Top ten highest salaries in Australia
Wondering which jobs in the Hays Salary Guide FY25/26 pay the most?
If you're planning your future career goals and want a long and happy working life, don’t just focus on going after the jobs with the highest salary. However, knowing what jobs pay the best in your preferred industry can help you map out career moves for future prosperity.
The highest paying jobs in Australia in 2025/2026
Along with the latest market insights and trends, Hays Salary Guide FY25/26 reveals typical salaries for thousands of jobs across Australia. Based on this data, we’ve collated the following list of some of Australia’s highest paying jobs.
While most of the salaries listed here are for roles in Sydney, there are a few exceptions for specific roles in Victoria, Western Australia and even the Northern Territory.
For salaries in other locations or other roles in your field, please see Hays Salary Guide FY25/26 and to check if your salary stacks up, try the Hays Salary Checker.
Executive: CEO and MD (up to $700K+)
Running the company is a good place to plan to end up with you want to take home a top pay packet.
For CEOs and Managing Directors in commercial organisations with turnovers of over $500m the salary can be $700k+, and between $50-$500m it can reach up to $700k.
For Chief Operating Officers (COOs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in commercial organisations with turnovers over $500m, they can earn $600k+, and in organisations with revenues between $50-$500m it can reach up to $600k as well.
Even in an NFP the CEO salary can reach $500k.
CEOs and other executives seeking new opportunities should demonstrate how they have advanced service delivery in their organisation by introducing new technologies and strategies. Executives also need to demonstrate their ability to foster collaboration and strengthen team culture in remote work environments to attract new career opportunities and top salaries.
Accountancy: Head of Treasury (up to $410k)
Within the accountancy and finance sector, Heads of Treasury have some of the top paying jobs in Australia. The Head of Treasury in Sydney can earn up to $410k, although in Melbourne it only reaches $300k. For accounting professionals aspiring towards jobs that pay well in treasury management, expect that you will require more than 10 years’ experience in finance, banking, accounting and/or in-house corporate treasury experience.
Other top paying roles can be found for Head of Tax (up to $400k in Sydney) and Head of Internal Audit (also up to $400k).
Sales: General Manager of Sales and Sales Director (up to $400k)
Australia’s top sales jobs earners are General Managers, particularly in the area of Consumer Goods. General Managers can earn up to $400k in Sydney and Melbourne. In IT and Telecoms sales, the Vice President of Sales can earn up to $350k.
Human Resources: Head of HR/HR Director (up to $400k)
Given how workplaces continue to transform, HR professionals are essential advisors for many organisations who 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 and $300k in other state capitals.
Construction: Construction Manager, Commercial (up to $400k)
When it comes to big buildings, a Construction Manager in Sydney can earn up to $400k, this does drop however to an upper limit of $300k in Melbourne and Brisbane. It also drops for civil construction and residential.
Property: Development Director (up to $388k)
Not far behind Sydney construction managers are property Development Directors. Development Directors can earn up to 388k in Sydney, but also in Melbourne and regional NSW. Meanwhile, Acquisitions Managers with more than four years’ experience can also earn up to $350k.
Technology: CIO (up to $375K)
While no single job breaks the $400k barrier, there is a real depth to the number of high paying IT jobs, with many roles paying over $350k.
A Chief Information Officer (CIO) can earn up to $375k, a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) up to $370k, a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) up to $360k and a Chief Data Officer up to $350k
Defence: Operations Director (up to $360K)
Thanks to an increase in defence spending by the Federal Government, the highest paying jobs in Australia’s defence sector belong to Operations Directors (up to $360k), Sales Directors (up to $350k), and Operations Consultants up to $350k. The best paying jobs tend to be in the ACT, followed by NSW.
Banking and Finance: Head of Quantitative Risk (up to $350k)
The banking and finance jobs sector has moved down this list slightly. While there are quite a few positions in the mid-300ks, these aren’t quite up with some of the other sectors that have seen top jobs rise in their upper limits.
Even so, where there is risk there seems to be reward - Head of Quantitative Risk can earn up to $350k and Head of Financial Crime – also up to $350k.
Lending can also generate high salaries, with General Manager of Lending and State Managers for Commercial Lending both earning up to $300k.
Mining: Jumbo Operator (Up to $330k)
Finally on our list is a Jumbo Operator. In WA in the mining sector, this is the job to have, earning $330k a year for operating this hi-tech piece of equipment.
Find more of Australia’s highest paying jobs
As you can see, plenty of the highest paying jobs in Australia exist across a wide range of industry sectors. Whether you’re looking to get into mining, education, retail, defence, or any other area, many roles offer competitive pay and a secure, long-term future.
For more information on which jobs pay the most in Australia download the Hays Salary Guide FY25/26. Our flagship report is full of findings pertinent to employers and candidates making smarter decisions in the world of work and offers an insightful portrait of typical salaries across 26 sectors and industries.