The highest paying jobs in Australia sit in senior leadership, specialist medicine, mining, engineering and finance, though pay varies sharply by industry, location, qualifications and experience. The clearest official evidence shows managers and professionals earn the most overall, and that mining, financial services, and electricity, gas, water and waste services are the highest paying industries (ABS employee earnings).
Quick answer
There is no single official list naming one top job in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports the highest earning occupation groups as managers and professionals, and the highest paying industries as mining, electricity, gas, water and waste services, and financial and insurance services (ABS average weekly earnings). In practice, roles most likely to pay above $200,000 include senior executives, specialist doctors, law partners, investment and corporate finance leaders, and senior mining or drilling managers.
Top 15 highest paying jobs
The table below combines ABS earnings data with Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation and industry profiles (JSA occupation and industry profiles). Some figures describe an occupation group rather than one job title, so treat the ranges as indicative rather than guaranteed.
Highest paying careers by sector
Healthcare
Healthcare holds some of the highest individual salaries, especially where long training, specialist registration and private billing apply. Specialist doctors, anaesthetists, surgeons, psychiatrists, general practitioners and dentists sit at the top, and Jobs and Skills Australia’s shortage data shows healthcare demand remains under sustained pressure (JSA occupation shortage list).
Technology
The highest technology salaries sit in leadership and specialist roles rather than entry level development, including chief information officer, IT director, cyber security manager and cloud or data architecture leads. Jobs and Skills Australia projects that skill level 1 occupations, which typically need a bachelor degree or higher, will account for most future growth to 2035 (JSA outlook by skill level), and these roles cluster in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
Engineering and mining
Engineering and mining combine technical scarcity with project risk and remote site premiums. Mining remains one of the highest paying industries on official measures, with median weekly earnings of $2,761 and average weekly ordinary time earnings for full time adults of $3,174.40 (ABS average weekly earnings). Engineering managers, mining engineers, petroleum engineers and construction managers benefit most, particularly in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria (JSA state and territory outlook).
Finance
Finance incomes can run high once bonuses, profit share or partnership distributions are included. ABS data places financial and insurance services among the highest paying industries, with median weekly earnings of $2,000 (ABS employee earnings). Investment bankers, portfolio managers, actuaries and finance directors remain the strongest earners, concentrated mainly in Sydney and Melbourne.
Highest paying jobs in Sydney
Sydney concentrates corporate headquarters, financial services, technology firms, major hospitals, legal firms and public sector decision makers. ABS data shows median weekly earnings in Sydney at $1,500, above the national employee median (ABS employee earnings), which makes finance, law, consulting, healthcare, technology leadership and major infrastructure roles especially strong local pathways.
Shortages and migration pathways
Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2024 occupation shortage list found 33% of occupations were in national shortage, with aged and disabled carers, primary and secondary school teachers, truck drivers and electricians among the top employing shortage occupations (JSA occupation shortage list). For skilled migrants, the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list supports pathways including the Skills in Demand visa and several regional visas, though eligibility changes over time and applicants should always check the current list (Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list).
Degree or no degree
Many of Australia’s best paid careers, including medicine, law, engineering and most corporate leadership tracks, need at least a bachelor degree, and Jobs and Skills Australia projects that skill level 1 occupations will capture a large share of employment growth to 2035 (JSA outlook by skill level). Trades such as electrician, plumber, boilermaker and diesel mechanic do not require a degree but can still pay very well, especially in mining, construction and remote infrastructure settings where licensing, overtime and shortages lift total income (JSA occupation shortage list).
How to find high paying jobs?
The strongest strategy is to target sectors that combine high pay with durable demand, then build the credentials employers and migration systems value (JSA employment projections). Jobseekers can explore roles across Australia through Workinitiatives, which connects jobseekers, employers, recruiters and migration pathways across industries and locations.
FAQs
What is the highest paying job in Australia?
There is no single named top job. ABS data shows managers and professionals are the highest earning broad groups, while some medical specialists and executive roles sit well above that level (ABS personal income in Australia).
Which jobs pay more than $200,000?
Surgeons, anaesthetists, senior GPs, executives, mining managers, engineering managers, investment professionals, legal partners and some IT directors can all reach this level, depending on seniority, location, bonuses and whether pay is salaried or fee for service (ABS average weekly earnings).
Which careers have the strongest long term outlook?
Healthcare, construction, professional services, ICT and selected engineering and trades roles lead the outlook, with employment projected to rise across every state and territory to May 2035 (JSA employment projections).
Which industries have labour shortages?
Jobs and Skills Australia found shortages across 33% of occupations in 2024, led by aged and disabled carers, teachers, truck drivers and electricians, showing shortages reach well beyond one sector (JSA occupation shortage list).
Which occupations offer visa sponsorship?
Sponsorship is more likely for occupations on the current skilled occupation list, which supports programs such as the Skills in Demand visa and several regional pathways. Eligibility changes and can include caveats, so applicants should always check the current list (Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list).
Is mining always the highest paying industry?
Mining has the highest median weekly industry earnings on ABS figures, but total pay still depends on role level, shift pattern, allowances and whether the job is site based, managerial or technical (ABS average weekly earnings).
Key takeaways
- Managers and professionals earn the most overall, and mining, financial services, and electricity, gas, water and waste services are the highest paying industries
- Medicine, senior management, mining, engineering and finance hold most of the roles that clear $200,000
- Healthcare, construction, professional services and ICT carry the strongest long term demand to 2035
- Trades can pay very well without a degree, particularly in mining, construction and shortage regions
- The best strategy pairs salary ambition with labour market reality, including shortages, location and migration rules
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Employee earnings, August 2025
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal income in Australia, 2022–23
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Average weekly earnings, Australia, November 2025
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment projections
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment projections, states and territories
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment projections, skill level
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation and industry profiles
- Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024 occupation shortage list
- Department of Home Affairs, Skilled occupation list
