Shortlist salary benchmarking: What hydrogen CEOs can earn

From the newsletter

Top hydrogen business leaders in South Africa earn the highest minimum annual salary among four countries analysed by Hydrogen Rising in collaboration with recruiter Shortlist. South African CEOs expect to earn at least $156,000 per year. Egypt offers the lowest minimum for such roles, at $102,000 annually. 

• This is for the top leaders in mid-size renewable energy companies. Salary benchmarks are assembled in partnership with Shortlist, a leading recruitment agency in Africa.

• With hydrogen still emerging as a separate sector, the analysis benchmarks sector leaders among renewables executives.

More details

• Energy firms that want to ensure their top leader sticks around pay a “retention rate” in South Africa of around $228,000, the highest in Africa. In Kenya, the equivalent is $175,000, with Nigeria and Egypt following at $158,000 and $149,000, respectively.

• Across the board, South Africa leads in compensation for strategy leaders, followed by Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt. 

• For leaders in general management roles the average minimum pay across the four countries is $122,000, with a retention benchmark at around $177,000 annually.

• The average minimum pay for professional non-executive directors is approximately $2,000, while the retention benchmark is at $6,000 across the regions. These leaders play a critical role in governance and strategic oversight, including roles like Audit Committee Chair and Risk Management Director in mid-sized energy firms.

• In exceptional cases, particularly within large multinational energy companies, strategy leaders receive premium compensation. In South Africa, top general strategy management talent can earn up to $390,000, followed by Kenya at $300,000, Nigeria at $270,000, and Egypt at $255,000.

• Premium rates for professional non-executive directors are $13,000 in South Africa, $10,000 in Kenya, $9,000 in Nigeria, and $8,500 in Egypt, according to Shortlist data.

Our take

• South Africa’s premium pay for hydrogen strategy leaders reflects both its regional dominance and Africa’s growing alignment with global salary trends as demand for green skills intensifies.

• With green hydrogen investments surging across Africa, strategy leaders can expect salaries to rise steadily as companies compete for top talent in this sector.

• Retention packages will be the real battleground in the hydrogen sector. Companies that don’t invest in competitive pay risk losing their best strategic minds.