Highest Paying Jobs in Australia: Official Data

The highest paying jobs in Australia are medical specialists and senior managers. In May 2025 anaesthetists averaged $5,365.60 a week and surgeons $4,158.70, followed by engineering managers ($3,938.80), according to the ABS. Median weekly earnings for all employees were $1,436. Mining was the best paid industry, at an average of $3,177.70 a week.

Key facts

• In May 2025 anaesthetists had the highest average weekly total cash earnings of any detailed occupation in Australia at $5,365.60, followed by surgeons ($4,158.70) and engineering managers ($3,938.80); figures cover all employees, including part-time. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, data cube 11 (ANZSCO 4 digit), Jan 2026)
• Median weekly earnings for all employees in Australia were $1,436 in May 2025, and average hourly earnings were $47.90. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Hourly gender pay gap 8.4% in May 2025, Jan 2026)
• Managers had the highest median weekly earnings of the major occupation groups in May 2025, at $2,596. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Hourly gender pay gap 8.4% in May 2025, Jan 2026)
• Mining had the highest average weekly total cash earnings of any industry in May 2025, at $3,177.70; managers ($69.20) and professionals ($64.50) had the highest hourly earnings. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025, Jan 2026)
• The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) lets employers fill labour gaps temporarily and allows workers to stay in Australia for between 2 and 5 years. (Department of Home Affairs, Explore options for employers, 2026)

Australia has some of the highest wages in the world, and the highest paying jobs in Australia pay several times the national median. Official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that medical specialists lead, followed by senior managers, engineers and some skilled mining and trades roles. Several of these jobs are open to skilled workers from overseas through employer-sponsored visas.

This guide uses the ABS survey of Employee Earnings and Hours for May 2025, released in January 2026. For context, median weekly earnings for all employees were $1,436, and the average weekly total cash earnings across all occupations, including part-time workers, were $1,611.10. All amounts are in Australian dollars.

Highest paying jobs Australia: the top 20 occupations

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025, data cube 11: all employees, average weekly total cash earnings by detailed occupation (ANZSCO 4 digit), persons. Averages include part-time employees. Multiply a weekly figure by 52 for a rough yearly amount.

What stands out

• Medicine leads. Anaesthetists, surgeons, other medical practitioners, specialist physicians and psychiatrists are all in the top 11.
• Managers dominate the rest. Engineering, ICT, finance, corporate services and research managers all average more than $3,100 a week. The ABS reports managers had the highest median weekly earnings of the major occupation groups at $2,596.
• Resources and energy pay well. Mining engineers, plant operators in chemicals, gas, petroleum and power, and crane operators are in the top 20. Mining was the best paid industry, averaging $3,177.70 a week.
• Some trades rank very high. Electrical distribution trades workers, who work on power networks, averaged $3,047.30 a week.
• Law pays at the top end. Barristers and judicial professionals both average more than $3,000 a week.

How common jobs compare

Most people do not work in the top 20. Here is how some common occupations compared in May 2025, from the same ABS table:

Because these averages include part-time workers, occupations where many people work part-time, such as nursing and pharmacy, show lower weekly averages than their full-time pay. Compare hourly pay or full-time rates when you can.

Highest paying jobs in the Australia market for overseas workers

Many of the best paid occupations, especially in medicine, engineering, ICT and some trades, appear on the lists Australia uses for skilled visas. The Department of Home Affairs explains that the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) lets employers fill labour gaps temporarily and allows workers to stay in Australia for between 2 and 5 years. The skilled occupation list shows which occupations can be used for each visa, using ANZSCO codes. Many regulated jobs, such as doctors, nurses, engineers and electricians, also need a skills assessment or Australian registration before you can work.

Visa rules change often. Always check the current rules on the official Home Affairs website, and be wary of anyone who charges you for a job offer.

How to move toward a higher paying role

1. Look at the table for your field and note the next step up, such as from programmer to systems analyst or ICT manager.
2. Get recognised qualifications and any Australian registration your field needs.
3. Consider location and industry. Mining, energy and remote roles often pay more, sometimes with fly-in fly-out rosters.
4. Build management experience, since managers make up most of the top 20.
5. Compare offers on hourly or full-time pay, not only weekly averages that mix part-time work.

A closer look at the top fields

Medicine

Doctors earn the most in Australia. Anaesthetists top the list. Surgeons, specialist physicians and psychiatrists follow. The path is long. It takes a medical degree, years of hospital work and then specialist training. Many doctors finish training in their thirties. The pay reflects the long training, the skill and the responsibility. Overseas doctors can work in Australia, but they must have their training checked and get registered first. This can take time, so start early.

Management

Most of the top 20 are managers. They lead teams in engineering, technology, finance, policy and research. Most managers start in a technical or professional job. They move up by leading projects and people. A degree helps, and so does a record of results. If you like leading people and solving problems, management is the main route to the top pay outside medicine.

Mining and energy

Mining pays more than any other industry in Australia. Mining engineers earn high pay. So do plant operators who run gas, chemical and power plants. Many of these jobs are in remote places. Some use fly-in fly-out rosters, where workers fly to a site for a block of shifts and then fly home for a break. The pay is high, but the life can be hard on families. Think about the roster before you apply.

Skilled trades

Some trades pay as much as many professional jobs. Electrical distribution trades workers keep power lines and networks running. Crane, hoist and lift operators also rank in the top 20. These jobs need training, licences and a strong focus on safety. Many start with an apprenticeship and earn while they learn.

Law

Barristers and judicial professionals both earn more than $3,000 a week on average. Solicitors earn less on average, but the top ones earn much more. The path is a law degree, practical training and admission to practise. Pay grows a lot with experience.

