Top 26 Highest Paying Jobs In Australia: A Complete Guide

Students want to know which jobs in Australia are the best and highest-paying.

 

For some people, earning a decent salary comes second to job satisfaction when choosing a career. For the rest, money is the leading motivator to work and live a fulfilling life.

 

While it may seem easy to look at a profession's salary and consider a career switch, it is essential to note that different industries have many variations.

 

For instance, a job may provide a desirable work-life balance enabling you to spend more time with your friends and family. However, with a super high-paying job, you may not have time for this.

 

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) recently revealed statistics for the highest-paid jobs in Australia based on their average taxable income. Unsurprisingly, according to the database, some of the top and highest-paying occupations listed come in medicine, finance, and engineering. 

 

Other professions, such as executive and managerial positions, are also quite prominent.

 

In this post, you will learn about Australia's best-paid and highest-paying jobs to familiarise yourself with the job market and set your high salary goals accordingly.

 

 

1. Medical Professionals

 

The Healthcare system in Australia is one of the best around the globe, allowing students to take up specific practices like anaesthetists, surgery, psychiatry, and more.

 

Additionally, the Australian education system for medical students is exceptional and reputable, which you should consider giving the range of educational opportunities available.

 

According to the data shared by ATO, the top highest-paying jobs in Australia are in the medical field. These professions include the following:

 

 

  • Surgeons: Around 4,000 Australians work under this occupation, earning an average taxable income of $394,866.

 

  • Anaesthetists: More than 3,000 professionals in Australia work as anaesthetists. They earn an average taxable salary of $367,343.

 

  • Internal Medicine Specialists: More than 8,500 are employed under this occupation nationwide, earning approximately $299,378 annually. 

 

  • Psychiatrists: Australia has roughly 2,800 employees who work as psychiatrists and earn an average taxable wage of $216,075. 

 

  • Other Medical Practitioners: Professionals who handle other medical departments fall under this category. There are over 28,000 workers employed under this position, getting an average taxable income of $216,075.

 

 

Your Pathway To Anaesthetics, Surgery, or Medical Specialisations:

 

Suppose you are interested in taking up a medical profession in the future. In that case, you can study Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery in Australia, which may take around six years to complete. 

 

As you further your education, you will have the option to specialise in a particular field. To get more information, contact the university you wish to apply to.

 

 

2. Business and Finance

 

With the growth of the financial services sector in Australia, many opportunities have opened up for people interested in business and finance roles. You can also expect a high salary in Australia if you have the required financial or business skills. 

 

As per the ATO's list, here are the top business and finance positions that earn the highest amount of salary:

 

 

  • Financial Dealers: Around 4,500 employees work as financial dealers in Australia. They get an average salary of $261,008.

 

  • Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Managing Directors: Roughly 174,000 people work under executive management positions, earning an average income of $157,643. 

 

 

 

  • Accounting Company Secretaries: A company secretary is responsible for administering and managing the company's affairs. They earn an average taxable income of around $128,641.

 

 

 

  • Insurance and Superannuation Managers: This occupation is best for individuals with a strong understanding of risk management. Employees who work in this position can earn up to an average salary of $124,480.

 

 

Your Pathway To Business and Finance Roles:

 

To begin your journey into these professions, you can pursue courses like a Bachelor of Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Business Management from any of the top universities in Australia. 

 

Suppose you are interested in financial management and trading. In that case, a Bachelor of Corporate Finance will provide you with the skills required to advance in this career.

 

 

3. Judicial and Other Legal Professionals

 

The Federal or State Governor or Attorney-General appoint Judicial and legal professionals in Australia. These professionals hear legal and other matters in tribunals and courts and further analyse, interpret, administer, and provide advice based on law. 

 

There are more than 3,500 workers in the legal industry who earn an average taxable salary of $195,703.

 

Generally, the position of a Judge is one of the top legal professions and the highest-paying job in Australia for females. However, General Counsel occupations in the corporate sector may get paid an average salary between $205,000 and $283,999, surpassing the average income of Judges.

 

 

Chief Legal Officer 

 

Chief legal officers work as prominent lawyers in a company. They are the principal source of legal advice. Their primary responsibility is to report crucial legal business decisions to the company's CEO.

 

According to Pay Scale, the average Chief Legal Officer's salary in Australia is AU$120,000 annually.

 

 

Barrister

 

Barrister is generally a lawyer whose main job is to present evidence in front of a jury or a judge in a court and help negotiate plea bargains and settlements. According to Pay Scale, the average Barrister's salary in Australia is AU$99,036 per year.

 

 

Company Secretary

 

Company secretaries lead the organisation via administrative, clerical, and legal support in areas of governance and compliance. According to Pay Scale, Australia's average Corporate Secretary's salary is AU$87,891 annually.

 

 

Corporate Lawyer

 

Corporate lawyers assist business clients in launching, evolving, and dissolving as per the local laws. They guide them on suitable ways to deal with legal matters and formulate corporate contracts.

