Explore the Highest-Paying Jobs in Australia in 2024

While considering a job, what things do you often prioritize? An organisation with strong work ethics, security, and salary!

Yeah, of course!

Australia is one of the world’s leading countries, continuously concentrating on those attributes that make it an attractive destination for overseas immigrants and skilled professionals globally.

But what makes it most appealing are the highest-paying jobs in Australia.

Australia’s high-quality lifestyle, thriving economy, and job market are some of the most stable and prosperous in the world. With a high participation rate of 66.8% and a low unemployment rate of around 4.0%, it is the most attractive place for jobs for overseas skilled workers. 

 

Australia, the world’s sixth-largest country by land area, welcomes everyone around the world. Due to its stable economy, it is considered the best destination for overseas workers for jobs in 2024.  You know, the Australian Government accepts 52,100 visa applicants for temporary residency for employment purposes each year.

That’s what makes Australia the most desired destination for international individuals and even families. 

 

Top 6 Reasons to Work in Australia

Australia, the 13th largest economy in the world, is known for its economic stability and resilience and is the most preferable place from a job perspective.  Without denying the fact that the Australian economy is diversified, various sectors consistently offering some of the highest paying jobs and average salary to international skilled people. For example, careers in medicine, law, and executive management are often top of  the list.

Let’s look at some of exciting facts that perfectly answer the question: Why Choose the Australian Job Market?

 

• Australia offers the highest-paying jobs as compared to other countries, with top roles earning up to AUD 450,000 (approximately PKR 82,350,000).
• Australian workplaces usually operate from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., emphasizing work-life balance. 
• In Australia, generous leave policies contain 20 days of annual leave and 12 public holidays.
• The Australian job market is continuously moving forward with emerging industries and high technologies to improve future growth. 
• The Australian Government offers strong support for overseas skilled workers through various visa programs and other initiatives. 
• Since July 1, 2023, international students withholding subclass 500 have been allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight during their coursework. 

 

Key Statistics For Jobs in Australia

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, estimated average weekly full-time earnings divided by sector and gender are as follows:

 

Public and Private Weekly Earnings in Australia (Sector wise) in 2024:

Australia	Full-time adult average weekly earning for ordinary time	1,923.40
	Full-time adult average weekly for total earnings	1,994.30
	All employees average weekly total earnings	1,480.90
Private Sector	Full-time adult average weekly earnings for ordinary time	1,879.00
	Full-time adult average weekly total earnings	1,951.50
	All employees average weekly total earnings	1,413.00
Public Sector	Full-time adult average weekly ordinary-time earnings	2,091.80
	Full-time adult average weekly total earnings	2,156.60
	All employees average weekly total earnings.	1,780.60

 

Public and Private Weekly Earnings in Australia (Gender wise) in 2024

 

What are the Highest-Paying jobs in Australia in 2024?

Whether you are an international student or a skilled worker planning to pursue your career in Australia, I have categorically collected a list of the highest-paying jobs in Australia.

The Australian job market is highly diversified and offers employment opportunities across various sectors, such as healthcare, business, legal, IT, finance, and more.

1. Highest Paying Medical Jobs in Australia

 

Psychiatrist 

Job Role: 

• Diagnosing and treating mental illness through psychotherapy
• Establishing plans for treatments, assessments, and testing.
• Prescribing medicines and helping to prevent mental disorders.

 

Job Sector: Healthcare and Medical

Average Salary: AUD 153,506 per year

Qualification:

• A complete medical degree (Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine or equivalent).
• A one-year internship in a hospital setting.
• Undertake a residency program, typically lasting one year, to gain practical experience.
• Complete a five-year specialist training program in psychiatry through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

 

Surgeon

Job Role: A Surgeon

• Diagnoses medical conditions and performing surgical procedures.
• Develops preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative plans.
• Oversees postoperative treatments, prescribe medicines and promote health education.
• Performs operations to treating diseases, injuries, and deformities.

