Infographic: Top 5 Paying Industries in Australia

While average incomes can vary widely across state lines, these top 5 industries in Australia boast some of the highest paying jobs. The Australian economy is stable in 2018, but in states like Queensland and Western Australia, major road and rail projects in the public sector are driving job growth. Demand for skilled infrastructure workers is also pushing up salaries in the mining, resources and energy, as well as construction industries.

In major metropolitan hubs like Sydney and Melbourne, wages are high due in the consulting and IT industries. “In most major cities, the big drivers of jobs growth in 2018 will be the technology and infrastructure sectors,” noted Giles Daubeney, Deputy CEO of recruitment firm Robert Walters in their Salary Survey 2018. “Technology is fundamentally reshaping organisations across every industry sector as businesses seek to become more efficient and customer-focused.”

The ACT leads the Australian states on average (that is, mean) salary. The mean is derived from adding all salaries together, then dividing by the number of workers. This can sometimes be misleading, however, as very high salaries can push the number up. The median Australian salary, which is a more accurate representation of the average person’s salary, is estimated at about $50,000.

While Australian markets are doing well in general with very high employment rates, job growth overall remains relatively flat.

The industries with the biggest salary increases are:

Sometimes it’s easier to understand it in a visual form, so we’ve put together this handy infographic, breaking down the highest paying industries in Australia and average salary by state.

Across Australia, you can expect to earn the most in the mining, consulting and construction industries, as major infrastructure projects get underway. IT roles are in demand as technology plays an increasingly bigger role in business.

1. Mining, Resources and Energy
2. Consulting and Strategy
3. Construction
4. Engineering
5. Information & Communication Technology

ACT leads the Australian states in terms of mean salary, followed closely by NSW and Western Australia.

1. Australian Capital Territory: $86,532
2. New South Wales: $85,532
3. Western Australia: $85,481
4. Victoria: $83, 185
5. Northern Territory: $83,043
6. Queensland: $80,923
7. South Australia $78,538
8. Tasmania: $74,103