make an average base salary of R37500 per month, R450,000 per year, or R231 per hour in South Africa.

In short, a biomedical engineer uses technological advancement and medicine to design and develop new devices and equipment for improving human health. Moreover, their average base salary is R37500 per month or R450,000 per year. Furthermore, it depends on biomedical engineers’ gender, experience, and education.