PATH A
Inside the business
Pure work, usefulness, influence, ownership. Qualifications optional — for love and leverage, never required. The salary ladder tops ~R170k/m; the leap to R500k/m happens at the salary→owner line.
A1R24.6k–R35k/m S1·S2
Project Planner / Scheduler
Builds and maintains the programme — the schedule the whole site runs on.
UnlockEntry. None.
Moves upMS Project / Primavera P6 fluency; programmes nobody can argue with
For loveCAPM · MS Project (doing now)
A2R45k–R65k/m S3
Senior Planner
Owns the master programme across projects; forecasts delay and builds claims.
UnlockYour programmes drive site decisions and survive contractual scrutiny
Moves upExtension-of-time / delay analysis; the dates person the manager trusts
A3R40k–R77k/m S4·S6
Planning Manager / Project Manager
Runs a whole project — time, cost, quality, team — not just the schedule.
UnlockDelivered a project's programme and started owning budget + subbies
Moves upCommercial awareness (money, not just dates); managing subcontractors; client trust
For lovePMP
A4R65k–R110k/m S8upper·S9
Senior PM / Contracts Manager
Runs multiple projects or the biggest one, and owns the contract and the claims.
UnlockDelivered on/under budget and won or defended a claim
Moves upContract law (JBCC / NEC / FIDIC); claims; P&L ownership of a project
For loveSACPCMP registration · PMP
A5R92k–R170k/m S10·S12
Construction / Project Director
Owns a division or portfolio P&L; wins the work; sets the strategy. Top of the salary ladder.
UnlockYou bring in work and run a division at a profit
Moves upBusiness development (winning tenders); running a P&L; leading managers
salary ends · ownership begins
A6R500k/m = OWNER
Partner / Owner-equity — the family-firm seat
You own a share of the profit. This is not a salary — it has no ceiling.
UnlockEquity actually transferred (in writing) and the firm produces enough distributable profit
The catchSuccession alone ≠ R500k/m. The firm must be grown to the scale below — and growing it is a big part of the A1→A5 job.
A6 — what company scale actually throws off R500k/m (R6.0M/yr owner take)
| Net margin | Revenue needed | tag |
|---|
| 3% — SA long-term avg | R200M/yr | S16 |
| 4.8% — 2024, best in a decade | R125M/yr | S16 |
| 8% — well-run building/fit-out | R75M/yr | confirm AFS |
| 10% — specialist / low-competition | R60M/yr | confirm AFS |
The reality check: a family firm at R30M/yr × 4% net = R1.2M/yr total profit = R100k/m even if you take 100%. Own 50% not 100%? Double every revenue figure. The firm has to reach R60–200M/yr — that's the real job hiding inside the titles.
PATH B
Qualifications → salary → invest
The credential ladder and the salary each level unlocks as an employee — then the investment route that closes the gap from a capped salary to R500k/m.
The credential ladder
| Credential | Requires (primary source) | Unlocks |
|---|
| CAPM | Matric + 23 contact hrs PM education S17 | Planner R24.6–35k/m |
| MS Project / P6 | Tool skill — no eligibility gate | Snr planner R45–65k/m |
| PMP | Degree + 36mo exp + 4,500 hrs leading + 35 hrs training S18. Non-degree: ~60mo + 7,500 hrs confirm handbook S18b | PM / snr PM R40–110k/m |
| SACPCMP | Pro (Pr.CM/Pr.CPM): Honours+4yr / BTech+5yr / Dip+7yr — OR RPL: 10+ yrs experience, no qualification S19 | Contracts mgr / director R65–170k/m |
| BTech → degree → Hons → MBA | University academic path (also the SACPCMP academic route) | Director ceiling R92–170k/m |
↳ On Path A (quals optional), SACPCMP letters still come — via the RPL 10-year experience route, not study. S19
The honest employed ceiling
| Top construction director, JHB (base) | R170,041/m | S12 |
| Total package (base+bonus+car+incentive) | ~R200–250k/m | confirm Michael Page / Robert Walters SA guides |
Salary caps ~R170k/m base, maybe R250k total. It never reaches R500k/m as an employee. The gap is closed by investment.
The investment bridge — R170k salary → R500k/m
Gap to close ≈ R330k/m = R3.96M/yr from assets. Capital needed = income ÷ net yield:
| Vehicle | Net yield | Capital for the gap | tag |
|---|
| SA REIT (JSE property) | 9.2% | ~R43M | S13 |
| Student accommodation | ~8.5% net | ~R47M | S15 |
| Residential let (good) | 6% net | ~R66M | S15 |
| Pure passive R500k/m (no job) | 9.2% | R65.2M | S13 |
⚠ Leverage is negative-carry right now. Prime 10.5% S14 is higher than residential yield (4–6%) and REIT (9.2%). Borrowing to buy either costs more than it pays — fund assets with cash surplus, not debt, until rates fall below the asset yield. This kills the usual "gear up on property" shortcut at today's rates.
Milestone snowball — each R1M @ 9.2% = +R7,667/m S13
Fuel = salary surplus (≈R80–120k/m investable off a top salary confirm SARS PAYE). Reinvest distributions → income buys more units → it compounds. Gate = next milestone reached, never elapsed time.