How Much Africa’s Remote Workers Earn & The Jobs Being Lost To AI

One Lagos-based software developer invests about USD 150.00 monthly in a dual internet setup and a powerful inverter system. It’s a significant cost, but essential for the reliable connectivity his remote job requires. “It’s worth it,” he says in a new report from Rayda, a device lifecycle management startup now active in over 170 countries. His salary from an international company is triple what he could earn locally.

He is part of a rapidly growing cohort of African professionals cashing in on the global remote work revolution. According to Rayda’s Future of Remote Work in Africa (FORWA) 2025 report, which surveyed 1,006 remote workers across six African tech hubs, salaries are soaring well above local averages. But this economic opportunity arrives as artificial intelligence begins to reshape the very roles that provided their entry point.

The report by Rayda, a startup co-founded by Ogochukwu Francis Osifo, formerly of now-defunct 54gene, reveals a clear earnings ladder.

Junior roles (1-3 years of experience) typically earn between USD 500.00 and USD 1 K monthly. Intermediate positions command USD 1 K to USD 2 K, while senior professionals can earn from USD 3 K to USD 7 K. For context, the average monthly salary for a similar senior software engineer in Nigeria is around USD 1.5 K, according to local salary surveys.

The data shows a concentration of this economic uplift: 42.9% of surveyed remote workers earn between USD 1 K and USD 2 K per month, and another 14.3% take home over USD 3 K. These figures represent life-changing income in markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, enabling financial stability and wealth building previously inaccessible to many.

“My current role pays three times what I would earn locally. It’s changed my financial situation completely,” shared a UX designer from Cairo, echoing a common sentiment in the report.

However, the AI era threatens to disrupt this progress. The report sounds a warning bell for certain job categories. According to employer surveys, 85.7% believe AI will significantly impact specific roles. The jobs most vulnerable to displacement are customer support, data entry, and content writing—positions that have historically served as crucial entry points into the global digital workforce for African professionals.

“We’ve found exceptional technical talent in Africa,” one company founder noted. “The challenge isn’t finding skilled people, it’s navigating the logistical aspects of remote employment.” That challenge is now compounded by technological disruption.

The remote workforce is not passive in the face of this shift. In a proactive response, 63.3% of surveyed workers report they are actively acquiring AI-related skills. This suggests an awareness that future-proofing their careers requires adaptation.

The Rayda report concludes that the future for African remote work will be a mixed picture. While AI may automate some routine tasks, it is also creating new opportunities in areas like prompt engineering and AI system management. The resilience already demonstrated by workers who navigate daily power outages and internet instability may be their greatest asset in adapting to this new technological landscape.

Feature Image Credits: Getty Images