 

Job Sector: Healthcare and Medical

Average Salary:  AUD 386,000 per

Qualification:

• An accredited medical degree from a medical college/university.
• MB, BM (Bachelor of Medicine), or BS (Bachelor of Surgery).
• Training in surgical specialties.

 

Anesthetist

Job Role:  An Anesthetist

• Monitors and control patients’ pain and consciousness levels to make their conditions safe during surgery.
• Gives anesthetics for surgical, medical, and psychiatric procedures.
• Provides anesthesia and pain management before, during, and after a surgical procedure or operation.

Job Sector: Healthcare and Medical

Average Salary: AUD 198,065 per year

Qualification:

• A registered doctor who has completed at least two years of residency. 
• The Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists (ANZCA) offers a five-year specialist fellowship training program.

 

Cardiologist

Job Role:  A Cardiologist

• Diagnoses, assess, and treats the defects and diseases of the heart and the blood vessels.
• Deals with disorders of the heart and the cardiovascular system.

Job Sector: Healthcare and Medical

Average Salary: AUD 400,000 per year

Qualification:

• A Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine (MD) or an equivalent undergraduate degree followed by a Doctor of Medicine.
• Work experience in the public hospital system for two years, completing your internship and residency.
• Advanced training in cardiology through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), which includes three years of equivalent full-time training.
• Complete the training to be admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).

 

2. Highest-Paying Business Jobs in Australia

Project Manager

Job Role: A project Manager

• Oversees the planning, execution, and completion of projects to make sure they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
• Coordinates with the teams, manages resources, and communicates with stakeholders.

Job Sector: Various industries, including construction, IT, finance, healthcare, and government.

Average Salary: AUD 130,000 to AUD 150,000 per year

Qualification:

• A bachelor’s degree in business, management, or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), PRINCE2, or Agile Project Management.
• Relevant work experience in project management.

 

Sales Manager

Job Role: A sales manager

• Directs and oversees an organization’s sales team, processes, and procedures.
• Trains and mentors sales reps.
• Analyzes sales data and reports.
• Achieves sales targets.
• Develops a sales strategy

• Collaborates with other departments within the organization.
• Monitors sales performance.
• Creates/develops sales plans and strategies.
• Hires sales team members.

 

Job Sector: Retail, healthcare, IT, finance, and manufacturing

Average Salary: AUD 97,199 to AUD 152,450 per year

 Qualification:

• A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field
• Other PMP certifications.

 

Digital Marketing Manager

Job Role: A digital marking manager

• Makes plans and executes digital marketing campaigns, manages social media presence, and measures the performance of all digital marketing efforts. 

Job Sector: Marketing and Communication

Average Salary: AU$85,077 to AU$110,000 per year

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field.
• Certifications in digital marketing tools and strategies are beneficial.

 

Business Analyst

Job Role: A business analyst:

• Acts as a bridge between stakeholders and IT, identifies business needs, and provides technical solutions to enhance efficiency.

Job Sector: Information and Communication Technology, Consulting, and Strategy

Average Salary: AU$88,393 to AU$113,835 per year

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in business, IT, or a related field. 
• Certifications like ECBATM, CCBA®, or CBAP® are advantageous.

 

3. Highest-Paying Legal Jobs in Australia 

Real Estate Lawyer

Job Role: A real estate lawyer:

• Assists clients with property transactions, including buying, selling, leasing, and developing real estate properties.
• Makes draft and reviews contracts, negotiates terms, and provides legal advice on property-related disputes.

Job Sector: Real Estate 

Average Salary: Around AU$80,000 per year

Qualifications:

• A bachelor of Law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD), followed by Practical Legal Training (PLT) and admission to the local Law Society.

 

Corporate Lawyer

Job Role: A corporate lawyer:

• Handles legal processes related to corporations’ formation, operation, and governance.
• Provides expert advice on business transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and corporate governance. 

Job Sector: Law 

Average Salary: Approximately AU$85,289 per year, with the potential to earn up to AU$143,000

Qualifications:

• Similar to real estate lawyers, corporate lawyers need a Bachelor of Law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD)
• Practical Legal Training (PLT), and admission to the local Law Society.

