Top 10 highest paid jobs in Australia
If you're planning your next move, it helps to know which professions come with the biggest pay packets. While work-life balance and long-term satisfaction matter just as much as money, understanding what the top-paying roles look like in the Australian job market can help you map out your career goals.
Based on the latest Hays Salary Guide FY25/26, here’s a look at Australia’s highest paid jobs - from medical specialists and engineers to executive management and HR leaders.
What are the highest paying jobs in Australia?
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) revealed the roles that bring in the biggest average annual salary for the 2022–23 financial year
Find out who topped the list:
- Surgeon: average salary $472,475
- Anaesthetist: average salary $447,193
- Financial dealer: average salary $355,233
- Internal medicine specialist: average salary $342,457
- Psychiatrist: average salary $286,146
- Other medical practitioners: average salary $259,802
- Mining engineer: average salary $206,423
- Judicial or other legal professionals: average salary $206,408
- Chief executive officers or managing directors $194,987
- Financial investment advisor or manager: average salary $191,986
Key takeaways:
- Medical specialists dominate the rankings, accounting for half the list.
- Executive management roles like Chief Operating Officers and Chief Financial Officers still offer competitive salaries, even outside medicine.
- Industries like mining, law, and finance remain strong career paths for skilled professionals.
- While the roles haven’t shifted, salaries for many have increased.
The ten Highest Paying Jobs in Australia 2025/26 (Hays Salary Guide)
Along with the latest market insights and trends, Hays Salary Guide FY25/26 reveals typical salaries for thousands of jobs nationwide. Based on this data, we’ve collated a list of some of the best-paying jobs in Australia.
While most of the salaries listed are for roles in Sydney, there are a few exceptions for specific roles in Victoria, Western Australia and even the Northern Territory.
1. Executive: CEO and MD (up to $700K+)
Reaching the top job is often the clearest route to some of Australia’s highest salaries.
- CEOs and MDs in organisations with turnover over $500m can earn $700k+.
- In organisations with revenues between $50–$500m, salaries can still reach up to $700k.
- COOs and CFOs also earn $600k+ in large companies (over $500m turnover), and up to $600k in mid-tier organisations ($50-$500m revenue).
- Even in the not-for-profit sector, the CEO’s salary can reach $500k.
Success factors
Strategic direction and a track record of delivering shareholder value are essential for competing at this level of executive leadership.
Executives must also demonstrate the ability to:
- Deliver strong business plans
- Drive digital transformation
- Foster team culture across hybrid environments.
2. Accountancy: Head of Treasury (up to $410k)
The accountancy and finance sector has some of the top paying jobs in Australia.
- Head of Treasury in Sydney earns up to $410k, while Melbourne caps at $300k.
- Other high-paying roles: Head of Tax (up to $400k in Sydney) and Head of Internal Audit ($400k).
Success factors
Aspiring finance leaders should expect to gain 10+ years’ experience in finance, banking, accounting or in-house corporate treasury. Qualifications such as a bachelor's degree in accounting, economics, or finance are recommended.
Strong skills required include:
- Cash flow forecasting
- Developing business plans
- Regulatory reporting
- Advanced knowledge of capital markets
- Risk management and compliance expertise
3. Sales: General Manager of Sales and Sales Director (up to $400k)
From consumer goods to IT, senior sales jobs offer six-figure pay for those able to deliver results.
- Consumer Goods General Managers can earn $400k in Sydney and Melbourne.
- IT and Telecoms Sales Vice Presidents can reach $350k.
Success factors
High-performing sales leaders must excel in:
- Market analysis
- Customer strategy
- Revenue growth
- Large team leadership
- Contract negotiation
4. Human Resources: Head of HR/HR Director (up to $400k)
Given how workplaces continue to transform, human resources directors are essential advisors for many organisations that need to navigate the changing world of business and industrial regulation. Demand for skilled and experienced HR professionals has consequently intensified.
- The Head of HR in a Sydney organisation can earn up to $400k.
- This upper limit drops to:
- $350k in Perth
- $320k in Melbourne
- $300k in other state capitals
Success factors
- Strong knowledge of employment law
- Strategic talent acquisition
- Workforce planning
- Diversity, equity and inclusion expertise
- Culture-building
5. Construction: Commercial Management (up to $400k)
Commercial construction continues to be one of the highest-paying career paths in Australia’s building sector.
- Sydney Commercial Construction Managers earn up to $400k
- Salaries drop to $300k in Melbourne and Brisbane, and less for civil or residential projects
Success factors
Leaders of large-scale construction jobs need the capacity to deliver projects safely and on time, along with:
- Advanced project management abilities
- Contract negotiation expertise
- Budget forecasting
- Compliance knowledge
- Managing teams across multiple worksites
6. Property: Development Director (up to $388k)
Senior leadership roles in property development remain highly lucrative across Australia’s capital cities and regional hubs.
- Development Directors can earn $388k in Sydney, Melbourne, and regional NSW.
- Acquisitions Managers with 4+ years’ experience can reach $350k.
Success factors
Property leaders require expertise in:
- Acquisitions
- Zoning regulations
- Stakeholder management
7. Technology: CIO (up to $375K)
Australia’s booming technology sector offers some of the most consistent six-figure salaries for senior IT executives.
- CIO: $375k
- CTO: $370k
- CISO: $360k
- CDO: $350k
Success factors
A university degree in computer science and extensive experience in management roles pave a secure path towards top tech jobs. IT professionals at this level also need advanced leadership in:
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud transformation
- Data governance
8. Defence: Operations Director (up to $360K)
Increased Federal Government investment in defence has created strong demand for senior operations leaders.
- Operations Directors earn up to $360k, with strong opportunities in the ACT and NSW.
- Defence Sales Directors and Operations Consultants can reach $350k.
Success factors
Knowledge of compliance frameworks, contract negotiation, and risk management is critical for defence roles. Leaders also need expertise in procurement, logistics, and large-scale project delivery.
9. Banking and Finance: Head of Quantitative Risk (up to $350k)
The banking sector has slipped slightly down the rankings, with many finance jobs sitting in the mid-$300k range — a step behind other industries where top salaries have pushed higher.
- Head of Quantitative Risk: $350k
- Head of Financial Crime: $350k
- Lending roles, such as GMs & State Managers, still reach $300k.
Success factors
Leaders in risk play a critical role in helping organisations meet their business objectives while protecting against financial and regulatory threats. Vital skills include:
- Portfolio management
- Predictive analytics
- Strategic financial planning
- Technical modelling
- Compliance and regulation
10. Mining: Jumbo Operator (Up to $330k)
The mining sector remains one of Australia’s most lucrative industries, particularly for those operating hi-tech equipment.
- In WA, Jumbo Operators earn $330k for their technical expertise.
Success factors
Operators require technical training, safety compliance knowledge, and the ability to maintain machinery under pressure. Adaptability and problem-solving are essential for success in mining industry roles.
Find more of Australia’s highest paying jobs
Plenty of the top-paid jobs in Australia exist across a wide range of industries. Aiming for one of the top jobs? Whether you’re looking to get into mining, healthcare, finance, or any other sector, many roles offer competitive pay and a secure, long-term future. While a high salary is appealing, it’s also worth weighing up the balance between salary vs job satisfaction when planning your career path.
Want to check if your pay stacks up against the market? Use the Hays Salary Checker or download the Hays Salary Guide FY25/26 for detailed insights into thousands of roles and job trends across the country.