This article contains list of top 10 high paying jobs in Zambia
Getting a well -paying job is the dream of all people who hope to work in the corporate world. Parents hope their children will have a passion for a career that comes with a big pay, and when this is not so, it gives them a lot of doubts about what the future holds. In a developing country like Zambia, where the economy is not as booming as it ought to, one might have to rely on a huge pay to bridge the gap between the standard of living and the per capita income. There are some occupations whose remuneration can afford one the luxury of life. These careers require a certain level of education and expertise. It may be challenging to acquire this knowledge but the reward is worth it when one is enjoying the benefits that come with such a career. These careers are better determined at the right time when one is still in secondary school. Making a choice at a later stage in life might be a hard nut to crack due to the rigours that come with these high paying jobs.
LIST OF TOP 10 HIGH PAYING JOBS IN ZAMBIA
1. Nursing
This is the leading profession in Zambia, offering employment to many young people in Zambia. Zambia’s increasing demand for improved health care has necessitated the need for more nurses to be in service in the numerous health care centres in the country. This is encouraged for young men and women in Zambia as it promises to be a fulfiling career for science-oriented students.
A report in 2018 says Zambia has a shortfall of 20,000 nurses and the number can reach millions in the next 10 years. To combat this, the Zambian government has proposed to recruit 30,000 nurses before 2030. Aside from that, the whole world was shackled by the current pandemic which makes the need for healthcare professionals to be on the rise.
Nurses salary is eye-catching but to become one doesn’t come easily. It demands high professionalism since it deals with human lives
Here are a few steps to become a registered nurse in Zambia:
- Take up an accredited nursing course in Zambia;
- Pass the licensure exam of the General Nursing Council of Zambia (GNC) that is conducted bi-annually (May/June and November/December) to test the competence level of the BSN degree holders and qualify nurses to practice;
- Get registered; and
- Get placed in the best hospital in Zambia
A person working in Nursing in Zambia typically earns around 5,800 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 3,720 ZMK (lowest average) to 11,200 ZMK (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).
2. Financial manager
Financial managers manage all the financial issues of an organization, devise goals and objectives, and strategies for maximizing the organization’s profits. They develop and monitor departmental budgets to make appropriate financial estimates for their company. . This job comes with a high prestige but it’s one of the most stressful jobs on the list. Financial managers work long hours.
They must ensure that all projects meet established deadlines. They must conduct performance evaluations promptly and provide timely feedback to their staff. Prior management or supervisory experience in the same industry is a must-have experience as this is the basis at which they can grow to be competent financial managers. Other soft skills such as strong leadership and interpersonal skills, excellent oral and written communication skills are as equally important while not overlooking hard skills like analytical skills, data interpretation, Microsoft office proficiency and working with financial application and reporting tools.
A bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, management, accounting, business administration, or other relevant fields puts you in the light of becoming a financial manager. Some employers prefer that candidates have CPA certifications and/or MBAs. They must have strong analytical skills.
Finance Manager Tasks:
- Prepare informational analyses on current processes, actual performance versus budget and prior year data.
- Assist Operations team in Monthly Operations Review.
- Identify areas for cost reductions and operational improvements.
- Provide analyses to Operations team.
A person working as a Financial Manager in Zambia typically earns around 12,400 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 6,700 ZMK (lowest) to 18,700 ZMK (highest).
3. Teaching jobs
The number of schools in Zambia increase year in year out making teacher to be in high demand. The simple law is, once the demand is high, the payment will be high too. Most international schools in Zambia offer teachers a generous package that will afford you a great quality of life and excellent professional development opportunities. A person working in Teaching / Education in Zambia typically earns around 6,370 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 3,050 ZMK (lowest average) to 11,600 ZMK (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Teaching / Education careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles
4. Pharmacist
Pharmacists deserve to be well- paid judging from the because they play a vital role when it comes to how medical conditions are handled, recuperating processes, and the entire health and wellness. Pharmacists serve patients by preparing medications, giving pharmacological information to the multidisciplinary health care team, and monitoring patient drug therapies. Prepares medications by reviewing and interpreting physician orders and detecting therapeutic incompatibilities A person working as a Pharmacist in Zambia typically earns around 7,310 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 3,950 ZMK (lowest) to 11,000 ZMK (highest).