How to read the ABS figures

The ABS numbers in this guide are averages for all employees in each job, in May 2025. They include people who work part-time. That matters. In jobs where many people work part-time, the weekly average looks lower than full-time pay. Nursing, pharmacy and early childhood teaching are good examples. The figures also cover employees only. Doctors and lawyers who run their own practice may earn more or less than the numbers show. An average can also be pulled up by a few very high earners. So use these numbers as a guide, not a promise.

Is the cost of living worth it?

Pay in Australia is high, but so are some costs. Rent in the big cities can take a large share of income. Before you move, look at what you would keep after tax and rent. A job in a regional town may pay a little less but cost much less to live in. Many regional areas also need doctors, nurses, engineers and trades workers. Use a salary calculator and real rent prices to compare.

Skills that raise pay in Australia

• Recognised qualifications that Australian employers and regulators accept.
• Licences and registration for regulated jobs.
• Safety records in mining, energy and trades.
• Leadership for the many manager roles near the top.
• Digital and data skills, which help in almost every field.
• Willingness to work in regional or remote areas, where pay is often higher.

Common mistakes

• Comparing weekly averages that include part-time work with full-time offers.
• Moving before getting qualifications assessed or registration started.
• Ignoring the cost of rent in the city you choose.
• Paying an agent or employer for a job offer.
• Relying on old visa rules from unofficial websites.

Example: an engineer plans a move

This example was written for this guide and is not about a real person. Ravi, a mechanical engineer with eight years of experience, wanted to work in Australia. He checked the skilled occupation list on the Home Affairs website, started his skills assessment and read ABS pay data for engineers and engineering managers. He applied to mining and energy employers that sponsored workers, compared offers using full-time pay and rent in each town, and accepted a regional role with a sponsored visa. His plan is to move into an engineering manager role within a few years.

Pay for men and women

The ABS also reports on pay gaps. In May 2025 the hourly gender pay gap was 8.4 percent. Average hourly earnings were $47.90 overall, with men earning an average of $50.20 and women $46.00. The ABS notes that comparing hourly pay is useful because women are more likely to work part-time than men. When you research pay for your job, look at hourly or full-time figures to get a fair picture, and ask employers how they set pay.

Starting points for a high paying career

You do not need to start at the top. Many people in the best paid jobs began in a related role. A junior engineer can grow into an engineering manager. A software developer can become a systems analyst, then an ICT manager. An apprentice electrician can move into power network work. A nurse can move into health management. Each step adds skills, responsibility and pay. Look at the tables in this guide, find your field and plan the next one or two steps.

How to find these jobs

1. Search by title. Use the exact job titles from the tables, plus related titles your field uses.
2. Check the employer's needs. Read adverts closely for required licences, registration and experience.
3. Look beyond the big cities. Regional and remote roles often pay more and may sponsor visas.
4. Use official lists. If you need a visa, check the skilled occupation list for your occupation first.
5. Prepare an Australian style resume. Keep it clear, focused on results and honest about your visa status.

Checklist before you accept an offer

• I know the full-time or hourly pay, not only a weekly average.
• I know the roster, location and travel involved.
• I have checked rent and living costs in that town.
• My qualifications and any registration are recognised.
• If I need a visa, the employer can sponsor me under current rules.
• Nobody has asked me to pay for the job.

Fly-in fly-out and remote work

Many of the best paid jobs in mining and energy are on remote sites. Some workers live nearby. Others fly in for a set number of days, work long shifts and then fly home for a break. This pattern is often called fly-in fly-out. It can mean high pay and long breaks at home. It can also mean long days, time away from family and isolation on site. Before you accept, ask about the roster, the shift length, the accommodation, travel costs and what support is offered. Talk to people who have worked the same roster. Some love it; others find it too hard after a while.

Pay beyond the weekly figure

The ABS figures show total cash earnings, which include overtime and some extra payments. In Australia, employers also pay superannuation, a compulsory retirement saving, on top of most wages. Some jobs add allowances for remote work, tools, travel or on call duty. When you compare offers, ask what is included in the stated pay and what is paid on top. A job with a lower base rate but strong allowances can be worth more over a year.

Training routes in Australia

Australia offers many ways to build skills. Universities train doctors, engineers, lawyers and managers. Vocational colleges teach trades, technical skills and many health support roles. Apprenticeships mix paid work with study, especially in electrical, plumbing and building trades. If you already work in Australia, many employers support further study. If you are overseas, check how your qualifications compare and which bridging courses or assessments may be needed.

Your next step

Pick the occupation in this guide that is closest to your skills. Read its official pay figure, then look at ten real job adverts for it in the city or region you want. Note the qualifications, licences and experience they ask for, and the pay they offer. Compare that with your current skills and list what is missing. Then make a plan with dates: a course to finish, a registration to start or a role to apply for. Small steps, taken in order and reviewed every few months, are a practical way to move toward the higher paying jobs in this guide. Keep your plan somewhere you will see it often, update it when you finish a step, and ask a mentor in your field to check it once a year. Their experience can show you shortcuts you would not find alone, and help you avoid steps that do not pay off in your own field, city or region.

Live on Dev Global Jobs

Right now there are 6,191 open jobs in Australia on Dev Global Jobs (live count, 7 November 2026). Browse jobs in Australia, compare pay across countries with the country salary calculator, and build an Australian style CV in the CV builder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.
2. Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, data cube 11: average weekly total cash earnings by detailed occupation, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.
3. Hourly gender pay gap 8.4% in May 2025, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.
4. Explore options for employers, Department of Home Affairs. Accessed 3 October 2026.
5. Skilled occupation list, Department of Home Affairs. Accessed 3 October 2026.

Source: Dev Global Jobs, updated 7 November 2026.