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 FY26/27, 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 2025–26 financial year
Find out who topped the list:
- Surgeon $472,475 (up $12,119)
- Anaesthetists $447,193 (up $16,000)
- Financial dealer $355,233 (down $18,500)
- Internal medicine specialist $342,457 (up $1,728)
- Psychiatrist $286,146 (up $9,601)
- Other medical practitioners $259,802 (up $4,048)
- Mining engineer $206,423 (down $7,942)
- Judicial or other legal professional $206,408 (up $1,474)
- Chief executive officer or managing director $194,987 (down $2,733)
- Financial investment advisor or manager $191,986 (up $6,152)
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.
The ten Highest Paying Jobs in Australia 2026/27 (Hays Salary Guide)
Along with the latest market insights and trends, Hays Salary Guide FY26/27 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, ACT, and Western Australia.
1. Legal - Equity Partner (up to $850K+)
Having an ownership stake in the legal industry creates a high ceiling but isn’t without risk.
- Equity partners in Australia earn an average of $710K+, but the upper range stretches significantly.
- NSW has the highest pay ceiling at $850K+, but other states are still reasonably solid with VIC/QLD at $800K+ and WA/ACT at $550K+.
- Equity partners are typically excluded from conventional superannuation arrangements, so while the base salary is high, the comprehensive package may be a little more limited.
Success factors
Consistent, loyal service and demonstrable impact can go a long way in becoming an Equity Partner.
Equity Partners must also demonstrate the ability to"
- Develop strong client relationships that generate consistent revenue
- Make high level business and administration decisions
- Cultivate a strong strategic vision that aligns with the company values
2. Executive - CEO and MD in large commercial organisations (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+.
- COO/EGMs and CFO/FDs also typically earn $600k+ in large companies.
- 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.
3. Accountancy - Head of Treasury (up to $510k)
The accountancy and finance sector has some of the top paying jobs in Australia.
- The spread between the NSW ceiling ($510k) and the national average ($274k) is the largest ceiling-to-average gap, driven almost entirely by the Sydney market premium.
- Head of Tax and Head of Internal Audit sit within the same sector, making senior finance leadership broadly well-compensated in major markets.
- Accounting and finance is expected to see above-average pay rises in FY26/27 - +0.9 percentage points above the 3.8% national mean.
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:
- Advanced knowledge of capital markets
- Cash flow forecasting capability
- Risk management and compliance expertise
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.
- The Head of HR in a Sydney organisation can earn up to $400K, with a national average typical closer to $256K, demonstrating the concentration of NSW-based organisations.
- This upper limit drops to $350K in Perth, $260K in Melbourne, and between 220K-250K for all other state capitals.
- Demand for the position has intensified in a market where hybrid work, IR reform and enterprise changes are creating a new landscape.
Success factors
Demand for experienced HR professionals has intensified, with skill requirements including:
- Strong knowledge of employment law
- Strategic talent acquisition and workforce planning
- Diversity, equity and inclusion expertise
5. Sales - General Manager of Sales (up to $400k)
From consumer goods to IT, senior sales jobs offer six-figure pay for those able to deliver results.
- Sydney and Melbourne are joint-highest at $325k typical (with a ceiling of $400K+); Brisbane’s typical is $280k; SA and WA sit at $260k; ACT and TAS hit $240k; and NT marks $220k.
- VP of Sales in IT & Telco averages $249k nationally, making sales leadership the only non-executive sector with two distinct roles averaging above $240k across all states.
- The $105k premium between the NT floor and the Sydney/Melbourne ceiling reflects the concentration of FMCG head-office functions in Australia's two largest cities.
Success factors
High-performing sales leaders must excel in:
- Revenue growth and delivery
- Team leadership on a large scale
- Strong market analysis and strategy
6. Banking and Finance - Head of Quantitative Risk (up to $400K)
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.
- In terms of averages, NSW ($300K) and VIC ($275K) lead; QLD follows $250K; and SA, WA and ACT range between $220K–$230K. The role is heavily concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, reflecting where Australia's major financial institutions are headquartered.
- Head of Financial Crime / AML closely tracks at $255k in NSW and $275k in VIC — making specialist risk and compliance the most consistently premium function within banking.
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 and risk modelling
- Strong understanding of compliance and regulation
7. Construction - Commercial Management (up to $400K)
Commercial construction continues to be one of the highest-paying career paths in Australia’s building sector.
- Sydney Sydney Commercial Construction Managers earn up to $400k, while the national average hits $229K with a typical ceiling of $300K.
- Civil and residential project managers earn materially less at equivalent seniority; commercial remains the clear premium tier within the construction sector.
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 management and negotiation expertise
- Managing teams across multiple worksites
8. Technology - CIO (up to $375K)
Australia’s high-demand technology sector offers some of the most consistent six-figure salaries for senior IT executives.
- Chief AI Officer debuts in FY26/27 at $350k national — structurally above CIO/CTO. Head of AI earns $300k typical nationally. CTO tracks at $255k average.
- Technology is one of the only sectors with a dedicated AI leadership sub-category introduced in this edition, signalling structural demand rather than a passing trend.
Success factors
A background in computer science or a related field, combined with extensive experience in management roles, supports progression towards top tech jobs. IT professionals at this level also need advanced leadership in:
- AI strategy and security experience
- Cloud transformation
- Data governance and cybersecurity
9. Defence - Sales Director (up to $350K)
Increased Federal Government investment in defence has created strong demand for senior leaders.
- ACT leads at $320k typical but has a ceiling of $350k+; while NSW, QLD and VIC each land on average at $300k; SA at $250k; and WA at $200k.
- Defence Sales Director is one of the most reliable high-income roles outside the top two sectors, with consistent averages across the three largest eastern states.
- The numbers in Canberra reflect the concentration of federal defence procurement in ACT.
Success factors
High performing Defence Sales Directors need proficiency in:
- Compliance frameworks and risk management
- Contract negotiation and procurement
- Large scale project delivery and logistics
10. Mining - Registered Mine Manager (Up to $300k)
The mining sector remains one of Australia’s most lucrative industries, particularly for those operating hi-tech equipment.
- WA consistently tops the list at $300k, with other states averaging between $215k (TAS)+ to $280k+ (QLD).
- The Jumbo Operator role in WA reaches $312k typical, which places it as the highest single-state typical of any non-executive, non-legal role in the guide, but it averages at only $237k nationally - placing Mine Manager higher on the national average metric.
Success factors
Adaptability and problem-solving are essential for success in mining industry roles. Additional necessary skills include:
- Technical certification and safety compliance knowledge
- Site management experience at scale
- FIFO operations management
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 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 FY26/27 for detailed insights into thousands of roles and job trends across the country.