Highest Salary Jobs in Australia: State and Industry Differences Explained

What Are the Highest Salary Jobs in Australia?

The term "highest salary jobs" refers to occupations that pay well above the national average full-time earnings. In Australia, the national line is set at an index of 100, which equals $108,352 per year (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Jobs with a salary index above 100 pay more than the typical full-time worker; those below pay less. Understanding where the highest salary jobs sit on this index helps you compare roles across states and industries.

This article uses data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Hays Salary Guide FY26/27, and the Fair Work Commission to show which jobs pay the most and how location and sector matter.

State Differences in Highest Salary Jobs

Where you work in Australia dramatically affects how much you can earn in a high-paying role. The state index figures from the on-site reference show clear winners and losers:

• ACT (109.9) and WA (106.9) are above the national line, reflecting concentrations of public service, defence, and mining jobs.
• NSW (101.2) is slightly above average, driven by Sydney's finance and legal sectors.
• VIC (98.0) and QLD (97.9) are near the line.
• SA (94.6), NT (95.2), and TAS (88.6) are below, meaning high-paying jobs are rarer or pay less.

For example, Hays reports that equity partners in law firms earn up to $850,000+ in NSW, but only $550,000+ in WA and ACT. Similarly, a Head of HR in Sydney can earn up to $400,000, while in Melbourne the ceiling is $260,000 and in Perth $350,000. Mining engineers in WA often earn more than their counterparts in other states—registered mine managers top out at $300,000 in WA versus $215,000 in Tasmania.

These state premiums are not just about cost of living; they reflect industry clusters and demand for specialised skills. The states page provides a full breakdown of index values for each jurisdiction.

Industry Differences in Highest Salary Jobs

Industry choice is another major factor. The on-site reference gives industry indexes that highlight where high-paying jobs cluster:

• Mining (154.7) – far above the national line. Roles like mining engineer ($206,423 average) and jumbo operator ($312,000 typical in WA) push this sector to the top.
• Professional, scientific and technical services (114.7) – includes legal, accounting, and IT roles. Equity partners, head of treasury ($510,000 ceiling), and CIOs ($375,000) fall here.
• Education and training (105.5) – above average, but not as high as mining.
• Health care and social assistance (97.8) – slightly below average, yet medical specialists like surgeons ($472,475) and anaesthetists ($447,193) earn far above the industry average because they are at the top of their field.
• Retail trade (75.9) and Accommodation and food services (72.5) – well below average, with few high-paying roles.

According to the ATO, the top ten highest-paying occupations by average taxable income for 2025–26 include five medical roles, plus financial dealers ($355,233), mining engineers ($206,423), judicial/legal professionals ($206,408), CEOs ($194,987), and financial investment advisors ($191,986). Hays adds that executive roles in large organisations can exceed $700,000 for CEOs and $600,000 for COOs.

How the Salary Index Helps Compare

The salary index is a simple tool: take a job's annual gross pay, divide by the national line ($108,352), and multiply by 100. For example:

• A surgeon earning $472,475 has an index of 436.
• A mining engineer earning $206,423 has an index of 190.
• A retail worker on the national minimum wage ($52,255) has an index of 48.

This index lets you compare jobs across states and industries on a single scale. For instance, a CEO in a large commercial organisation earning $700,000 has an index of 646, far above the mining industry average of 154.7. But remember, these are gross figures before tax and super. The how the index works page explains the calculation in detail.

Examples of Highest Salary Jobs by State and Industry

Here are concrete examples from the Hays and ATO data, linked to state and industry indexes:

• Legal – Equity Partner (NSW): Up to $850,000. Industry: professional services (index 114.7). State: NSW (101.2). Index: ~784.
• Medical – Surgeon (national average): $472,475. Industry: health care (97.8). State varies. Index: ~436.
• Mining – Registered Mine Manager (WA): Up to $300,000. Industry: mining (154.7). State: WA (106.9). Index: ~277.
• Finance – Head of Treasury (NSW): Up to $510,000. Industry: professional services. State: NSW. Index: ~471.
• Technology – CIO (national): Up to $375,000. Industry: professional services. Index: ~346.

These examples show that even within a high-paying industry like mining, location matters—WA offers a premium. Similarly, professional services in NSW outpace other states.

Caveats and Considerations

• ATO data is average taxable income, which may include bonuses, allowances, and capital gains. It is not necessarily base salary.
• Hays salary ranges are typical for permanent roles and may exclude superannuation (12% from July 2026) and bonuses.
• The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database sets minimum rates, not market rates for top jobs. For example, the national minimum wage is $26.44/hr (index 48.2), but highest salary jobs are far above awards.
• Tax reduces take-home pay significantly. A resident earning $472,475 would pay about $176,000 in income tax plus Medicare levy, leaving around $296,000 net.

For more on how pay compares across roles, see the pay guides and topics sections.

Conclusion

The highest salary jobs in Australia are concentrated in medicine, law, mining, and executive management. State differences are pronounced—NSW and WA offer the highest ceilings, while Tasmania and South Australia lag. Industry differences are even starker, with mining and professional services far ahead of retail and hospitality. Using the salary index, you can see exactly where a job sits relative to the national line, making it easier to assess opportunities across Australia.