Engineering remains one of the biggest paying career choices anywhere in the world; including South Africa. Engineers are very important in the society because they design and build infrastructure that makes life easier for all of us. I listed the top highest paying jobs in South Africa and their average salary per year.
To help you make a good choice when applying for jobs, we’ve listed - in no particular order - some of the best engineering companies to work for in South Africa.
There are many engineering companies in South Africa today offering diverse solutions to existing challenges such that it is nearly impossible to list them since new companies are always popping up. Nevertheless, here is a list of engineering companies in South Africa. Are you tired of your engineering job? Is your current work place not fulfilling enough? Or isn’t it giving you the opportunities you’re looking for? Or are you a new graduate searching for a dream job?
To help you make a good choice when applying for jobs, we’ve listed - in no particular order - some of the best engineering companies to work for in South Africa. (Apply for your next great career opportunity! Anywhere, at Anytime! Get the DiggerApp (Android & iOS) today !!
Aurecon
Aurecon is a multinational in Engineering, Management, Design, Planning, Project Management and Consulting, with a presence in 28 countries all over the world. They offer a range of Mechanical engineering jobs, Electrical engineering jobs, Chemical engineering jobs, Structural engineering jobs and Environmental engineering jobs.
Both current and former employees confirm that it’s a great place to work. When asked about the positives of working for Aurecon they point out the great work-life balance, excellent projects to work on, and opportunities to move to other main offices both nationally and internationally.
BHP Billiton
A majority of 63% of the employees would recommend the enterprise as a good place to work. Furthermore, as much as 80% approve of the CEO and management. The salary is rated as ‘high’ and the benefits and development options are especially praised by the workers.
Sasol
They have been listed as one of the Top 50 Most Valuable Brands by Brand Finance and as one of the Top Employers by the Top Employers Institute. Overall their employees rate the business with a solid 7/10. As much as 67% of the workers would recommend a job at Sasol to their friends and 90% approves of the CEO. What the employees appreciate most is the apprenticeship program, the vacation and paid time off and the possibilities for maternity and paternity leave.
Eskom Holdings
Transnet Engineering
Argent Industrial Limited
Kenwhill Engineering Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Voith
Murray and Roberts Construction
Dihlase Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd
G54 Engineering Services Pty Ltd
PSJ Engineering
AA Geomatics
African Eagle Projects
Alpro
ATTC Civil Engineering Solutions
Big Five Group of Companies
Bright B Electrical and Generator Services
Azwifarwi Trading and Projects
Zuriel Engineering
Tar-A-Way
Stanley Design Services
SA Five Group
Engineers have the skills to turn products of the imagination into real-world innovation. As humanity's knowledge and needs increase, the demands on engineering grow. This means the future will be full of new opportunities for engineers.
Inventing tools and technology for the betterment of humanity is a special task. Learn what the future holds for engineers and the average Salary for Various Categories of Engineering — by exploring the tiles below.
1. Environmental Engineer
Average salary -R714,500 per year
Building a better world
Environmental Engineers protect both people and the environment. They build solutions to problems related to resource and waste management such as water treatment, C02 emissions and air pollution. When structures and infrastructure are designed, Environmental Engineers assess their impact and add to the process accordingly.
Environmental Engineers conserve resources by:
Planning where to harvest solar energy most efficiently
Assessing the impact of wind energy harvesting on the environment to place wind farms in the best place
Desalinating and processing water with efficacy and creating wastewater treatment plans.
Future projects for Environmental Engineers:
Offsetting carbon emissions to counteract damage to the environment
Creating new methods for mining and drilling of resources that have far less impact on the environment
Ecosystem management for expanding cities and suburban zones
Assisting other branches of engineering with the management of conditions brought about by climate change.
As an Environmental Engineer you will ensure the safety of people, animals, plants and the environment. New, better methods of supplying South Africa with the things people need - water, food and ways to manage waste - will come from the minds and creations of Environmental Engineers.
