How much do truck drivers earn in Botswana compared with SA?

Truck driving remains an important occupation in Southern Africa, with thousands of drivers transporting goods across borders and connecting businesses in neighbouring countries.

But how much do truck drivers earn in Botswana compared with their counterparts in South Africa?

Salary data from employment platforms and industry wage agreements provides an interesting picture of what drivers can expect to earn in the two countries.

How much truck drivers earn in Botswana

Paylab lists the annual gross salary range for lorry drivers in Botswana as P51 336 to P116 796. Divided over 12 months, this works out to approximately P4 278 to P9,733 a month.

At an indicative exchange rate of P1 to R1.1988 on 11 November 2026, the range converts to about R5129 to R11 666 monthly.

Paylab’s figures are based on its salary survey, rather than an official national pay scale.

The figures should therefore be treated as an indication, not a guaranteed salary for every truck driver in Botswana.

What truck drivers earn in South Africa

In South Africa, Indeed reported an average truck driver salary of R10 161 per month, based on 150 reported salaries.

The figure was updated on 31 October 2026.

This places the South African average within Botswana’s converted reported range.

However, the comparison does not mean that drivers in the two countries doing the same work receive identical packages.

Pay can vary according to experience, employer, routes, working hours and the type of vehicle being driven.

There is also a separate wage benchmark for some South African drivers.

The National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry‘s 2026/27 wage schedule sets a minimum weekly rate of R3 383.37 for heavy and extra-heavy motor vehicle drivers in the relevant categories.

That is equivalent to roughly R14 661 over an average month.

The council rate applies to employers and employees covered by the relevant collective agreement, so it should not be confused with the national average reported by Indeed.

What the comparison shows

The available figures suggest that truck driving salaries can overlap across Botswana and South Africa, but they do not establish which country pays better overall.

Drivers considering opportunities across the border should compare the full employment package, including overtime, allowances, accommodation, medical benefits, routes and job security, rather than relying on a headline monthly salary alone.