Highest Paying Jobs in Australia (with Salary Scale)

Knowing the earning potentials of career opportunities in Australia can be a plus most especially if you are a youth who is looking forth to working in one of the highly paid sector in the country. This information might as well be of information to adults as they will get to find out what the highest paying jobs in Austria are.

Hopefully, this will help as you can give an expert advice to your wards without having to rely on a professional or career adviser. This is simply because not everyone is financially stable to afford one.

Though, it is important to note that seeking for a professional advice still remains the best when it comes to educating your wards in terms of career opportunities.

So let’s get started as we reveal some of the top highly paid career/job opportunities in Australia with Salary Scale.

What are the Highest Paying Jobs in Australia with Salary Scale

Below, you will find the complete list of highest paying jobs in Australia with salary scale;

Legal: Equity Partner (up to $750K)

Equity Partners are top earners in the legal profession today. Equity partners in top tier private practices in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney report average salaries of at least $500K (Sydney tops the list at $700K-plus).

But research indicates that the road to becoming an Equity Partner at a law firm takes up to 15 years. Although the financial return can be lucrative, legal professionals need to consider their commitment to the pathway seriously. Before making it as an Equity Partner, lawyers are known to log long hours in highly competitive environments.

If you’d prefer an in-house career, a General Counsel typically earns $250-350K+.

Executive: CEO and MD ($600K)

For CEOs and managing directors in commercial organisations with turnovers between $50m-$500m, the typical income is $600K.

For COOs and EGMs, incomes in commercial organisations with turnovers between $50m-$500m are typically around $500,000. CFOs and FDs in the same organisations typically earn around $450K.

McKinsey & Company highlights that CEOs are top performers in a range of key areas, including organisational strategy, organisational alignment, external stakeholder relations and board engagement.

CEOs and other Executives seeking new opportunities should show how they have advanced service delivery in their organisation by introducing new technologies and strategies. Executives also need to demonstrate their ability to foster collaboration and strengthen team culture in remote work environments to attract new career opportunities and top salaries.

Retail: General Manager (up to $510K)

As it has with so many sectors, the pandemic has had a major impact on Australia’s retail sector, inducing a survival state in many physical retailers. It should come as no surprise that consumer-caution toward retail spending has resulted in steadying salaries. Salaries in retail are wide-ranging, with upper-echelon average income ranging from $153K-$408K for head office Retail Directors and Merchandise Managers/Buying Directors and $204K-$510K for General Managers.

Other jobs that can pay over $200K in retail include Group Planning Managers/Directors ($153-300K), National Operations Managers ($153-306K), Heads of Design/Creative Directors ($122-255K), Buying Managers ($150-204K) and Planning Managers ($133-204K).

E-Commerce Managers have also risen in prominence, with the highest reported salaries reaching above $200K.

Accountancy & Finance: Head of Treasury ($408K)

Within the accountancy & finance sector, Heads of Treasury have some of the top paying jobs in Australia. The typical pay for a Head of Treasury in Sydney is $408K. For accounting professionals aspiring towards jobs that pay well in treasury management, expect that you will require more than 10 years’ experience in finance, banking, accounting and/or in-house corporate treasury experience.

Other top paying roles can be found for Group Financial Controllers (typically $265K in organisations with turnover exceeding $300m), Heads of Internal Audit ($265K), Senior Commercial Managers/Directors ($255K in organisations with turnover exceeding $300m), Heads of Risk (also $255K) and Managers/Heads of Financial Planning/Analysis ($230K).

In professional practice, Corporate Finance Principals/Directors ($220K), Insolvency Principals/Directors ($200K) and Tax Consulting Principals/Directors ($180K) are top earners.

Property: Development Director (up to $388K)

Jobs with the highest salary in Australia’s property sector today include Development Directors, who can earn an average salary of between $224-388K in Sydney (although Melbourne Development Directors have the highest typical salary at $306K). Meanwhile, Development Managers can receive an average salary of between $133-255K and $179-245K for Client-side Project Directors.

