20 highest paying skilled trades in Australia with strong demand
Compare the highest paying trades in Australia and find the best skilled trades and tradie jobs to get into for high earnings.
Skilled trades in Australia have become surprisingly lucrative as employers eagerly seek qualified workers. Half of all occupations in the technicians and trade workers category are experiencing national shortages, while every single job in construction trade workers and food trades workers groups are facing critical shortages. This means tradies can negotiate better pay and conditions than previous generations ever imagined.
University graduates entering oversaturated office jobs tend to earn less than qualified tradies who started working straight after school. The skills shortages and infrastructure booms have created unprecedented opportunities for people willing to work with their hands.
This guide will show you which trades pay the most money, how to break into high-demand fields and what the job market looks like over the next decade.
What are the highest paying trades in Australia?
A skilled trade means you know how to do something useful with your hands that most people can’t. These jobs usually require proper training, either through an apprenticeship or technical course, plus years of experience to get really good at them. Unlike office jobs that may or may not consist of mostly emails and presentations, tradies make the world go round by keeping everyday things like electricity and plumbing running smoothly.
The best part is that construction, mining and energy companies are throwing money at skilled workers right now because they can’t find enou gh people with the right qualifications. The mining boom keeps rolling, infrastructure projects are happening everywhere and technology upgrades mean someone needs to install and maintain all the new gear.
The highest paying trades in Australia prove that you don’t need a university degree to earn real money. Skilled workers often out-earn office jobs because employers know they can’t just hire anyone off the street to repair the elevator.
The median weekly wage in Australia is $1,396 per week, which works out to about $72,000 per year. Many trade roles beat that, easy. These are the top five highest paying trades based on current median salaries:
Construction manager — $126,000
Mining & energy technician – $117,000
Telecommunications technician — $93,000
Builder — $90,000
Elevator installer/repairer — $85,000
What trade pays the highest?
Construction managers take the top spot of highest-paid trades with a median salary of $126,000 per year. That’s because these fellas need to understand both the technical side of building and the business side of keeping projects on track. The top 10% of construction managers earn over $202,000 per year, so this profession has an extremely high-income ceiling.
Here’s why construction managers get paid so much:
Project responsibility: They manage multi-million dollar projects where any mistake can cost a lot of money.
Skills shortage: There aren’t enough experienced people in Australia who have both the skills and the experience to manage these projects.
Licensing requirements: Not only do they need to get a White Card, but they also need to verify that everyone working on the project has one.
Risk management: They handle safety and quality control so the company doesn’t get sued.
Problem-solving: When something goes wrong, it’s their responsibility to fix it and make everyone happy.
Top-paying trades and their average salaries
These trades show you can make excellent money working with your hands across heaps of different industries. From traditional building work to high-tech equipment maintenance, skilled tradies are cashing in on strong demand and limited supply of qualified workers. These are the highest paying tradie jobs in Australia as of 2025:
Trade | Median salary (AUD) | Why it pays well |
Construction manager | $126,000 | They oversee million-dollar construction sites where mistakes cost lots of money and delays anger everyone involved. |
Mining & energy technician | $117,000 | Remote mining sites pay premium wages to attract workers willing to live away from cities and operate dangerous specialised equipment. |
Telecommunications technician | $93,000 | This incredibly important infrastructure work keeps the internet running. Plus, the tech changes all the time so they need ongoing training. |
Builder | $90,000 | Experienced builders can start their own companies and take on multiple projects simultaneously to multiply their earning potential. |
Elevator installer/repairer | $85,000 | Few people understand the highly complex mechanical and electrical systems that keep elevators running safely in high-rise buildings. |
Electrician (industrial/mining) | $81,000 | Working with high-voltage electricity in mines and factories pays well because you or someone else could get injured if you work improperly. |
Boilermaker/welder | $79,000 | Mining companies need people who can weld massive equipment that can’t break down during operations. |
Plumber (including gas fitter) | $77,000 | Everyone needs their water and gas systems fixed from time to time, plus emergency plumbing on weekends pays heaps because people are desperate. |
Dental hygienist | $72,000 | Healthcare jobs pay well because people tend to prioritise their health. |
Chef/cook | $72,000 | Good chefs who can run busy kitchens without everything falling apart are worth their weight in gold to restaurant owners. |
Air conditioning & refrigeration mechanic | $71,000 | Modern air con systems are complicated and most people have no idea how to fix them when they break. |
Glazier | $70,000 | Installing glass properly in modern buildings takes real skill and one mistake can cost thousands in broken materials. |
Carpenter | $69,000 | Good carpenters can work on anything from house frames to custom furniture so there’s always work available. |
Jeweller | $69,000 | Making custom jewellery requires artistic talent and deep expertise in the rare stones that make pieces priceless. |
Automotive technician | $62,000 | Cars are basically computers on wheels now and most people can’t figure out what’s wrong when a single dashboard icon lights up. |
Farrier | $61,000 | Horse owners have money and there aren’t many people who know how to shoe horses properly. |
Hairdresser/beauty therapist | $60,000 | Building a loyal client base means repeat customers. If you have enough to open your own salon, then the sky’s the limit. |
Cabinet maker | $59,000 | Custom kitchens and built-in furniture cost a lot of money because people value handmade quality over IKEA. |
Locksmith | $57,000 | People pay well for security work and emergency lockouts because they’re stuck and need help immediately. |
Landscape designer/horticulturist | $55,000 | Wealthy homeowners and business owners are willing to pay for a nice garden. |
*All salaries sourced from PayScale AU.
