Highest paying trades in Australia: Top jobs & salary guide

Australia is a great place to get on the tools. High demand means ample opportunity, while generous salaries let blue-collar workers earn a comfy living.

Don’t believe we’ve got it sweet? Just ask one of the countless Kiwis who move here each year to find work.

But some gigs pay better than others Down Under. If optimising income is a priority, it’s worth researching the best-paying trades in Australia. We’ve got you covered in this post.

Table of contents
What does a trade job mean in AU? Benefits Drawbacks Highest-paying trade jobs in Australia Can AU businesses hire overseas trade workers? Wise Business: Global payments made simple FAQs

What does a trade job mean?

If you’re new to Australia and still learning the lingo, a “trade” is a practical, hands-on profession that requires building, repairing, or replacing things–think plumbing or carpentry. The tradesperson, or “tradie” in our laidback lexicon, refers to the worker, not the profession.

Most trades in Australia fall within the construction, mining, manufacturing or automotive repair sectors. Instead of studying for a uni degree, kickstarting a career usually involves a TAFE certificate and an apprenticeship. The latter is a competency-based, on-the-job training program that pays you to learn.

Benefits of being a tradie in Australia

Here are some of the advantages of being a trader in Australia:

• Job security: The Australian Government invests heavily in infrastructure. Couple that with a lucrative mining sector and an ongoing housing boom, and tradies have no shortage of work.
• Practical learning: No need to suffer through years of mind-numbing academic theory or cram for gruelling university exams. Budding tradies can sign up for an apprenticeship to learn their chosen trade using a practical, hands-on approach.
• Paid training: Aussie apprentices receive a salary, albeit a modest one. But compared to uni students, who must pay course fees and cover living costs, it’s still a pretty sweet deal.
• High average incomes: Tradies, on average, make pretty good crust in Australia. After finishing an apprenticeship, it’s not hard to make an honest living as a tradie.
• Opportunities to start a business: Once they've learned the ropes, many tradies start a business or become self-employed. Despite the risks and erratic earnings, this approach can prove highly profitable.
• Healthy lifestyles: Sitting is the new smoking, with sedentary lifestyles leading to problems like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Tradies combat this with plenty of physical activity throughout the normal course of a day.

Drawbacks of being a tradie

However, being a trader in Australia also has its disadvantages, such as:

• Risk of injury: Despite Australia’s strict safety standards, tradies suffer more injuries than office-dwellers. Repetitive strain and musculoskeletal disorders can lead to conditions such as chronic back pain and arthritis.
• Exposure to the elements: Australia’s scorching summers (and cold winters in some areas) can make working outdoors a little bit testing at times.
• Limited career mobility: While tradies out-earn others early in their careers, these jobs tend to plateau sooner than corporate positions.
• Hard yakka: Long hours can strain relationships, while tough, physically demanding schedules can lead to exhaustion, even after hours.

Highest-paying trade jobs in Australia

Here are some of the top-paying trades in Australia according to SEEK¹. The popular Aussie employment website calculated average annual full-time and annualised hourly wages from job vacancies over a three-month period.

Real wages can vary significantly based on the industry, employer, and your experience.

Miners

As the “engine room” of the Australian economy, our mining sector forms a large chunk of the national GDP. Most miners operate heavy machinery, drilling, blasting, and digging through the earth to expose minerals like coal, aluminium, and iron. Mine sites also need regular tradies, from carpenters to diesel mechanics and electricians.

As these roles are often fly-in/fly-out (FIFO), companies pay good money to attract workers to remote locations. However, many employees complain about burnout and time spent away from their families.

Average salary: $125,000 to $145,000 per year

Boilermaker

Boilermakers use heavy-duty welding and cutting equipment to build or repair boilers, tanks, and other metallic structures. A combination of engineering and welding, the role requires following blueprints to fabricate and assemble complex industrial products.

The profession pays well because there’s quite a lot to learn, and it requires strict adherence to safety regulations and well-honed problem-solving skills.

Average salary: $105,000 to $125,000 per year

Electrician

The electrician, colloquially known as a “sparkie,” installs and maintains electrical systems in residential and commercial buildings. Everyday tasks span running cables and wiring, diagnosing faults, and replacing switchboards.

