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7 Jobs in South Africa That Involve Working With Children (Besides Teaching)

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For someone who likes children, working with them can be such a breath of fresh air. Besides teaching, there is a vast market in different industries for working with children in South Africa. We will discuss the most rewarding 7 jobs in South Africa that involve working with children, the qualifications needed, how much salary to expect, and the certifications to explore to get these jobs.

1. Social Workers

Social work is a noble profession for people who are dedicated to improving the lives of children and families with emotional support through counseling and helping them cope with issues in their everyday lives

What Qualifications Do You Need?

  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from any recognized university.
  • Registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).

Salary Expectations

  • Entry-Level: start at R 240 000 per year
  • Experienced: make up to R 4 325 357 per year.

Available Bursaries and Learnerships Offered

  • Social work degree bursaries at The Department of Social Development
  • Gauteng Social Work Bursary offers provincial bursaries for Social work students

2. Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nurses work alongside health practitioners to take detailed health assessments, perform physical examinations, and assess vitals for infants, children, and adolescents. 

What Qualifications Do You Need?

  • A certificate diploma or degree in nursing.
  • Register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC).
  • Netcare Education and Life Health institutions offer specialized education in Pediatric Nursing 

Average Salary Expectations

Pediatric nurses in South Africa make between R342,867 and R596,462 a year, depending on experience.

Available Bursaries and Learnerships Offered

  • Nursing Bursaries from The Department of Health
  • Netcare and Mediclinic also offer funding for nursing studies

3. Child Psychologist

Child psychologists provide valuable insights and assess and treat children’s behaviour, emotional health, and social development.

What Qualifications Do You Need?

  • A Bachelor’s Degree or Honors degree in Psychology in an accredited institution
  • A Master’s degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology in a reputable institution.
  • Go for an internship and registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Salary Expectations Of A Child Psychologist In South Africa

  • Entry-Level (1-3 years experience): R20,000–R30,000 per month.
  • Senior level (8 years plus experience)Experienced: R40,000 – R70,000 per month.

Available Bursaries and Learnerships Offered

  • Undergraduate psychology degrees funds offered by National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
  • Stellenbosch and Wits Universities also offer financial aid and scholarships for postgraduate studies.

4. Au Pair or Childcare Specialist

Au pairs assist families with taking care of the child, upkeep of the child, managing their daily routine, and help with homework and other extracurricular activities.

What Qualifications Do Au Pair Need?

  • Here is usually no qualification required, but it would be an added advantage to have childcare courses from institutions like Chilton or Super Nannies.
  • Getting a first aid certification is often mandatory.

Salary Expectations For an Au Pair in South Africa 

  • R6,000–R12,000 per month, depending on hours and responsibilities.

Bursaries and Learnerships

  • None yet, but the short courses are affordable.

5. Speech Therapist

Speech therapists work with children who have trouble communicating fluently like other children. They help with speech disorders and help them improve their language and speaking skills.

Qualifications Needed To Become a speech Therapist In South Africa

  • A bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology or speech therapy.
  • Then your registration with the HPCSA to operate.

Salary Expectations Of A Speech Therapist In South Africa

  • Entry-Level (1-3 years experience): R20,000–R30,000 per month.
  • Experienced (5 years + experience): R35,000–R55,000 per month.

Available Bursaries and Learnerships

  • The University of Cape Town offers scholarships for health sciences.
  • NSFAS also covers undergraduate degrees in speech therapy.

6. Child Advocate Lawyer

Child advocate lawyers are there to enforce and protect the rights and best interests of all children. They deal with legal matters, custody, abuse, and neglect cases.

What Qualifications Do You Need?

  • A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
  • A mandatory practical legal training and admission as an attorney.
  • Specializing in either family or child law is beneficial.

Salary Expectations Of A Child Advocate Lawyer In South Africa

  • Entry-Level (1-3 years experience): R20,000–R28,000 per month.
  • Experienced (8+ years experience): R40,000–R60,000 per month.

Available Bursaries and Learnerships

  • Law students can be funded by the Attorneys Fidelity Fund.
  • Merit-based scholarships for LLB degrees by various universities.

7. Early Childhood Development (ECD) Practitioner

ECD practitioners facilitate and mediate all aspects of caring for a child under the age of six, observe, assess their emotional and social development, and record the progress.

Qualifications  You Need To Become an ECD Practitioner in South Africa

  • A National Certificate in Early Childhood Development from institutions like SETA-accredited training providers.
  • For an added advantage, get a Further Education and Training (FET) qualification.

Salary Expectations For an ECD Practitioner In South Africa

  • Entry-Level (1 to 3 years experience): R5,000–R9,000 per month.
  • Experienced (8+ years experience): R12,000–R16,000 per month.

Available Bursaries and Learnerships

  • The Funza Lushaka Bursary Program has a funding program for ECD qualifications.
  • SETA learnerships provide opportunities for beginners to gain hands-on experience while studying.

Tips for Breaking Into Careers with Children

  1. For a better chance at getting permanently employed, volunteer at schools and NGOs to gain experience and learn on the job
  2. Join networking communities like the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).
  3. Follow platforms in your industry to stay updated on job alerts, e.g Department of Basic Education and reputable job websites like Careers24 and PNet
  4. Get ezra qualification from to stay updated with new trends on your industry

Final Thoughts

Working with children does not limit us to education only anymore. There seems to be plenty of career opportunities for working with children in various departments, either health, social work, law, etc. With the right steps, qualifications, and licensing, you can get to enjoy your passion for working with children while also getting paid for it. 

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