 

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Job Role: A criminal defense lawyer:

• Represents clients accused of crimes and provides legal defense in court.
• Conducts legal research, gathers evidence, and argues cases in front of judges and juries.

Job Sector : Law

Average Salary: Around AU$70,287 per year

Qualifications:

• Requires a Bachelor of Law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD), Practical Legal Training (PLT), and admission to the local Law Society.

 

4. Highest-Paying Engineering Jobs in Australia

Software Engineer

Job Role: A software engineer:

• Designs, develops, and maintains software applications.

Job Sector: IT

Average Salary: AUD 98,331 per year

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field; experience in software development.

 

Mechanical Engineer

Job Role: A mechanical engineer:

• Designs, develops, and tests mechanical devices and systems.

Job Sector: Engineering

Average Salary: AUD 95,000 per year

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, experience in mechanical design.

 

5. Highest Paying IT Jobs in Australia

Senior Engineering Manager

Job Role: 

• Oversees engineering teams, manages projects, and ensures technical excellence.

Job Sector: IT

Average Salary: AUD 225,000 per year

 Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field; relevant experience in engineering management.

 

Software Architect

Job Role: A software architect:

• Designs and oversees the architecture of software systems.

Job Sector: IT

Average Salary: AUD 209,100 per year

Qualification:

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field with experience in software architecture.

 

Solutions Architect

Job Role: A solution architect:

• Design and implements IT solutions to meet business needs.

Job Sector: IT

Average Salary: AUD 195,000 per year

Qualification:

• A bachelor’s degree in IT or a related field; experience in solution design.

 

Senior DevOps Engineer

Job Role: A senior DeVops engineer:

• Manages the development and operations processes, ensuring efficient software delivery.

Job Sector: IT

Average Salary: AUD 190,000 per year 

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field; relevant experience in DevOps.

 

Data Scientist

Job Role: A data scientist:

• Analyzes complex data sets to extract insights and inform business decisions.

Job Sector: IT

Average Salary: AUD 112,100 per year

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in data science or a related field, experience in data analysis.

 

High Salary Jobs in Australia

 

Business Analyst

Job Role: A business analyst

• Provides a bridge between stakeholders and IT, identify business needs, and provides technical solutions to enhance efficiency.

Job Sector: Information and Communication Technology, Consulting, and Strategy

Average Salary: AU$88,393 to AU$113,835 per year

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, IT, or a related field. 
• Certifications like ECBA™, CCBA®, or CBAP® are advantageous.

 

Financial Dealer

Job Role: A financial dealer:

• Executes buy and sells orders in the marketplace on behalf of clients, and provides market information and advice.

Job Sector: Banking & Financial Services

Average Salary: Varies widely based on experience and location.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or a related field.
• Experience in financial markets and relevant certifications are beneficial.

 

IT Portfolio Manager

Job Role: An IT portfolio manager:

• Manages a portfolio of IT projects, aligns them with business goals, and ensures they deliver value.

Job Sector: Information Technology, Project Management.

Average Salary: AU$120,000 to AU$150,000 per year.

Qualifications:  

• A bachelor’s degree in IT, business, or a related field.
• Certifications like PMP or PRINCE2 are often required.

 

Finance Analyst

Job Role: A finance analyst:

• Analyzes financial data, prepares reports, and provides insights to support decision-making.

Job Sector: Banking & Financial Services.

Average Salary: AU$70,000 to AU$90,000 per year.

Qualifications: 

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.
• CFA or CPA certifications are highly regarded.

 

Estimated Average Salaries of Various Professions in Australia in 2024

What makes the most of your job search? If it’s a salary, then it’s not your fault. Salary is the key motivator that forces you to get a job. Let’s look at the average salary for various professions in Australia in 2024. 

