Highest paying trades in Australia: the top construction trades by pay
Published on October 13, 2026
Pay can vary a lot between different construction trades, so before you choose an apprenticeship, it’s a good idea to take a look at the different pay averages. In building and construction, crane operators, structural steel workers and electrical linesworkers are the highest paying trades. Each has median full-time earnings of more than $2,700 a week, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Bricklayers, concreters and electricians also earn well above the median for all occupations.
This guide covers construction trades only. For the highest paying jobs across every industry, including medicine and mining, see our guide to the highest paying jobs in Australia.
The top 10 highest paying construction trades
The table ranks construction trades by median weekly earnings for full-time employees. The annual figure is an estimate based on 52 weeks.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. Medians are for full-time, non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax. For comparison, the median across all occupations is $1,852 a week.
Keep these points in mind when you read the figures:
- They’re medians for employees. Self-employed tradies and contractors aren’t included, and their earnings can be higher or lower
- They reflect hours as well as pay rates. Trades where people work longer weeks tend to have higher weekly medians, so the ranking isn’t just about hourly rates
- Some of these trades work across industries. Crane operators and earthmoving plant operators also work on mines and wharves, where pay can be higher
- Not every trade is listed. Jobs and Skills Australia doesn’t publish a median for some occupations, including wall and floor tilers and roof tiler
What pushes trade pay higher
Trade pay is more flexible than in many other careers. Because most tradies are paid by the hour, what you take home depends as much on the hours you work and how your work is structured as on which trade you choose. Two people in the same trade can earn very different amounts, and these are the biggest factors.
Licences and tickets
The trades at the top of the table need high risk work licences, which take training and assessment to earn. Each extra licence, such as a higher crane class or advanced rigging, widens the work you can take on.
Hours and shift work
Higher medians often reflect longer weeks. Structural steel construction workers average 49 hours a week in full-time work and earthmoving plant operators average 50, compared with 43 for carpenters and joiners. Overtime, weekend work and shift allowances all add up, and they’re usually paid at higher rates than ordinary hours.
How your work is set up matters too. An employee on a standard week, a subcontractor paid by the job and someone on a long fly-in fly-out roster can earn very different amounts in the same trade. When you compare roles, look at the hours and the pay structure, not just the hourly rate.
Location and project type
Remote sites and large infrastructure projects often pay more than suburban housing work, partly because of travel and longer rosters. Fly-in fly-out work can lift earnings further, though it comes with time away from home.
Specialising or running your own business
Specialist skills, such as high voltage work for electricians or gas fitting for plumbers, can lead to higher-paid roles. Many experienced tradies also go out on their own, where earnings depend on how well they run the business as much as the trade itself.
Working for yourself as a tradie
The pay table only covers employees, but many tradies go on to run their own business. Most start as a sole trader, which business.gov.au describes as the simplest and cheapest business structure to set up.
Working for yourself can lift your earnings, because you set your own rates and choose the jobs you take on. It also comes with more responsibility. You’ll need an Australian Business Number (ABN) and the right licence for your trade, and you’re responsible for your own tax, super and insurance. Your income can also go up and down with the work you win.
Most tradies spend a few years as an employee after finishing their apprenticeship before going out on their own. That time builds your skills and contacts, and in some trades you need to be fully licensed before you can contract work yourself.
Apprentice pay & how long it takes to qualify
Most construction apprenticeships take three to four years to complete. You’re paid while you learn, at rates set by the award that covers your trade. Apprentice pay rises each year, and adult apprentices are generally paid more than younger apprentices.
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides set out minimum apprentice rates for each award, including the rates for adult apprentices.
How to get into a construction trade
- Get your White Card. General construction induction training is required before you can work on a construction site in Australia
- Try a pre-apprenticeship. A short course gives you basic skills and helps you decide which trade suits you
- Find an apprenticeship. Australian Apprenticeships explains how apprenticeships work and the support available
- Ask about recognition of prior learning. If you already have site experience, a training provider may be able to count it towards your qualification
- Check for fee-free training. Several states offer fee-free or reduced-fee construction courses, so check with your state TAFE
There’s no upper age limit for an apprenticeship. If you’re thinking about a trade later in life, our guide to changing careers at any age covers how to plan the move.
Moving up from the tools
A trade can also lead to some of the highest paying roles in construction. Experienced tradies often move into supervision, site management, estimating or project management. Construction managers are among the highest earners in the industry, which is one reason a trade qualification can be a strong long-term choice.
Find construction trade jobs
Browse trades and services jobs on Workinitiatives to see current roles for apprentices and qualified tradies across Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying trade in Australia?
Among construction trades, crane, hoist and lift operators have the highest median pay, at $3,411 a week for full-time employees, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Across all industries, some mining roles also pay very well, which our guide to the highest paying jobs in Australia covers.
Which trade apprenticeship pays the most?
Apprentice pay depends on the award, your year of training and your age, rather than the trade alone. Over the long term, electrical apprenticeships lead to some of the highest paid trades, including electricians and electrical linesworkers.
Is it worth becoming a tradie at 30?
It can be. There’s no upper age limit for an apprenticeship, and adult apprentices are generally paid more than younger apprentices. Once you’re qualified, several construction trades have median earnings well above the all-occupations median.
Do electricians earn more than plumbers?
Generally, yes. Electricians have median full-time earnings of $2,191 a week, compared with $1,990 for plumbers, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Individual pay depends on experience and location.
Do tradies earn more than the average Australian?
Many do. Most of the trades in our top 10 earn more than the all-occupations median of $1,852 a week, though carpenters and joiners and plasterers sit slightly below it.
Sources
- Occupation and industry profiles, Jobs and Skills Australia (individual occupation pages are linked in the table)
- Pay guides, Fair Work Ombudsman
- About apprenticeships, Australian Apprenticeships
