TikTok countdown names five degrees with lowest starting salaries in South Africa

On 29 July 2026 a South African TikTok creator posted a video counting down five university degrees tied to the country’s lowest reported starting salaries, sparking debate among students, parents and professionals about the value of certain qualifications.

What the video listed

The creator, who posted under the handle @wickusvwyk, opened the countdown at number five with an arts degree qualifications such as a degree in music or a BA in fine arts, drama or languages which the video said starts at roughly R22,500 a month.

At number four the video named a BA in social sciences covering majors such as psychology with a reported starting salary of about R20,000 a month. The creator noted that an undergraduate social sciences degree does not by itself qualify someone to practise as a psychologist, and that further study is often required.

The countdown placed a Bachelor of Education third, with a reported starting salary near R19,500 a month.

The video also included a BSc in agriculture, described as “fourth from the bottom,” with an approximate starting salary of R19,000 a month.

According to the video, the degree with the lowest starting salary was a BA in humanities and religious studies, which it said starts at about R16,500 a month.

Reaction and expert perspective

Commenters on the TikTok post added their own examples and concerns. Some wrote that law degrees and degrees that require articles can have very low starting pay for entry-level posts. Sample user comments included:

“Urm, I think LLB should be #1. My starting salary was R6000!!!” @Arista Mootheram

“LLB article clerks get around R8000 per month if you are lucky!!!” @marloejansevanvuu

“Food technology 10k if you’re lucky.” @umakoti_kabafo_oshabeni

LinkedIn commentary quoted in the report came from Gary Silbermann, a recruitment director, who pointed to degrees such as software engineering, data science, actuarial science, chartered accounting, nursing and engineering as those that consistently show the strongest and fastest employment outcomes. Silbermann also said South Africa produces far more graduates than it has graduate-level roles available, and that students who choose general or social science degrees often compete for the same non-specialist positions.

Wider conversation

The TikTok video prompted wider discussion about career choices and the gap between graduate qualifications and available graduate-level employment. According to Briefly News, the outlet recently reported on a Wits LLB graduate who spoke out about nearly two years of unemployment after graduating, highlighting the overlooked LLB articles crisis.

Notes from the source

According to Briefly News, “PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!”

According to Briefly News, “Nerissa Naidoo is a writer and editor with seven years of experience. Currently, she is a human interest writer at Briefly News and joined the publication in 2024. You can reach her at [email protected].”

What readers said

The video’s comment thread showed a mix of anecdote and frustration, with viewers adding alternative examples of low-paid entry roles and questioning whether certain professional degrees deliver fair starting pay.

Readers weighing study choices continue to debate whether fields with lower starting salaries can be offset by postgraduate study, career progression or specialist qualifications a conversation the TikTok countdown helped to amplify.