 

Job Profile	Average Salary (in AUD)	Average Salary (in PKR)
Neurosurgeon	AUD 450,000	PKR 82,350,000
CEO	AUD 165,206	PKR 30,230,000
Anesthetist	AUD 198,065	PKR 36,230,000
Financial Analyst	AUD 110,293	PKR 20,180,000
Head of HR/HR Director	AUD 200,000	PKR 36,600,000
Legal Professionals	AUD 200,000	PKR 36,600,000
Mining Engineer	AUD 148,200	PKR 27,100,000
Financial Investment Advisor	AUD 114,828	PKR 21,000,000
Software Architect	AUD 148,086	PKR 27,080,000
Construction Manager	AUD 140,000	PKR 25,600,000

 

How to Find Highest-Paying Jobs in Australia?

Australia is considered a place where you can turn your dreams into reality, as it is known for its diverse job market and competitive salaries.

But the question might be arise in your mind: how to find the highest-paying jobs in Australia? 

So, the answer is.

There are various resources where you can find the highest-paying jobs in Australia. If you are an international student or overseas worker, you can have access to many career/job portals where job listings are available. Apart from this, you can seek out job opportunities through the following top 10 job-seeking websites such as:

 

Seek 

Seek is one of the most popular job-search websites in Australia. It offers a wide range of job listings, including the highest-paying jobs in Australia across various industries.

 

 Indeed

Indeed is a global job search engine that aggregates job listings from various sources within the country. You can filter your search to find the top highest-paying jobs in Australia.

 

Linkedin

LinkedIn is not only a professional networking site but also a powerful job search platform. Many high-paying jobs are posted here, and you can leverage your network to find your prior employment opportunities within the country. 

 

Jora

Jora is another job search engine that lists jobs from multiple sources. It’s a great platform that is considered the best job site in 2024 to find the highest-paying roles in Australia.

 

Glassdoor

Glassdoor provides job listings along with company reviews, salary information, and the culture of the company. You can find here Australia’s top 50 leading companies and highest-paying jobs in 2024. 

 

Hays Recruitment

Hays Recruitment is a job-employment consulting agency that specializes in offering work assistance. They will help you find the highest-paying job that will be the right fit for you.

 

Michael Page

Michael Page is another recruitment agency where you can register yourself, search, and save jobs, particularly in finance, engineering, and executive roles. 

 

CareerOne

CareerOne offers another job seeker-centric platform where you can get matched in minutes with various job listings, including high-paying employment positions in Australia. Further, it provides career advice, reviews to improve your resume, and resources to help your job search.

 

Adzuna

Adzuna is a job search engine that aggregates listings from various sources. It’s useful for finding high-paying jobs across different sectors.

 

Workforce Australia

The Workforce is an Australian government initiative where you can search, save jobs, and even submit job applications to find a suitable, highest-paying employment options in Australia for you.

 

Secure an Australian visa to Obtain Highest-Paying Jobs in Australia!

In order to secure the highest-paying jobs in Australia, you must first obtain the appropriate Australian visa. This requires meeting specific eligibility criteria that will allow you to move, stay, and work in Australia, either temporarily or permanently. To secure a highest-paying job in Australia, it is essential to apply for the appropriate visa that allows you to enter Australia to live and work there.

 

Here are some possible visa options that you can apply for:

 

Temporary Graduate Visa subclass 485 that needs graduation from Australian universities.

 

Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 Visa that needs the necessary skills and language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.).

 

Skilled Nominated Visa subclass 190 that ought to have a skill assessment and score above 65. 

 

Conclusion

A highest-paying job in Australia requires the relevant qualifications, experience, strategic job searching, and effective networking. Once you identify the highest-paying industries in Australia, like healthcare and medicine, medical and legal professions, engineering and IT, and more, preparing for the next step is crucial.

So, to obtain the highest-paying jobs in Australia, you need to leverage personal networks and job-seeking websites and stay informed about market trends. You can increase your chances of getting a position that can pay back a handsome amount in Australia. Furthermore, ensure you meet all the visa requirements, such as those for the General Skilled Migration visa and other relevant Australian visas.

If you intend to apply for your prior GSM stream or any other relevant visa, you must stay informed and prepared according to recent changes.