2. Biomedical Engineer
Average salary -R685,824 per year
Biomedical Engineers help doctors combat and defeat diseases and come up with new cures for common illnesses. They are highly sought-after engineering professionals and command huge paychecks. In South Africa, you can get around R685,824 per year for this job and the satisfaction of helping advance humanity.
3. Aeronautical Engineer
Average salary -R644,653 per year
Where ideas take flight
Aeronautical Engineers focus on the design and development of aircraft and flight systems. They are the terrestrial branch of aerospace engineering while astronautical engineering is the non-terrestrial branch (see Space Engineering below).
Aeronautical Engineers build:
Aircraft like planes and helicopters
Propulsion systems such as jet engines and rockets
Avionics systems that help aircraft function
Simulations to train pilots of all types.
The future of Aeronautical Engineering includes:
Faster planes that run on new types of fuel
New propulsion systems that make flying cheaper and safer
Technology that allows for streamlined vertical takeoff and landing.
As an Aeronautical Engineer you will help people travel in safety and comfort. You’ll also have opportunities to work in defence, keeping South Africa’s skies clear of danger.
4. Chemical Engineer
Average salary -R606, 862 per year
Fuelling innovation
Chemical Engineers combine scientific knowledge of chemistry, physics and microbiology with an engineering mind frame and skill set. They ensure chemicals are properly produced, utilised and recycled. Some Chemical Engineers also work to create new chemical compositions and materials.
Chemical Engineers work in many industries, including:
Healthcare and medicine
Transport
Waste management
Food production.
In the future, Chemical Engineers will help create:
More efficient systems for fuel development
Artificial blood
Powerful medicine
The next generation of plastics and biodegradable chemical-based materials.
As a Chemical Engineer you will help design and create things that will fuel a better future. Many industries will be open to you and you will apply your knowledge in ways that suit your interests and goals.
5. Nuclear Engineer
Average salary -R588,452 per year
No country admits to having Nuclear ambitions, but the potential for an almost infinite energy source is just too great for most countries to pass up on. A nuclear plant can provide electrical energy on a very large scale with very little material. However, that little material can be incredibly dangerous because if a person is exposed to nuclear radiation, he is almost certainly going to die. Nuclear Engineers earn about R588,452 per year.
6. Mechanical Engineer
Average salary -R566,574 per year
Industry, interest and infinite possibilities
Mechanical Engineers are responsible for designing and building mechanical systems and machines of all types. They build tools and equipment that make the world run. Modern lifestyles depend on the continued achievements of Mechanical Engineers.
Mechanical Engineers create:
Manufacturing facilities that house large machines to serve many industries
Transport systems such as cars, trains, ships and aircraft
Specialised tools and equipment for both personal use and important fields such as healthcare.
The mechanics of the future include:
Perfecting forms of travel such as high speed rail and vertical takeoff/landing aircraft
Robotics created by Mechanical Engineers specialising in mechatronics (see below)
Machines that harness the power of the tides
Highly specialised tools that are compact and efficient for applications ranging from art to medicine and beyond, to experiments done in space.
As a Mechanical Engineer you will choose how to innovate - big or small, human-powered or AI-driven. The machines that make the future a better place will be created by your hands.
7. Civil Engineer
Average salary -R547,665 per year
Growing our cities
Civil Engineers build the world’s cities. They work with architects, construction companies and scientists to ensure that we live and work in safe, efficient and sustainable environments.
Civil Engineers take care of:
The structures we rely on, from small buildings to skyscrapers
Roads and bridges
Systems for water, gas, electricity and telecommunications.
Future Civil Engineering projects will:
make even larger skyscrapers possible, allowing many people to collaborate and work in a single place
allow for new modes of transportation to be implemented
make recycling waste and using resources such as water and electricity more efficient
cater to new technologies such as self-driving cars.
As a Civil Engineer, you will guide the growth of the town or city you choose to live and work in. You may see new types of trains connecting people like never before, or help transition from petrol to electric vehicles.
8. Agricultural Engineer
Average salary -R531,666 per year
Harvesting the future
Agricultural Engineers improve the technology and processes that supply us with our food. Their inventions affect how crops are grown, harvested and stored. They’re involved in every stage of the farming process including managing long-term effects on climate, soil health and waste recycling.