5. Human Resources Personnel.
As an HR officer, your aim is to ensure that the organisation you work for employs the right balance of staff in terms of skills and experience and that training and development opportunities are available to colleagues to enhance their performance and achieve the company’s business aims.
HR officers are involved in a range of activities whatever the size or type of business. These cover areas such as:
- conditions of employment
- equality and diversity
- negotiation with external work-related agencies
- pay and rewards
- recruitment and retention
- working practices.
It’s possible to work in either a generalist role, covering the full range of HR work, or to become a specialist in a particular area. A person working as a Human Resources Manager in Zambia typically earns around 8,930 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 4,200 ZMK (lowest) to 14,100 ZMK (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Human Resources Manager salaries vary based on experience, skills or location.
6. Sales managers
A Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is required to be a sales manager. To thrive in this role, you will need excellent communication skills and the ability to lead a sale team. Previous experience in a sales-related role is a plus. Sales Managers are responsible for supervising and organizing sales team. You will be in charge of managing organizational sales by developing business plans, meeting planned goals, and coordinating with marketing department on lead generation. You will also be tasked with overseeing the activities and performance of your sales team by tracking sales goals, setting individual sales targets, and facilitate the ongoing training of your salespeople. Managing organizational sales by developing a business plan that covers sales, revenue and expense controls. While those people on the display room floors sell products, sales managers analyze the trends, set and implement various goals and objectives of the organization. Thus, due to the magnitude of their tasks, they are very well paid in Zambia. A person working as a Sales Manager in Zambia typically earns around 9,920 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 5,350 ZMK (lowest) to 15,000 ZMK (highest).
7. Veterinarian
Veterinarians diagnose, prevent and treat diseases, injuries and dysfunctions of animals. They may provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in the treatment of a particular animal group or a particular speciality area, or provide professional services to commercial firms producing biological and phar-maceutical products. Job Responsibilities
- Determining the presence and nature of abnormal conditions by physical examination, laboratory testing and through diagnostic imaging techniques including radiography and ultrasound
- Treating animals medically and surgically, and administering and prescribing drugs, analgesics, and general and local anaesthetics
- Performing surgery, dressing wounds and setting broken bones
- Rendering obstetric and dental services to animals
- Participating in programs designed to prevent the occurrence and spread of animal diseases
- Inoculating animals against, and testing for, infectious diseases and notifying authorities of outbreaks of infectious animal diseases
- Performing autopsies to determine the cause of death
- Advising clients on health, nutrition and feeding, hygiene, breeding and care of animals
- Providing euthanasia services for animals
A person working in Pet Care in Zambia typically earns around 4,860 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 2,980 ZMK (lowest average) to 8,040 ZMK (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).
8. Mechanical engineer
Mechanical engineers develop, design, build, test, and inspect mechanical devices and systems, such as machines, tools, and engines. Since mechanical engineering is a very broad field, they work in a variety of different industries designing a wide range of products. Most mechanical engineers work in manufacturing, research and development, or at companies that offer engineering services.
Typically, mechanical engineers have a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field such as mechanical engineering technology. They need advanced mathematical skills to perform calculations and they need to be able to think creatively.
A person working in Engineering in Zambia typically earns around 5,060 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 1,610 ZMK (lowest average) to 10,700 ZMK (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Engineering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
9. Public Relations Officers
Public relations (PR) is about managing reputation. A career in PR involves gaining understanding and support for your clients, as well as trying to influence opinion and behaviour. You’ll use all forms of media and communication to build, maintain and manage the reputation of your client’s public Relations Officers develop PR campaigns and media relations strategies. They Collaborate with internal teams (e.g. marketing) and maintain open communication with senior management
Edit and update promotional material and publications (brochures, videos, social media posts etc.) Prepare and distribute press releases. Organize PR events (e.g. open days, press conferences) and serve as the company’s spokesperson. Also, they seek opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships and advertising, address inquiries from the media and other parties, track media coverage and follow industry trends. Prepare and submit PR reports
Their job requirement extends to managing PR issues.
