23 Nov 2014

“Find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

We don’t know who said that, but we don’t think they had a clue what they were talking about.

Find a job you love and you will enjoy your work – but you still have to get out of bed early, do what your boss tells you and learn all the acronyms of the trade (unless, of course, you manage to find a career where someone pays you to sit on a beach drinking pina coladas all day – please let us know).

Most people would be pretty keen on landing a high-paying job. A job like that can help keep your wallet full of pocket money and may even make it easier to put some funds aside for retirement – and therefore potentially allow you to retire a little earlier.

Here are some of the highest-paid jobs in Australia right now, and what you’d need to study to get into them.

1. Make a mint in Mining

As of May 2012, there were approximately 276,300 Australians working in mining, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). ABS also tells us that the average weekly total cash earnings for the top 10% of employees in the industry is $2,388.20. A WEEK.

Once you’re in the industry with some experience up your potentially filthy sleeves – you’re in. But it’s getting that booted foot in the door that’s the hard part. Mining People International, an Aussie-based website dedicated to recruiting for the industry, says there is no simple path to make it, but there are a few courses you can take that will make a big impact on your CV.

A current drivers licence and a truck licence could go a long way, and those interested in trade-based roles could check out the courses available at MARCSTA (Mining and Resource Contractors Safety Training Association).

That failing, even basic experience as a cleaner, hospo worker or other entry roles at the mines could be enough to get you in, suggests Mining Australia.

More info on Mining here.

2. Healthy bank balances in Health

Ever undergone surgery and wondered why that bill was so high? Next time, look to your anaesthetist, who could be earning an average of $124.10 per hour, according to ABS. General practitioners, physicians and dentists all regularly rank in top 10 lists for earnings as well.

If your favourite game as a kid was doctors and nurses (or maybe it still is, we’re not judging), and you don’t mind spending the next multiple years in further study, this sector could be for you. This will generally involve a bachelor’s degree with courses in organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics and English. Follow that up with attendance at a medical school, then experience in the field. Training for a medical profession is the long game – but worth it once you’ve made it!

More info on Health Services here.

3. Do it in Public

If you’re not sure which sector you want to get into, remember that in general, public jobs get paid more than private ones.

Those working in the public sector (basically any jobs where the salary is covered by the tax payer) make up just under 20% of all employees in Australia, so these jobs may be a little harder to come by than the 80% of private sector jobs. ABS stats state that public workers earn on average a weekly $1,321.90 – while those in the private sector earn a weekly average of $1,074.20.

Studies for these areas can involve anything from management and communications to customer service and bus driving – anything the government needs doing, you can get in there and potentially do it for more cash than you would in the private sector. In this case, you can pick out courses that interest you at uni. Since there’s such an array of areas you can head into, the main thing is to get something to put on your CV that will make you stand out, such as a relevant degree or diploma, or even volunteer work.

Getting a high paying job not only helps your wallet in the present – it could also lead to a stronger superannuation pot when you decide to hang up the boots. That is because, on top of your regular wage, employers must contribute an additional Superannuation Guarantee contribution of 9.5% (since 1 July 2014) to your super fund, for you to access at retirement.

If you could get paid top dollar for any job in the world, what would you chose? Whatever it might be, we’re here to help you take the first steps in the right direction.