Some interesting facts about Agricultural Engineering:
Biology and engineering overlap for Genetic Engineers, who must combine the mindset of an engineer with knowledge of microbiology, biochemistry and biophysics. They use specialised tools created by teams of highly skilled engineers to do their work.
Chemical Engineers create compounds that nourish or protect crops.
Mechanical Engineers design and build equipment to harvest and process food.
Environmental Engineers ensure that soil, water and land use is managed with sustainability in mind.
What's next?
Mechatronics Engineers will create autonomous machines to harvest crops with precision at ideal times.
Horizontal storage facilities could be replaced with vertical 'smart structures' that process food.
Energy use will be more efficient and waste will be recycled in new ways.
Engineers have streamlined agriculture, brought urban farming to our cities and are working hard to ensure the world has a sustainable food supply. Do you want to play a role in feeding the world? Study engineering and join those who make farming high tech and ultra-efficient!
9. Biomechanical Engineer
Average salary -R522,667 per year
Building health and happiness
Biomedical Engineers bridge two important fields: engineering and medicine. Their creations are used at all stages of the healthcare process. They design and build diagnostic tools used to understand the problems patients have, monitor important health metrics and help practitioners with therapeutics.
We can thank Biomedical Engineers for:
Research equipment used to study ailments and find cures
X-ray and CAT scan machines that let doctors see inside the human body
Equipment and implants that improve the lives of the disabled.
What’s next?
Improved imaging techniques for faster diagnosis of illnesses
Refined bionic implants that are more accessible to all who need them
An even better understanding of the human body.
As a Biomedical Engineer you will empower people who improve and save lives. You will create the tools used by scientists and doctors to cure the afflictions of humankind. Together with top researchers and surgeons you will build a healthier, happier future.
10. Software Engineer
Average salary -R531,666 per year
The mind of the machine
Software Engineers connect two areas of practice that are crucial for technological advancement: engineering and computer programming. By utilising the principles of an engineer with coding skills, Software Engineers gain a deep theoretical knowledge of computer systems that enables them to learn current tools and practices with ease.
Software Engineers are responsible for:
The creation of complex computer programs that make modern life convenient and connected
The design and implementation of firmware for everything from mobile phones and cash registers to the computers in cars and aeroplanes
Pushing the boundaries of computation and driving hardware demands that lead to increased capability and productivity for computer users.
The future of software includes:
Programs that use historical data and real-time climatic analysis to more accurately predict weather patterns
Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that will help people find information, complete tasks and even solve complex problems that humans cannot
The creation of intricate virtual environments where people won’t only play games but will also work, research and more.
As a Software Engineer you will do more than code, you will create the systems that define the future of communication, industry and entertainment.
11. Electronic Engineer
Average salary -R524,115 per year
Gadgets, gizmos and great ideas
An Electronics Engineer creates the hardware found inside of computers, gaming consoles, mobile phones and many other devices. Electronics is the foundation of modern technology. The engineers who design and build electronic components ensure our daily lives run smoothly.
Things Electronics Engineers make possible:
Circuit design for modern tools and appliances
Functionality of important mechanical engineering projects such as those for healthcare
High-end software that need more computing power to run properly.
Future electronic innovation:
Shrinking headsets and glasses for virtual reality and augmented reality
Making the Internet even faster
Creating super-fast quantum computers.
As an Electronics Engineer you will work with product designers or craft your own inventions. With the help of collaborators, such as software and mechatronics engineers, you will create and maintain the tools of the future.
12. Electrical Engineer
Average salary - R370, 806 per year
High-powered skills
Electrical Engineers utilise knowledge of electricity and electromagnetism to design and build all manner of electric and electronic devices. Many specialities are open to electrical engineers, as the discipline encompasses all stages of power consumption.
Electrical Engineers help build:
Power plants and new technology for harnessing and distributing power
Telecommunications platforms and delivery systems
Power and lighting for houses, offices and municipal buildings
Electronic components of computers and other tools (see electronics engineer below).
