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ATO Reveals the Top 10 Highest Paid Jobs of Australia

The Australian Tax Office has just released its data revealing Australia’s wealthiest suburbs and highest-earning professions, along with other financial details that may be of use to you.
The taxation statistics outlined below encompass the period between 2018-19.
Top ten Australian highest income earners
As you might expect, many of the highest-earning professionals are in the medical field, though this list also includes legal professions, management, finance and engineering. Surgeons, in particular, saw a hefty rise in their salary, accumulating an increase of $52,500 in the last ten years.
For reference, the average Australian earned $62,549 per annum.
Surgeon
Average salary: $394,303
Anaesthetist
Average salary: $386,065
Internal medicine specialist
Average salary: $304,752
Financial dealers
Average salary: $275,984
Psychiatrist
Average salary: $235,558
Other medical practitioners
Average salary: $222,933
Judicial or other legal professionals
Average salary: $188,798
Mining engineer
Average salary: $184,507
Chief executive officer or managing director
Average salary: $164,896
Engineering manager
Average salary: $159,940
However, as was mentioned previously, this data is purely from the taxation statistics released by the ATO. Here’s a more comprehensive list that draws from third-party data to make well-informed insights.
15 Highest Paying Jobs in Australia: 2021 Edition (based on real data)
If you’re looking to transition into a role that is high-paying, stable and offers good job growth, check out this list of the top 15 highest paying jobs, along with some possible pathways to get you there.
Highest-earning postcodes in Australia
According to the ATO, here are the top ten richest postcodes in Australia, most residing in New South Wales, with Victoria coming in a close second. Conversely, the lowest-earning suburbs came from regional areas in New South Wales and Queensland.
Double bay, Sydney 2028
$202,598
Hawksburn and Toorak, Melbourne 3142
$201,926
Darling Point, Edgecliff and Point Piper, Sydney 2027
$199,813
Dover Heights, Rose Bay North, Vaucluse and Watsons Bay, Sydney 2030
$197,886
Woollahra, Sydney 2025
$183,418
Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove, Western Australia 6011
$179,376
Portsea, Victoria 3944
$175,356
Bellevue Hill, Sydney 2023
$173,278
Mosman, Sydney 3944
$171,135
Northbridge, Sydney 2023
$168,891
Other interesting takeaways
- The average superannuation account balance was $143,979
- 41.7% of Australians earn between $37,001-$90,000
- Only 3.5% of Australians earn $180,001 or more
- The average salary for Australians has increased from $61,451 during 2017-18 to $63,085 during 2018-19
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