{"id":830,"date":"2013-11-18T01:37:53","date_gmt":"2013-11-18T01:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ofwaustralia.wpengine.com\/?p=21"},"modified":"2026-02-24T21:45:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T21:45:16","slug":"best-paying-jobs-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/830-best-paying-jobs-australia.html","title":{"rendered":"30 Best Paying Jobs in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Based on data from the Australian Taxation Office, SEEK, and industry reports, the following are among the highest-paying roles in Australia:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rank<\/th>\nJob Title<\/th>\nAverage Annual Salary<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nNeurosurgeon<\/td>\n$604,582<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nOphthalmologist<\/td>\n$592,414<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nPlastic & Reconstructive Surgeon<\/td>\n$568,439<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nAnaesthetist<\/td>\n$405,000\u2013$425,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nPsychiatrist<\/td>\n$236,055<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nProject Director<\/td>\n$232,682<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nGeneral Practitioner (GP)<\/td>\n$232,450<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nStaff Specialist (Medical)<\/td>\n$222,503<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nEngineering Manager<\/td>\n$181,783<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nEngineering Lead<\/td>\n$171,441<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nFinancial Planning & Analysis Manager<\/td>\n$167,445<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nElectrical Supervisor<\/td>\n$164,545<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nReliability Engineer<\/td>\n$158,347<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nFunctional Consultant<\/td>\n$155,266<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nDirector of Nursing<\/td>\n$149,873<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nAcquisition Manager<\/td>\n$145,901<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/td>\nRegistrar (Medical)<\/td>\n$145,176<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/td>\nBanking Manager<\/td>\n$143,932<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/td>\nQuality Manager<\/td>\n$140,664<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/td>\nFacilities Manager<\/td>\n$146,867<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nIT Project Manager<\/td>\n$135,000\u2013$155,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/td>\nCyber Security Specialist<\/td>\n$134,995\u2013$183,715<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/td>\nSupply Chain Director<\/td>\nUp to $260,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/td>\nConstruction Manager<\/td>\n$175,000\u2013$200,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/td>\nSoftware Engineer<\/td>\n$110,000\u2013$125,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/td>\nData Analyst<\/td>\n$90,000\u2013$110,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/td>\nGeologist<\/td>\n$127,122<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28<\/td>\nHuman Resources Director<\/td>\nUp to $400,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29<\/td>\nElectrician<\/td>\n$85,000\u2013$110,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/td>\nRegistered Nurse<\/td>\n$85,000\u2013$90,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: Indeed<\/a>, The Nightly<\/a>, 7News<\/a><\/p>\n

Roles with Significant Salary Growth<\/h2>\n

Several occupations have experienced notable salary increases<\/a> over the past year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Job Title<\/th>\nSalary Increase (%)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Quality Manager<\/td>\n14.62%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Registrar (Medical)<\/td>\n12.18%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Banking Manager<\/td>\n11.65%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Acquisition Manager<\/td>\n11.64%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Director of Nursing<\/td>\n8.92%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Staff Specialist (Medical)<\/td>\n8.43%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Facilities Manager<\/td>\n7.57%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Psychiatrist<\/td>\n6.58%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Engineering Lead<\/td>\n6.23%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reliability Engineer<\/td>\n4.88%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Additionally, roles such as security systems technicians, operations team members, support engineers, and telecommunications technicians have seen rapid salary growth, driven by increased demand and industry expansion.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo by Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Average Salaries by State<\/h2>\n

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics<\/a> (ABS), median weekly earnings for employees in August 2024 were as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
State \/ Territory<\/th>\nMedian Weekly Earnings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)<\/td>\n$1,688<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northern Territory (NT)<\/td>\n$1,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Western Australia (WA)<\/td>\n$1,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New South Wales (NSW)<\/td>\n$1,396<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Victoria (VIC)<\/td>\n$1,350<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Queensland (QLD)<\/td>\n$1,350<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Australia (SA)<\/td>\n$1,250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tasmania (TAS)<\/td>\n$1,208<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Average Salaries by Industry<\/h2>\n

The ABS reports<\/a> the following average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults by industry as of November 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Industry<\/th>\nAverage Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Mining<\/td>\n$2,811.10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Information Media and Telecommunications<\/td>\n$2,452.20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Financial and Insurance Services<\/td>\n$2,437.60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services<\/td>\n$2,300.50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services<\/td>\n$2,298.30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Construction<\/td>\n$2,153.80<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Education and Training<\/td>\n$1,898.70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Health Care and Social Assistance<\/td>\n$1,848.30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Retail Trade<\/td>\n$1,390.20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accommodation and Food Services<\/td>\n$1,282.90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