 

Most corporate lawyers specialise in corporate governance, private equity, mergers, acquisitions, etc. According to Pay Scale, the average Corporate Lawyer's salary in Australia is AU$82,272 annually.

 

 

Your pathway to Judicial and other legal professions:

 

You must complete a law degree to be eligible for Judicial and other legal professions in Australia. You should be licensed to practice law for at least eight years. 

 

Usually, most legal professionals in Australia have more than eight years of experience before being designated. Also, students interested in higher legal positions choose to complete their postgraduate studies.

 

 

4. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

 

With the rapid growth of data and technology industries in Australia, there is a high demand for ICT professionals, further resulting in higher wages. 

 

According to statistics shared by various salary calculating websites, specialists in ICT can expect the following average taxable incomes:

 

 

  • ICT Systems Architect: These professionals are responsible for building, designing, and testing an organisation's infrastructure with an internal network. Considering the highly complex and technical expertise required for this field, ICT professionals can command high salaries from employers. The average taxable income of an ICT specialist in Australia is around $139,883.

 

  • ICT Manager: With many organisations focusing on the development of technology, there is a high value for IT professionals who can fill the gap between business development and technical expertise. The approximate average salary income of ICT managers in Australia is $134,639.

 

  • IT Security Architect: The primary responsibility of an IT security architect is to protect and secure an organisation's infrastructure and extremely crucial data from malicious invaders. Thus, an IT security architect in Australia can expect a high average wage of up to $124,000.

 

  • Cloud Engineer: This is another most in-demand job in Australia, consisting of different roles, such as cloud security engineer, cloud software engineer, cloud systems engineer, and cloud network engineer. The average taxable income of a cloud engineer in Australia is around $112,000.

 

  • Data Scientist: These professionals are primarily responsible for gathering, analysing, and interpreting mass amounts of data and turning it into actionable and valuable information. In almost every sector, organisations are looking for competent and qualified data scientists, making it a highly paid-profession. The average taxable salary drawn by a data scientist in Australia is around $100,000.

 

 

Your Pathway To a Career In ICT:

 

To become an ICT professional in Australia, you must have an in-depth knowledge of programming languages. You also need a bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses. 

 

You can also opt for other qualifications like a Bachelor of Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Bachelor of Engineering, depending on the type of ICT career you would like to pursue.

 

 

5. Engineering

 

The scope for Engineers in Australia is broad and bright. You can take up plenty of specialised roles as an engineer and exhibit your knowledge in diverse disciplines.

 

Top Australian universities offer engineering courses in addition to industry-focused practical learning that will help you to build a career in the engineering field of your choice.

 

As per ATO's data, the top and highest-paying engineering professions in Australia include the following: 

 

 

  • Mining Engineers: Mining is a massive industry in Australia, giving opportunities to over 8,000 mining engineers across the nation. These professionals also earn a handsome average annual salary, at least a minimum of $167,345. 

 

  • Engineering Managers: The responsibility of an engineering manager in Australia is to administer, plan, and review technical and engineering operations. There are more than 25,000 workers in Australia who work in this position and earn an average taxable wage of $147,451.

 

 

Your Pathway To Becoming an Engineer In Australia:

 

Given the high demand for qualified engineers in Australia, it is essential to pursue an undergraduate degree from an accredited university followed by a Master of Engineering. By completing both degrees, you will attain a higher qualification compared to enrolling in a double degree program alone.

 

This enhanced qualification will open doors to advanced engineering professions that demand not only professional expertise but also analytical, technical, and interpersonal skills.

 

 

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

 

What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs in Australia Without a Degree? 

 

According to Indeed, the high-paying unskilled jobs, along with average salaries in Australia:

 

 

 

2. What Are The High-Paying Jobs in Australia With no Experience?

 

Surprisingly, numerous full-time and part-time roles offer a high salary without requiring any prior experience.

 

Candidates usually get on-the-job training and build experience. A degree qualification isn't necessary, but a VET qualification can improve your entry into the role.

 

List of jobs (with national average salary and relevant entry qualification):

 

 

  • Building and Plumbing Labourer: $75,816 per year - Certificate IV in Building and Construction

 

  • Carpet, Window, and other Cleaners: $72,020 per year- Certificate III in Cleaning Operations

 

  • Veterinary Assistant or Vet Nurse (trainee): $56,576 per year- Certificate IV in Vet Nursing (through on-the-job traineeship)

 

 

 

  • Proof-Reader: $66,526 per year - An undergraduate degree in English or VET qualification

 

 

 

 

 

  • Cafe Worker: $53,560 per year - Certificate III in Hospitality

 

 

  • Human Resource Clerk: $63,690 per year - Certificate IV in Human Resource Management

 

  • Light Technician: $69,004 per year

 

  • Data Entry Operator: $40,508 per year - Certificate III in Business

 

 

 

What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs in Australia for Females? 

 

According to the latest ATO data, below are the top fifteen highest-paid careers for women in Australia:

 

  • Judge - $355,844 per year

 

It is the top legal profession and a lucrative female job in Australia. Judges are public officials with the authority to hear, determine and preside over legal cases bought in a law court. According to Pay Scale, the average Judge's salary in Australia is AU$233,483 per year.

