10 Highest Paying Trades in Australia

If you’ve ever wondered what the highest paying trades in Australia are, look no further than this list.

Trade school is a much better option for finding a career than college for a lot of people. Academia is not for all by any means. While I finished college, I didn’t really like the system too terribly much and taking those state-required classes was such a chore. I don’t see why I had to take science and math classes to get a degree in journalism and English. My iPhone has a calculator and for any miscellaneous information I have Google. Yet college charges you thousands of dollars to learn information for tests and then just forget about it. It’s kind of wild. Trade school, however, allows you to pick a field and learn skills that are specific to that field to get you right into a career. There are no extraneous or unnecessary classes, which is suitable for people who really hate traditional schooling.

Trade school is intriguing to me because it’s not something I did and it’s something that I almost wish I had some semblance of skill in. A lot of trades are in things that I don’t have much interest in and I don’t think I would be good at, but I love the sentiment. Trades in different countries vary quite a bit, and it’d be interesting to see if any of the trades on this list match up with the Highest Paying Trades in Canada. Trade jobs are often stigmatized, but after reading this list you’ll learn that people in these professions still make good salaries that compete with traditional careers.

The methodology for this is quite simple, as trades were ranked according to the average annual salary for each job. The jobs that pay the most went to the top of the list. We used two sources to find information about popular trades in Australia: Business Insider Australia and The Australian Government Job Outlook. From there, we found each occupation’s salary on Payscale.

Get your resumes ready for the highest paying trades in Australia.

10. Animal and horticultural trades

Annual median wage: $48,484

This industry includes animal attendants, gardeners, and horticulturists. Veterinary nurses and workers and animal trainers and shearers also fall under this umbrella.

9. Food trade

Annual median wage: $51,059

This industry includes waiters, baristas, chefs, bakers, and butchers. These jobs are demanding and often require overtime, especially during special occasions and holidays. There’s a steadfast flow of demand and opportunity.

8. Plumbing trade

Annual median wage: $72,500

Plumbers are said to have among the biggest salaries in Australia in terms of trade jobs. Some territories pay more than others, but the average is super impressive. The trade in general also includes pipefitters and steamfitters.

7. Construction trade

Annual median wage: $83,810

Construction is probably one of the most consistently in-demand jobs all over the world. Apart from impressive job growth, it boasts pretty high wages for all workers, including carpenters, masons, painters, insulation workers, and construction managers.

6. Technical and engineering trade

Annual median wage: $92,482

This trade includes engineers, inspectors, and technicians. They rely heavily on technology and require high precision. The salary justifies its position on our list of the highest paying trades in Australia.

5. Electronics trade

Annual median wage: $94,396

This trade includes technicians, line workers, electrical technicians, and draftspersons. They’re responsible for installing and repairing electrical lines, lighting, and power supply to homes and businesses. Demand is almost always high.

4. Telecommunications trade

Annual median wage: $96,652

This includes technicians, installers, and telecommunications repairmen. They’re the go-to when it comes to the internet connection and the demand is often really high.

3. Automotive and engineering trades

Annual median wage: $129,786

This includes aircraft mechanics, avionics maintenance workers, automotive electricians, and vehicle painters. The demand is strong and expected to stay this way.

2. Oil and gas trades

Annual median wage: $135,500

Oil and gas are used in various industries, so the demand is strong. Oil and gas workers typically work as drill operators, boilermakers, and petroleum manufacturers.

1. Mining trade

Annual median wage: $139,303

The mining industry is perhaps one of the strongest worldwide industries. It includes miners, drillers, equipment operators, grinding operators, and blasters. It’s dangerous, but the pay is super high.

Australia’s demand for skilled workers is very strong, as they provide more and more jobs for these occupations and even open their doors for overseas workers. If you have always wanted to see what the world offers, make that dream happen by working in one of the highest paying trades in Australia.