Acquisitions Managers with 4+ years’ experience have a typical salary of $204K, with the highest earners bringing in as much as $388K in Sydney.

Energy: Project Delivery Director (up to $357K)

In the energy sector, the highest paying jobs go to Project Delivery Directors in design engineering (renewables). The highest earners are in Sydney ($224K-$350K) and Melbourne ($306K-$357K). Some of the essential capabilities Project Delivery Directors draw on to succeed in their roles include a collaborative approach to stakeholder relations and a strategic approach to be prepared for inherent uncertainties on big projects.

High paying roles in the energy sector can also be seen in renewables for Construction Managers ($153-230K), Project Development Directors ($184-224K) and Grid Connections Managers ($173-220K).

In transmission and distribution/generation, the highest paying jobs are for Engineering Managers ($163-240K), Transmission Line Design Engineers ($122-200K) and Principal Design Engineers ($143K-$180K).

Construction: Construction Manager (up to $320K)

The construction sector has many in-demand and high paying roles across different areas and geographies. The highest paying jobs in building construction are Construction Managers ($250-320K), Project Managers ($160-250K), Senior Estimators ($120-200K), Site Managers ($150-220K) and Design Managers ($180-240K).

In civil construction, Construction Managers can receive a typical salary of between $180-280K and Project Managers between $160-210K. In residential construction, a Construction Manager can earn a typical salary of between $160-220K, while a Senior Contracts Administrator earns between $120-200K

Technology: CIO and CTO ($306K)

Tech salary trajectories traditionally run on two tracks. Many roles see a steady increase in salary. However, in high demand areas, salary increases trend up at even greater speeds.

There are many roles in tech that command average salaries between $150-$200K. However, the major typical salary earners are in leadership positions in Sydney, and they include CISOs ($255K), CIOs ($306K) and CTOs (also $306K). Other high paying jobs in tech include Project Directors ($260K), Program Managers ($210K) and Enterprise Architects ($230K) in projects & change management, along with Senior Project Managers ($200K). Learn more about the highest paying tech jobs in our related article.

Marketing & Digital: Executive Director of Communications ($300K)

Executive Directors of Communications in PR & Communications have the biggest earning potential, expecting a typical salary of $300K in Sydney. Sydney-based Marketing Directors can expect to earn an average salary of $220K, while Directors of Communications ($200K), Bid Managers ($180K), Sponsorship/Fundraising Directors ($175K) and PR Directors (also $175K) also earn strong salaries.

Human Resources: Head of HR/HR Director ($300K)

Given the seismic impact that COVID-19 has had on the world of work, HR professionals are essential advisors for many organisations who need to navigate the changing world of business. Demand for skilled and experienced HR professionals has consequently intensified. Heads of HR/HR Directors in organisations with more than 1,000 employees have the biggest earning potential, typically $300K in Sydney, $280K in Melbourne and $250K in Perth.

Average annual typical salaries are also high for Heads of L&D/L&D ($224K) and Heads of/Directors of Remuneration & Benefits ($204K).

How to Secure a Highly Paid Job Opportunity in Australia as a Foreigner/Citizen

Securing a high paying job offer in Australia can be a real pain most especially if you are a foreigner who is in search of greener pasture. However, the possibilities still remains positive as a lot of individuals are getting employed daily. Though, unfortunate ones too are getting dismissed off duty on daily basis too.

In relation to securing or how to get a high paid job offer in Australia as a foreigner/citizen, I will say is “Job Research”.

Job researches can be done via different channels and means which may include via online recruitment platforms, LinkedIn or perhaps, submitting your CV and cover letter to companies.

Jobs don’t just appear from the thin air. One needs to work and play smart to secure it.

Conclusion: Highly Paid Career Opportunities in Australia (AU)

Hope you find our content on “Highest Paying Jobs in Australia” worth your time? We’re sure it’s fully packed as we delivered just as promised by listing out some of the top paid career opportunities in AU as well as how to secure one.

We wish you success as you secure your dream job as a youth searching for a path to lucrative career opportunities in Australia. Also, for individuals reading for educational purposes, we are happy to have you here too.