 

 

 

What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs in Sydney?

 

The following highest-paying jobs in Sydney, NSW, are listed on Indeed:

 

 

 

What is The Easiest High-Paying Job in Australia?

 

High-paying jobs are usually challenging and stressful, but some are relatively easy and command high salaries.

 

Here are Australia's top 15 easy and lucrative careers and their national average wages.

 

 

 

 

What is The #1 Highest-Paid Position?

 

According to Training.com.au, General counsels earn the highest salary in Australia. They are the leading lawyers of a legal department in a government department or a company. 

 

Those working in-house and providing legal services to ASX 100 companies occupy the top place among legal professionals in Australia. Attaining this high-level position requires at least seven years of experience.

 

The average General Counsel & Secretary's salary in Australia is AU$236,454 per year, with the lowest and highest salary being A$128k and A$306k, respectively.

 

 

What are the HighestPaying jobs in Australia in 2023?

 

Job-title Industry Area Average Salary ($AUD) p.a.
In-house general counsel Legal $400,000
Anaesthetist Medical $386,065
Cardiologist Medical $351,827
General Manager / Project Manager Construction $350,000
Company Secretary Legal $342,500
Head of operations Mining $325,000
Surgeon Medical $305,276
Internal medicine specialist Medical $304,752
Chief technology officer IT $300,000
Head of technology IT $300,000
Investment director Finance $300,000
Portfolio manager Finance $280,000
Chief financial officer (CFO) Finance $280,000
Head of Compliance Legal $277,500

 

 

What are The Highest-Paying Jobs in The World in the Future?

 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment growth predictions give a good idea of the long-term career trajectory of various roles. 
 

Here are the top fifteen lucrative professions that promise serious growth over the next decade:

 

  • Nurse Practitioner: Average Salary - $129,106 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021-2031) - 45.7% (much faster than average)

 

  • Data Scientist: Average Salary -$120,478 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021 – 2031) - 35.8% (much faster than average)

 

 

  • Web Developers (Front/Back-end, and Full-Stack) - Avg. Salary -$100,979 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021-2031) - 30.3% (much faster than average)

 

  • Physician Assistant - Average Salary - $67,928 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021-2031) - 28% (much faster than average)

 

  • Software Developer - Average Salary - $ 104,756 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021-2031) - 25% (much faster than average)

 

  • Actuary - Average Salary - $110,447 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021-2031) - 21% (much faster than average)

 

  • Financial Manager/Financial Management Specialist - Avg. Salary - $106,424. Estimated growth rate (2021-2031) - 17% (much faster than average)

 

 

 

  • Management Analysts - Average Salary -$104,526 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2121-2031) - 11% (much faster than average)

 

  • Industrial Engineer - Average Salary -$86,666 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021-2031) - 10.2% (faster than average)

 

  • Marketing Manager - Average Salary - $105,114 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021 -2031) - 9.9% (faster than average)

 

  • Database Administrator - Average Salary - $104,310 p.a. Estimated growth rate (2021 -2031) - 8.1% (faster than average)

 

 

 

What Jobs Pays The Most With The Least Work?

 

Are you seeking a job with a high salary and fewer hours? Below is the list of job roles that offer high wages and increased leisure time, along with their average salaries in Australia.

 

 

 

How To Get a High-Paying Job?

 

Every student dreams of getting a high package job after completing their education. Some people progress much faster in their careers than their peers and earn significant figures.

 

If you think they excelled in their profession solely based on their academics, then the answer is clear 'NO.' Academics no doubt hold an important place in the selection process. Still, along with it, you need some of the best systematic skills to get a competitive edge and land a lucrative role fast:

 

  • Communication Skills

  • Leadership skills

  • Technical Skills

  • Problem-Solving skills

  • Self-Management

 

Apart from your core academics, having the above soft skills will boost your employability and put you in high demand in your preferred industry.

 

 

Is 100k a Year a Good Salary in Australia?

 

Yes. AU$ 100,000 a year is more than the average salary in Australia.

 

Living a comfortable life in most areas of the country should be sufficient. In major cities like Sydney, you can live comfortably with an income between AU$ 80 K and AU$ 100K.

 

 

Is 200k a Good Salary in Australia?

 

A good salary in Australia is between $90,000 and $108,000 annually or $7,500 to $9,000 monthly. The median income of an Aussie, i.e., $72,000 a year, can be a good reference point for how much you should earn for a decent living.

 

You can easily lead a relaxing lifestyle in Australia with a salary of 200k, far greater than the median income.

 

 

Closing Words

 

It is essential to remember that money is not always the most critical factor to consider when conducting a job search.

 

You may encounter a situation when a particular profession does not offer a competitive salary. In this scenario, you can look for other benefits like flexible working hours, paid leaves, and extended medical benefits.

 

These benefits may compensate for the average lower salary you receive.

 

Useful Links to Explore:

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