Salaries

SANDF Army Salaries 2026

What every rank in the South African National Defence Force earns - from a Rifleman to the Chief of the SANDF. Figures map each rank to its Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) salary level and are updated for the 2026/27 financial year, which includes the 4% cost-of-living adjustment effective 1 April 2026.

Updated 22 June 2026 • By Thandi Mokoena • Fact-checked

SANDF rank-by-rank salary table

SANDF salary scale by rank infographic showing private corporal sergeant lieutenant captain monthly pay — Indicative monthly pay by rank - full table below.

Rank	Salary level	Annual range	Monthly range
Rifleman / Private	Salary Level 4	R204,000 – R239,000	R17,000 – R19,900
Lance Corporal	Salary Level 5	R237,000 – R280,000	R19,800 – R23,300
Corporal	Salary Level 6	R274,000 – R320,000	R22,800 – R26,700
Sergeant	Salary Level 7	R316,000 – R372,000	R26,300 – R31,000
Staff Sergeant	Salary Level 8	R367,000 – R432,000	R30,600 – R36,000
Warrant Officer Class 2	Salary Level 9	R427,000 – R503,000	R35,600 – R41,900
Warrant Officer Class 1 / RSM	Salary Level 10	R488,000 – R574,000	R40,600 – R47,800
2nd Lieutenant / Lieutenant	Salary Level 9–10	R427,000 – R574,000	R35,600 – R47,800
Captain	Salary Level 11	R575,000 – R677,000	R47,900 – R56,400
Major	Salary Level 12	R677,000 – R798,000	R56,400 – R66,500
Lieutenant Colonel	Salary Level 13	R950,000 – R1,118,000	R79,100 – R93,200
Colonel	Salary Level 14	R1,133,000 – R1,334,000	R94,400 – R111,200
Brigadier General	Salary Level 15	R1,360,000 – R1,601,000	R113,400 – R133,400
Major General	Salary Level 16	R1,618,000 – R1,905,000	R134,900 – R158,800
Lieutenant General	SMS (indicative)	R1,850,000 – R2,100,000	R154,200 – R175,000
General (Chief of the SANDF)	SMS (indicative)	R2,100,000 – R2,450,000	R175,000 – R204,200

Ranges reflect the entry to top notch of each DPSA salary level for 2026/27 (incl. the 4% adjustment from 1 April 2026). Excludes deployment, danger and overtime allowances. Lieutenant General and General figures are indicative SMS-scale estimates.

SANDF salary by rank explained

Pay in the SANDF is set by your rank, which maps to a DPSA salary level, and your notch (years of service) within that level. Here's what each major rank earns per month in 2026/27, and what the role involves.

Private / Rifleman salary

R17,000 – R19,900/mo

Level 4

The entry rank after MSDS training. Pay rises by notch with each year of service.

Corporal salary

R22,800 – R26,700/mo

Level 6

First junior-NCO leadership rank, commanding a section of riflemen.

Sergeant salary

R26,300 – R31,000/mo

Level 7

Senior NCO running a platoon’s day-to-day discipline and training.

Warrant Officer / RSM salary

R35,600 – R47,800/mo

Level 9–10

The most senior non-commissioned ranks. A Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) is a WO1 appointment.

Lieutenant salary

R35,600 – R47,800/mo

Level 9–10

Entry commissioned-officer rank, typically a platoon commander.

Captain salary

R47,900 – R56,400/mo

Level 11

Company second-in-command or specialist staff officer.

Major salary

R56,400 – R66,500/mo

Level 12

Field-grade officer commanding a company or sub-unit.

Lieutenant Colonel salary

R79,100 – R93,200/mo

Level 13

Commands a battalion or equivalent; first Senior Management Service rank.

Colonel salary

R94,400 – R111,200/mo

Level 14

Commands a regiment or large headquarters function.

General officers salary

R113,400 – R204,200/mo

Level 15–16+

Brigadier, Major, Lieutenant General and full General - strategic command of the force.

Allowances on top of basic pay

Housing allowance

R1,900–R2,250/month for home-owning members below SL10

Danger pay

10–25% of basic salary during operational deployment

Foreign service allowance

Set per country for AU/UN deployments

Uniform allowance

Annual lump sum to maintain dress and combat uniforms

Service bonus

13th cheque on birth month

Medical (SAMHS)

Free medical and dental care for member + dependants

MSDS - entry path

The Military Skills Development System is the standard entry route for the SANDF. Two-year contract for South Africans aged 18–22 (or 26 with a degree).

Training stipend: approximately R8,000–R10,000/month
Accommodation, meals, uniforms and medical fully covered
On successful completion: permanent contract at SL4 (Rifleman) or higher

Frequently asked questions

How much does a soldier earn in the SANDF?+

Entry-level Privates (Riflemen) earn from around R204,000 per year (~R17,000/month) on salary level 4 of the DPSA pay scales for 2026/27. Allowances for risk, deployment and danger can add 15–30% on top.

How much is a corporal’s salary in the SA Army?+

A Corporal sits on DPSA salary level 6, earning roughly R274,000 to R320,000 a year - about R22,800 to R26,700 per month before allowances, depending on years of service (notch).

How much does a sergeant earn in the SANDF?+

A Sergeant is on salary level 7: roughly R316,000 to R372,000 a year, or about R26,300 to R31,000 per month before allowances.

How much does a captain earn in the SA Army?+

A Captain is a junior commissioned officer on salary level 11, earning approximately R575,000 to R677,000 a year (about R47,900 to R56,400 per month) before allowances.

How much does a colonel earn in the SANDF?+

A Colonel sits on salary level 14, earning roughly R1.13 million to R1.33 million a year (about R94,400 to R111,200 per month). A Lieutenant Colonel (level 13) earns slightly less, around R950,000 to R1.12 million a year.

What does a general earn in the SANDF?+

General officers are paid on the Senior Management Service (SMS) scale. A Brigadier General earns from about R1.36 million a year, a Major General from about R1.62 million, and the most senior ranks (Lieutenant General and full General / Chief of the SANDF) are indicatively in the R1.85 million to R2.45 million range.

How much does the SA Army pay during MSDS basic training?+

Military Skills Development System recruits earn around R8,300–R10,400 per month during their 24-month contract, with accommodation, meals and uniforms provided.

Do SANDF members get a pension?+

Yes. SANDF members contribute to the GEPF (Government Employees Pension Fund), one of the largest pension funds in Africa.

What allowances do SANDF members receive?+

On top of the basic salary, members typically receive housing allowance, danger pay during deployment, family travel, free medical care via SAMHS, and uniform allowances.

Sources

· Department of Public Service & Administration salary scales (PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2025; DPSA Circular 15 of 2026, 4% adjustment effective 1 April 2026).
· Department of Defence Annual Report.
· Personnel Salary Service Bureau (PERSAL) gazetted notches.