National Wage Trends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Indicator<\/th>\nLatest Data<\/th>\nDetails<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Median Weekly Earnings<\/td>\n$1,396 (August 2024)<\/td>\n7.4% increase<\/a> from the previous year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wage Price Index<\/td>\n3.2% (December 2024 quarter)<\/td>\nDown from 4.2%<\/a> the previous year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Real Wage Growth<\/td>\nPositive for four quarters<\/td>\nWages outpaced inflation<\/a>, easing cost-of-living pressures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Future Outlook<\/h2>\n

The Australian job market is projected to see significant growth in certain sectors over the next decade:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Sector<\/th>\nProjection<\/th>\nTimeframe<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Health Care and Social Assistance<\/td>\nShare of total employment<\/a> expected to rise from 15.2% to 16.7%<\/td>\nBy 2033<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services<\/td>\nProjected to grow<\/a> by 409,800 persons (10.9%)<\/td>\nBy May 2029<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services<\/td>\nFurther growth of 785,000 persons (20.9%)<\/td>\nBy May 2034<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Key Takeaways from Job Data<\/h2>\n

1. Healthcare, Tech, and Engineering Are High-Growth Fields<\/strong>
\nRoles in Health Care and Social Assistance, like Nursing, Psychiatry, and Director-level roles, are seeing strong demand and salary growth.
\nCybersecurity, Data Analytics, and Software Engineering are among the most lucrative and fast-growing roles in the tech sector.
\nEngineering roles such as Reliability Engineer and Engineering Lead show consistent salary increases and stability.<\/p>\n

2. Location Matters<\/strong>
\nWorkers in ACT, WA, and NT earn significantly more on average than those in SA, TAS, or QLD.
\nRelocating or seeking remote roles connected to high-paying regions can open up better salary opportunities.<\/p>\n

3. Managerial and Specialist Roles Pay Well<\/strong>
\nTitles with “Manager”, “Director”, or “Specialist” (e.g., Quality Manager, Facilities Manager, Medical Registrar) show some of the highest salary increases.
\nThese roles often require experience and\/or postgraduate qualifications, so investing in long-term skill development pays off.<\/p>\n

4. Vocational Trades Are Still Strong<\/strong>
\nRoles like Electricians and Telecommunications Technicians remain well-paid and in demand.
\nThese jobs often offer stable employment without needing a university degree.<\/p>\n

5. Salary Growth Reflects Skills Shortages<\/strong>
\nJobs with the highest salary growth are often those with skill shortages or are mission-critical (like in health, security, infrastructure, and finance).
\nThese shortages create leverage for salary negotiations or career transitions.<\/p>\n

Advice for Workers and Job Seekers<\/h2>\n

1. Prioritise in-demand skills<\/strong>
\nFocus on gaining skills in:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Health services (nursing, mental health)<\/li>\n
  • Tech (cybersecurity, software, data)<\/li>\n
  • Engineering & infrastructure<\/li>\n
  • Financial analysis and planning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Use platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or local TAFE programs to upskill or reskill in high-demand areas.<\/p>\n

    2. Think regionally and strategically<\/strong>
    \nIf you’re flexible:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Target roles in ACT or WA where salaries are higher.<\/li>\n
    • Explore remote-first companies where location doesn\u2019t cap earning potential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      3. Invest in career progression<\/strong>
      \nIf you’re already in the workforce:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Seek leadership or specialist roles in your field.<\/li>\n
      • Consider formal certifications or postgraduate studies in your domain to boost your earning ceiling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        4. Be salary-savvy<\/strong>
        \nUse salary tools (like SEEK or Hays guides) to benchmark your pay and negotiate effectively.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Look for roles with fast salary growth, not just high base salaries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          5. Explore alternate entry paths<\/strong>
          \nUniversity isn\u2019t the only route:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Vocational education (TAFE, apprenticeships) offers access to well-paid trade jobs.<\/li>\n
          • Consider alternative pathways like micro-credentials or employer-sponsored training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Based on data from the Australian Taxation Office, SEEK, and industry reports, the following are among the highest-paying roles in Australia: Rank Job Title Average Annual Salary 1 Neurosurgeon $604,582 2 Ophthalmologist $592,414 3 Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon $568,439 4 Anaesthetist $405,000\u2013$425,000 5 Psychiatrist $236,055 6 Project Director $232,682 7 General Practitioner (GP) $232,450 8 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[4],"class_list":{"0":"post-830","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jobs-and-careers","8":"tag-featured"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=830"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1550,"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/830\/revisions\/1550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}