Best skilled trades to get into right now
Picking the best trade comes down to more than just who’s making the most money right now. You want something that’ll still be relevant in 20 years, won’t destroy your body, that gives you a decent work-life balance. The best skilled trades have great earning potential, job security, growth opportunities and the flexibility to work on your own terms without a manager breathing down your neck all day.
That’s why it’s important to think about automation risks, physical demands and whether you can eventually run your own business. Some trades let you set your own schedule, work from home or travel between different projects. Others offer steady employment with minimal stress once you’ve got the skills sorted. You need to take some time to figure out what’s most important to you before choosing a trade.
All things considered, these are the five best trades to get into right now:
Telecommunications technician: Future-proof work installing internet infrastructure that everyone depends on. There’s minimal physical strain compared to other tradie roles that come with a toll.
Air conditioning technician: Climate change means more demand every year as summers get hotter. Emergency callouts during heatwaves pay premium rates and you can easily run your own business once qualified.
Electrician: They’re always in demand because everything runs on electricity these days. You can specialise in residential, commercial or industrial work.
Plumber: Recession-proof work because people always need water and sewage systems. This is a perfect job if you’re interested in running your own business and setting your own hours once established.
Builder/construction manager: These roles have a very high earning potential with opportunities to run crews or start your own company. Every job brings different challenges and locations, so you’re never doing the same thing over and over again.
Best entry-level trades
Entry-level trades let you start making decent money while you’re still learning, usually through apprenticeships where someone pays you to gain skills. These trades have reasonable entry requirements and don’t need years of study before you can start working.
These are the top five tradie jobs with no experience:
Learn practical skills on the job while earning money, with variety from framing houses to building custom furniture. Skills transfer across different construction projects, so you’re never locked into one type of work.
Automotive technician: Apprenticeships are available at most repair shops. Cars keep getting more complex with hybrid engines and computer systems, which means the work stays interesting.
Landscape gardner: Low barriers to entry with the potential to start your own business using minimal startup capital. Working outdoors is another benefit that many office workers can only dream of.
Chef/cook: Learn while working in busy kitchens that teach you to handle pressure and work efficiently. Cooking skills transfer between different types of restaurants, so you don’t have to stay at the same place forever.
Glazier: These are specialised skills with less competition than other building trades because not a lot of people know how to install glass properly. Think of all the skyscrapers going up in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. That could be you installing some of those glass panels.
Best advanced/licensed trades
Advanced trades require more training upfront but come with considerably better job security and higher pay. Plus, you can usually work fully independently once you’re qualified. These are the top five best advanced trades:
Elevator technician: Not many people know how to fix elevators so there’s barely any competition for the work. Buildings with lifts need constant maintenance and safety checks, which means there’s steady work that pays well and keeps people safe.
Mining technician: Mining companies pay huge money to get skilled workers to remote sites where they operate expensive equipment. Australia’s resource industry keeps growing and there’s no slowing down in sight.
Dental hygienist: Many love healthcare work because it comes with normal business hours and clean working conditions that don’t destroy your body.
Boilermaker/welder: Big infrastructure projects and mining operations need specialised welding work, which opens the door to high-paying industrial jobs.