In the future, Electrical Engineering will provide:
Faster and more efficient wireless charging systems
New types of electric cars
The next generation of solar technology for a greener power system.
As an Electrical Engineer you will help power the world. You will work with other engineers to make all the things modern life requires faster, smaller and better for the environment.
14. Industrial Engineer
Average salary - R306,294 per year
Mastering methods and marvels
Industrial Engineers apply engineering skills to the management of complex systems. Their job is to make the use of resources such as time, industrial materials, and money optimised.
An Industrial Engineer is responsible for:
Research leading to expertise of complex systems with a view to improve them
Quality assurance and control of business practices and processes
Workplace safety and wellness.
In the future, Industrial Engineers will:
Manage the transition from large fabrication machines to smaller 3D printing oriented solutions
Decide which tasks in a factory should be automated with robotics and mechatronics and which should remain human-powered
Be at the forefront of entirely new industries as technology and capability advances.
As an Industrial Engineer you will apply engineering skills to businesses. You will view the production and distribution facilities and operations of a business much like a Mechanical Engineer views an engine; you will be a master of improvement in a rapidly changing future.
15. Mechatronics Engineering
Average salary - R195,000 per year
Our robotic reality
A Mechatronics Engineer uses skills in both electronic and mechanical engineering alongside Software Engineers and other specialists to create machines capable of performing complex tasks. When you think of a future where drones deliver your pizza by air and cars drive themselves you’re imagining the work of Mechatronics Engineering.
Mechatronics Engineers are interested in:
Mechanics and robotics
Computerised systems and automation
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Mimicking natural systems.
In the future, Mechatronics Engineers will:
Design and build robots that help humans in all areas of life
Provide South Africa’s workforce with more free time due to increased automation of tasks
Help keep our cities clean with small, autonomous waste management machines.
As a Mechatronics Engineer you will develop the systems that usher in a new age of humanity. Dreams of the future become possibilities of the now when engineers take ideas from science fiction to science fact.
16. Nano-Engineering
Average salary - R165,291 per year
It's the little things that count
A nanometre is one billionth of a metre and Nano-Engineers design and build on this incredibly small scale. They work in many fields and as tools for their discipline become more refined their reach will become even wider.
Nano-Engineering deals with creating technology for:
Advanced microscopy and imaging techniques that help scientists gain a better understanding of biology, chemistry and physics
DNA synthesis
The creation of advanced materials
Increased energy efficiency for heating and cooling systems, batteries and more.
In the future, nanotechnology could:
Be the basis for advanced medicine and treatments
Allow for the creation of complex hardware for advanced mechatronics applications.
Go even smaller! The principles of working at the nano scale will be applied to working at pico (atomic) and femto (subatomic) scales.
As a Nano-Engineer you will create solutions that won't be seen but will be valued by the industries you choose to work in. With nano-tech, we take incredibly small steps towards a boundless future.
17. Marine Engineering
Average salary - R 360 643 per year
Deep insights and fluid thinking
Marine Engineers design and build ships and structures that allow us to travel, explore and gain resources from the world’s oceans.
Marine Engineering includes:
Making ships work, from propulsion and steering to functionality such as ventilation, heating and power
Creating floating structures such as oil rigs
Building manned and unmanned submarine vessels for deep sea exploration.
The future of Marine Engineering includes:
Building structures that float and generating energy from ocean waves
Designing ships that cause less pollution
Working with mechatronics and Environmental Engineers to create machines that can rid our oceans of plastic waste
Building new types of submarines and probes to explore the deepest parts of the ocean.
As a Marine Engineer you will help make future advancements that both protect and harness the power of the ocean. You will create tools for exploring the final terrestrial frontier, the ocean. Humanity has seen a mere 5% of it. You can help uncover the secrets of the remaining 95%.
Feeling like you want to work at one of these companies or wanting to explore new job opportunities? You can create a Professional Private Profile on the DiggerApp and our technology will notify you with Match scores to highlight best-fit opportunities for you. This allows you to see how well your skills match with available jobs so you can focus your energy on the right opportunities, and whenever a job at your dream company becomes available.
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