A person working in Public Relations in Zambia typically earns around 6,040 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 2,680 ZMK (lowest average) to 10,000 ZMK (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).
10. Surgeon
Surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in performing a variety of surgical procedures on patients who have been diagnosed with illnesses or health complications. Surgeons can specialize even further to perform only certain kinds of surgeries. They are highly skilled and educated, with steady hands and a penchant for working well with people. Where surgeons work can vary depending on their specialization and personal preferences, but most surgeons work in either a hospital or an outpatient clinic. Working hours can also vary widely, especially for surgeons who work in hospitals, which are open 24/7. Surgeons report directly to hospital administrators or executives. Surgeons are some of the most educated people in today’s professional world. Before becoming surgeons, they undergo four years of undergraduate education and four years of medical school, then spend anywhere from three to eight years in a residency program. Most states require surgeons to be properly licensed to practice medicine and surgery. These licensing requirements can vary depending on the state where the surgeon works.
A person working in Surgery in Zambia typically earns around 17,200 ZMK per month. Salaries range from 5,800 ZMK (lowest average) to 26,800 ZMK (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).
How to get a well- paying job
1. Establish yourself as an expert in your field
Thea Kelley says “To make yourself more attractive to prospective employers, you should focus on not only building your brand but also marketing yourself as an expert in your industry’ She goes on to say you need to do the following:
- Look for chances to speak at industry conferences
- Find podcasts or online radio shows that will welcome you as a guest.
- Write about your field either on a blog or self-published eBook
- Post regularly on social media
- Create informative videos and a YouTube channel
- Pick up part-time work as a consultant
These can expose you to experts and reputable offer in your industry.
2. Cross-train to expand your skillset
One of the best ways to strengthen your resume is to demonstrate you’ve pushed yourself to learn skills to boost your areas of expertise. But in order to achieve that, you’ll need to create cross-training opportunities for yourself, says Teri DePuy, a Colorado-based career coach at ICC Innovate Coach Consult. “You don’t just want to go to your boss and say, ‘I want to learn more about our marketing department,'” DePuy says.
A better tactic, says DePuy, is to ask for your boss’ permission to work on a specific project or task—and offer something in return. For instance, “Bob in IT is willing to let me shadow him for a day. Can I do that and then share with our team what I learned?”
3. Develop your leadership skills
No matter how much the job market shifts, one skill that’s always in demand is leadership. You have an advantage if you’re already in a management position since you’re developing your leadership ability just by overseeing direct reports. But if you’re not a supervisor yet, there are other ways to develop leadership skills.
You can offer to mentor an entry-level employee, lead a training seminar, or develop a volunteer program to improve the company’s image. Craig Toedtman, an executive coach in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, says you can also sharpen your leadership skills outside your job by taking an executive position at a professional association or nonprofit.
4. Research companies’ financial health
Before you begin applying to jobs, create a list of prospective employers that are hiring that you’d like to work for and do an analysis of each company’s financial health and stability. The better off they are financial, the more likely they are to pay employees well.
You can research this a few ways. If it’s a public company, look at its recent quarterly earnings reports to see profit margins and net sales. (Those are good indicators of financial growth.)
5. Take smart risks
To make a big salary leap, you’ll likely have to push yourself outside your comfort zone and apply to high-paying jobs that might seem like a stretch.
“Disregard the barriers to entry,” Toedtman advises. “If you see a job you want, and you feel you can do it well, don’t hesitate to apply,” he says.
Remember to focus on what you bring to the table and how you can add value to the company’s bottom line. Give them examples that demonstrate you’re a problem solver who can take on challenges and turn them into accomplishments.
6. Get noticed
When you’re ready to switch companies in search of a pay bump, you want to seek out as much exposure as you can. The more hiring managers you can get your credentials in front of, the better your chances of finding one that hits the mark.
CONCLUSION
If you’re that Zambian who’d like to gather enough wealth in these tough economic times, you certainly have enough reasons to choose from one of the mentioned jobs. Though some of them might be quite stressing, you’re certainly guaranteed a decent salary and allowances.
Statists show these are actually the most in demand rather than best paying.