The job suits technically minded workers with an interest in math and critical thinking. Downsides include the potential for injury and working in harsh, cramped conditions, such as residential crawlspaces.

Average salary: $90,000 to $110,000 per year

Rigger

A key player in shipyards, mines and construction sites, the rigger operates cranes to manoeuvre equipment, machinery and materials safely. The worker uses a complex system of winches and pulleys to perform heavy-lifting tasks, such as assembling scaffolding and removing large concrete blocks.

The job requires excellent hand-eye coordination, the ability to remain cool under pressure, and strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Average salary: $95,000 to $115,000 per year

Plumber

If you’re not squeamish, working as a plumber can earn you a respectable wage in Australia. In addition to unblocking toilets, the profession involves repairing pipes and fixtures, and installing water, drainage, or sewerage systems. Many plumbers also work with natural gas, servicing hot water systems and appliances like stovetop ovens.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required to read blueprints and troubleshoot solutions. There’s always plenty of work in the residential and commercial sectors.

Average salary: $75,000 to $95,000 per year

Welder

Welders use specialist equipment and techniques to fuse metal parts together for various industries, namely automotive, construction, and manufacturing. While a boilermaker performs a wide range of tasks, the welder focuses exclusively on the fusion of metal.

A large part of the job involves welding metal plates over a hole to repair the surface. It’s a demanding job, so good physical strength, patience, and hand-eye coordination are required.

Average salary: $75,000 to $85,000 per year

Carpenter

Also known as a “chippie,” the carpenter builds and repairs all things wooden–think housing frames, fittings, and furniture. Everyday tasks range from installing skirting boards to erecting frameworks and treating wooden fixtures.

Good carpenters have a keen eye, with the ability to accurately measure, shape, and cut every time. Physical stamina is a plus as the role requires plenty of heavy lifting and sawing. Heaps of work is available for carpenters doing construction, renovation, and shopfitting projects.

Can Australian businesses hire overseas trade workers?

A business owner who can’t find a suitable local candidate can hire an overseas worker in Australia. That worker must be a non-citizen with a work permit, or a sponsored skilled worker.²

The most common visas with work rights include the Student visa (subclass 500), Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), and Working Holiday visa.

Employers can sponsor skilled workers residing overseas or who are already in Australia.

It’s the employer's responsibility to ensure all employees have legal working rights. Depending on the visa, restrictions may apply to the number of fortnightly hours worked, the length of employment with one employer, and the occupation type.²

Wise Business: Global payments made simple

With the high demand for skilled tradespeople across mining and construction, many Australian business owners are looking beyond borders to fill critical roles. However, managing payroll for international staff or paying overseas suppliers for specialized equipment often comes with high banking fees and inflated exchange rates.

Wise Business helps solve this by providing a way to make global payments at the mid-market rate. This allows you to pay overseas contractors or settle invoices in multiple local currencies without the hidden costs usually associated with traditional banks.

Wise Business helps streamline overseas business payments without foreign transaction fees, saving up to 3x compared to other providers.

• Free to register — Send money to 140+ currencies with no hidden exchange rate markups
• Make up to 1,000 transfers at once with the Wise batch payments feature
• Fast, low-cost payouts to customers, freelancers, employees, investors, and suppliers globally
• Automate invoice payments, recurring transfers, and international payroll
• Fast and fully secure payments through Wise, even for large amounts

Tired of hidden fees and complex processes when making overseas payments?

Start sending with a Wise Business account! 🚀

This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you.

---

FAQs

1. Do I need to go to university to get a high-paying trade job?
   Nope. Most trades in Australia require a TAFE Certificate and an apprenticeship, which can take anywhere from one to four years.

2. Can I get a trade job in Australia on a work visa?
   Yes. Overseas workers in Australia with an appropriate work visa can generally get a job in the trades. However, they must comply with all visa restrictions and have the appropriate certifications to undertake their work.

3. What are the best states for finding trade work?
   All states in Australia need more tradies. However, if maximising income is the main goal, Western Australia and Queensland have the most opportunities in the mining sector.

---

Sources:

1. The highest-paying trades in Australia
2. Hiring an overseas worker