1. Legal: Equity Partner  ($850,000)

It takes considerable time and dedication to become an equity partner in a law firm but the pay, once you get there, is considerable. Equity partners in top private practices in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney report average salaries of more than $500,000, with Sydney topping the list at $850,000 plus.

Meanwhile, a salaried partner typically earns above $400,000 in Sydney.

2. Executive: CEO and MD ($700,000)

If you’re a CEO or managing director at a company with a turnover between $50 million and $500 million, you can earn up to $700,000.

Similarly, for chief operating officers and executive general managers, incomes are typically between $500,000 and $600,000.

Hays notes that CEOs need to be top performers across a range of areas, including organisational strategy, organisational alignment, external stakeholder relations and board engagement.

3. Accountancy & Finance: Head of Treasury ($510,000)

Heads of Treasury have some of the top-paying jobs in Australia in the realm of accounting and finance, with the average pay for a head of Treasury in Sydney coming in at $510,000.

Meanwhile, head of tax, head of risk and head of internal audit can earn up to $400,000, while group financial controllers can earn up to $315,000 in organisations with turnover exceeding $300 million. A senior commercial manager/director, meanwhile, can take home up to $300,000 a year.

4. Logistics and Procurement: Chief Procurement Officers ($450,000)

Logistics and procurement is another sector with high earning potential. Chief procurement officers can earn up to $450,000, while supply chain directors make up to $260,000.

5. Human Resources: Head of HR ($400,000)

Demand for skilled and experienced HR professionals has grown in recent years, with heads of HR or HR directors in organisations with more than 1,000 employees typically earning up to $400,000 in Sydney.

Average annual typical salaries are also high for HR managers at large organisations, coming in at between $150,000 $220,000.

6. Property: Development Director ($388,000)

As Hays notes, jobs with the highest salary in Australia’s property sector—outside of the c-suite— include development directors, who can earn up to $388,000 in Sydney, while project directors can make up to $300,000.

Meanwhile, someone in acquisitions, with more than four years’ experience, can earn up to $380,000.

7. Sustainability: Project Development Director ($357,000)

Demand for experienced sustainability professionals continues to rise, with project development directors now earning up to $357,000, while heads of sustainability or ESG earn up $330,000 in Western Australia or Sydney. Meanwhile, sustainability managers can earn up to $250,00.

8. Mining: Jumbo Operators ($330,000)

You don’t necessarily need to be a knowledge worker to bring home a hefty pay packet. Jumbo operators, specialising in heavy excavator operations, can earn up to $330,000, making it one of the highest-paying roles in the mining industry.

9. Construction: Construction Manager ($320,000)

The construction sector has been facing some supply challenges over the last two years, but there remain many in-demand and high-paying roles. Construction managers are the highest paid at between $250,000 and $320,000, while project managers take home $160,000 to $250,000.

Senior estimators earn $120,000 to $200,000, while site managers and design managers are on between $140,000 and $200,000 and $180,000 and $240,000 respectively.

10. Technology: Project Director ($280,000)

Hays notes that tech salaries traditionally run on two tracks: pay brackets that increase steadily over time and those that spike exponentially.  While there are many roles in tech that command average salaries between $150,000 to $200,000, managers earn more than this.

The typical salary earners in leadership positions are based in Sydney and include data architects and software development managers on up to $250,000, while project directors in projects and change management earn between $240,000 and $280,000.