SEEK reveals highest paying tradie jobs in the country

With a relatively high salary, good job security and less time and money spent on further education, a career in the trades is becoming more attractive for many Australians.

During the year ending February 2024, one of the industries that saw the most growth was construction, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with 104,500 people joining its workforce.

This was on top of the 133,000 people who joined the construction industry in the year ending February 2023.

The industry’s continued popularity is no surprise, according to SEEK, which said one of the biggest benefits was the potential to earn a high income without a university education.

“Trade apprenticeships mean you’re able to enter the workforce much quicker than if you followed a university pathway,” the online employment company said.

Some of the best-paying jobs in the industry have salaries over $100,000 per year, with SEEK compiling a list of the highest paying tradie jobs in the country right now.

Managerial roles topped the list, with construction managers earning between $190,000 to $210,000 on average per year.

Construction managers oversee operations on building projects, and usually have extensive experience in the industry as well as a degree in construction, SEEK said.

The next highest paying job is a site manager, who earns on average between $130,000 to $150,000 a year.

Site managers work for the job site contractor and ensure the project meets its contract requirements.

Miners round out the top three highest paying trades jobs, earning between $120,000 to $140,000 a year.

One of the country’s biggest economic sectors, mining “continues to offer job security and high earning potential for workers”, SEEK said.

A trade-off is that miners often have to live in rural locations and sometimes have to adhere to the fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) lifestyle.

While a bachelor’s degree and a trade apprenticeship both take around three to four years to complete, the benefit of an apprenticeship is that you can earn an income while learning, SEEK said.

The hands-on learning and on-the-job training offered is often more attractive for those who did not thrive in a typical classroom setting.

“Trades are one of the most in-demand job sectors in Australia, offering plenty of options across the country,” SEEK said.

“An increased need for infrastructure, a continued focus on mining, and ongoing development in urban centres is fuelling this demand.”

The highest paid tradie jobs in Australia

• Construction manager - $190,000 to $210,000 per year
• Site manager - $130,000 to $150,000 a year
• Miner - $120,000 to $140,000 a year
• Boilermaker - $115,000 to $135,000 a year
• Rigger - $95,000 to $115,000 a year
• Electrician - $90,000 to $110,000 a year
• Jeweller - $75,000 to $100,000 a year
• Plumber - $75,000 to $95,000 a year
• Welder - 75,000 to $85,000 a year
• Carpenter - $65,000 to $85,000 a year