30 Highest Paying Jobs in Australia 2026 (With Actual Salary Data)

The highest paying jobs in Australia for 2026, based on ATO and ABS data. See actual average salaries for surgeons, miners, lawyers, engineers and more.

Top 10 highest paying occupations (#1-10)

Based on ATO taxable income data and ABS earnings surveys, the ten highest paying occupations in Australia for 2026 are: 1. Surgeons — $457,000/year average taxable income. The highest-paid profession in Australia by a wide margin. Orthopaedic and neurosurgeons earn the most. 2. Anaesthetists — $426,000/year. Consistently in the top 3, with high demand in both public and private hospitals. 3. Internal Medicine Specialists — $365,000/year. Includes cardiologists, gastroenterologists, and oncologists. 4. Psychiatrists — $296,000/year. Growing demand due to increased mental health awareness and Medicare funding. 5. Mining Engineers — $230,000/year. Driven by Western Australia and Queensland resource sector demand, often includes FIFO loadings. 6. Financial Dealers and Brokers — $208,000/year. Highly variable — top performers in institutional trading earn significantly more. 7. Judges and Magistrates — $205,000/year. Federal Court judges earn over $500K; average includes magistrates and tribunal members. 8. CEOs (large companies) — $200,000+ average (ATO data). This figure vastly understates top-end CEO pay — ASX200 CEO median total compensation exceeds $4M. 9. Engineering Managers — $195,000/year. Oversee large engineering projects in mining, infrastructure, and construction. 10. IT Managers — $185,000/year. Strong demand in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and digital transformation.

High paying jobs #11-20

11. Dentists — $180,000/year. Practice owners can earn significantly more; associates start around $120K. 12. Lawyers (Partner level) — $175,000/year average, but equity partners at top-tier firms earn $1M+. Salaried lawyers average $95-130K. 13. Geologists — $168,000/year. Particularly mining and petroleum geologists in WA. 14. Air Traffic Controllers — $165,000/year. One of the highest-paid non-degree roles, with extensive training provided by Airservices Australia. 15. Actuaries — $160,000/year. Insurance, superannuation, and consulting. Strong demand with relatively few qualified professionals. 16. Data Scientists and ML Engineers — $155,000/year. The fastest-growing high-pay category. Senior roles at tech companies pay $180-250K. 17. Pharmacists — $140,000/year. Pharmacy owners earn more; hospital pharmacists earn slightly above this average. 18. Physiotherapists (Senior/Specialist) — $130,000/year. Private practice owners and sports physiotherapists earn at the top end. 19. Registered Nurses (Senior/Clinical Nurse Consultant) — $120,000/year. Base RN salaries are $75-90K; senior and specialist roles push well above $100K with penalties. 20. Electricians (Mining/FIFO) — $140,000/year. Standard electricians earn $80-95K; mining and FIFO roles attract significant premiums.

High paying jobs #21-30

21. Civil Engineers — $115,000/year. Infrastructure boom driving demand, especially in NSW and VIC. 22. Accountants (CA/CPA qualified) — $110,000/year. Partners at accounting firms earn well above this. Graduate accountants start at $55-65K. 23. Project Managers — $120,000/year. Highly variable by industry — construction and mining PMs earn most. 24. HR Managers — $115,000/year. Growing importance of compliance, especially with recent industrial relations reforms. 25. Paramedics (Senior/Intensive Care) — $110,000/year. Base paramedic salaries are $70-85K; intensive care and flight paramedics earn premiums. 26. Plumbers — $100,000/year. Trade shortages pushing wages up, especially in regional areas. Licensed plumbers with their own business can earn $150K+. 27. Real Estate Agents — $95,000/year (highly variable). Top performers in Sydney and Melbourne earn $200-500K+ in commission. Many earn well below average. 28. Teachers (Experienced, top of scale) — $95,000/year. New graduates start at $75K. Lead teachers and heads of department earn $105-120K. 29. Social Workers — $85,000/year. Government roles pay more than NGO positions. Senior social workers and team leaders earn $95-110K. 30. Graphic Designers — $75,000/year. Senior UX/UI designers and creative directors earn $110-140K at agencies or in-house at large companies.

Fastest growing high-paying roles

Several high-paying career paths are growing rapidly and expected to see salary increases above average in 2026-2030. AI and Machine Learning Engineers — demand has exploded with generative AI adoption. Salaries for experienced ML engineers range from $160-250K, with some senior roles at $300K+ at major tech companies. Cybersecurity Analysts and Engineers — the Australian Cyber Security Strategy is driving massive investment. Mid-career professionals earn $130-170K, with CISOs at large organisations earning $250K+. Renewable Energy Engineers — solar, wind, and battery storage projects across Australia need electrical, civil, and environmental engineers. Salaries are 10-15% above standard engineering roles. Aged Care Specialists — the Royal Commission into Aged Care has led to significant funding increases. Registered nurses in aged care received a 15% pay boost, and demand for geriatricians and aged care managers is growing. Data Engineers and Platform Engineers — the backend infrastructure roles supporting AI and analytics. Earning $140-180K with strong growth trajectory. Healthcare Technology specialists — digital health, telehealth platforms, and health informatics roles paying $120-160K.

How to earn more in your current career

You do not necessarily need to change careers to earn more. Here are proven strategies to increase your income. Upskill strategically — certifications like AWS, CPA, PMP, or specialised medical training can increase earnings by 15-30%. Focus on skills with clear market demand rather than generic qualifications. Switch industries — the same role can pay very differently across industries. An accountant in mining earns 20-30% more than one in retail. A project manager in construction earns more than one in government. Negotiate your salary — research shows that 70% of Australian employers expect candidates to negotiate. Use data from Seek, Hays salary guides, and ABS statistics to benchmark. Aim for 10-15% above the initial offer. Move to high-demand locations — FIFO roles in WA mining pay 40-60% premiums. Moving to capital cities generally increases earnings by 10-20% over regional areas. Check your award rate — many employees are on awards and do not realise they may be underpaid. Use our Award Finder to check your minimum entitlements. Consider contracting — contractors in IT, engineering, and professional services often earn 30-50% more than permanent employees (before accounting for leave and super self-contribution).

What you actually take home

Gross salary is only part of the picture. A $100,000 salary does not mean $100,000 in your bank account. Here is what a $100,000 salary looks like after deductions in 2025-26: Gross salary $100,000. Income tax: $22,967 (including Medicare levy of $2,000). Take-home pay: $77,033/year or $2,962/fortnight. Plus your employer pays super on top: $12,000 (12% SG). If you have a HECS/HELP debt, an additional $7,000 (7% repayment rate at $100K) is deducted, reducing take-home to approximately $70,000. At $150,000: Tax $40,567, take-home $109,433 or $4,209/fortnight. At $200,000: Tax $60,667, take-home $139,333 or $5,359/fortnight. These figures change based on your individual circumstances including salary sacrifice arrangements, private health insurance rebate, and deductions. Use our free Take-Home Pay Calculator and Tax Calculator to see your exact after-tax income for any salary level.

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Official resources

General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.