Telecommunications engineer: They design and install complex network systems for businesses and government that need reliable communication.
Pathways to enter high-paying trades
One of the biggest benefits of getting into a skilled trade is that you don’t need to spend years in university before you make a single dime. Since the work is hands-on by nature, most tradies learn by doing, which means they can start to make money as soon as they start training.
Of people aged 15–74 years who work as apprentices or trainees, 26% are employed in construction followed by 21% in electrotechnology and telecommunications. That’s almost half in just two trades alone. Even better, 93% of new apprentices find unsubsidised jobs within three months of completing their training, proving that proper qualifications lead to employment.
Here are the main pathways into high-paying trades:
Apprenticeships through employers: This is the traditional route where you work and learn simultaneously while earning money. Builders Academy helps connect students with employers who value properly trained apprentices rather than just cheap labour.
Pre-apprenticeship courses: Get basic skills before starting an apprenticeship to make yourself more attractive to employers. Builders Academy has foundation courses that teach safety, tools and basic techniques.
Government initiatives: Apprenticeship subsidies and training vouchers reduce costs for both employees and students. Many programs specifically target skills shortage areas like construction and electrical work.
Formal qualifications through RTOs: Builders Academy provides nationally recognised certificates and diplomas that employers respect. Our courses combine theory with hands-on practice using industry-standard equipment.
Specialised qualifications: Add-on qualifications like working from heights or operating special equipment can increase your value to employers.
Future outlook for trades in Australia
Australia’s infrastructure demands are creating massive opportunities for skilled tradies over the next decade. The country’s infrastructure workforce needs to grow by 127% to meet current project demands, while trades and labourer shortages are growing at the fastest rate and will remain high at least through 2025. It’s expected that the labour shortage for trades will be 74,000 in early 2026.
Renewable energy projects are exploding across the country, with a six-fold increase planned over the next five years. The value of renewable energy construction work jumped from $774.6 million in March 2021 to $2,385 billion by June 2024. Form 2025 to 2050, about 64,200 workers will be needed just for construction jobs, plus another 129,600 jobs to support ongoing operations and maintenance of all the new infrastructure.
Electricians are winning big from this renewable boom. One in five renewable energy jobs are for electricians, making them the biggest beneficiaries of this green energy transition. Solar installations, wind farms and battery storage projects all need qualified sparkies who understand traditional electrical work and new renewable technologies.
But regular building work won’t go away. People still need houses, roads still need to be built and fixed, whilst more and more cities continue to invest in transit infrastructure. Whether you want to be a builder, a plumber or a heavy machinery operator, there will be plenty of work for you in the future.
FAQs
What is the easiest high-paying trade to learn?
Telecommunications technician is probably the easiest to learn while still paying well. Basic cable installation and internet setup doesn’t require years of training and you can make good money quickly.
Which trade is the happiest?
Carpenters are consistently considered some of the happiest workers because their job includes a lot of art. Making things with wood is equal parts science and art, so these workers tend to find a lot of joy in what they do.
Can you make six figures in a trade?
Yes you can absolutely make six figures in a trade. Construction managers regularly earn over $126,000, while mining technicians, specialised welders and elevator technicians all have a median salary in the six-figure range.
Do tradies in Australia earn more than university graduates?
Many experienced tradies out-earn university graduates, especially when you factor in that many end up owning their own business.
How long does it take to qualify in a trade?
Most apprenticeships take 3–4 years to complete, but you earn money throughout this time. Some trades like telecommunications or landscaping can get you working on your own after a few months, while others like elevator repair need more extensive training.
Which trades offer the most job security?
Plumbing, electrical and construction are the trades with the best job security because people always nee these services regardless of the economy.
What are some low-stress trade jobs?
Locksmith work is relatively low-stress with regular hours. Jewellery making and cabinet making are also very peaceful jobs.
Stop thinking, start building
The highest paying trades offer great money, but the best long-term career is the one that suits your lifestyle the best. A plumber working regular hours and running their own business could be happier than a mining technician earning more money but working fly-in-fly-out rosters away from family.
Think about what matters beyond the pay. Outdoor work or indoor environments? Regular hours or shift work? Physical labour or technical problem-solving? The trade matching your personality and life goals can keep you satisfied well into the future.
Stop overthinking and start exploring Builders Academy’s nationally recognised courses to find training that matches your interests and career goals.