▼28%
R809,163
Avg. Base Salary (ZAR)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (ZAR)
10%
ZAR 524k
MEDIAN
ZAR 809k
90%
ZAR 1m
The average salary for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) is R809,163 in 2025
Base Salary
R524k - R1m
Bonus
R30k - R90k
Total Pay
R573k - R1m
Is Average Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) Salary in South Africa your job title? Find out what you should be paid
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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s?
What Do Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s Do?
Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) Tasks
- Work with designers and content producers.
- Write, modify, and debug software for server applications.
- Write code to create multi-threaded, networked server applications.
- Use source debuggers, program dumps, and performance monitoring tools.
- Test and document software for server applications.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)
Medical
52%
Dental
12%
Vision
4%
None
48%
Gender Breakdown for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s
Male
85.0%
Female
15.0%
This data is based on 20 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s
What is the highest pay for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) is ZAR 1m / year
What is the lowest pay for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) is ZAR 524k / year
How can Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) that oversees more junior Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.