Highest Paying Trades in Australia (2026)
The highest paying trades in Australia include automotive electrician, metal fitter and machinist, and electrician, based on median full-time weekly earnings published by Jobs and Skills Australia. Every trade on this list starts the same way: a paid apprenticeship that leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
Below we rank the best paying trades 1300apprentice recruits for by what qualified workers earn, and show you where to start each one. If you want to know what you earn while you train, see apprentice salaries by trade.
Highest Paying Trades in Australia, Ranked
| Rank | Trade | Median weekly earnings (full time) | People employed | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive electricians | $2,808 | 10,400 | Automotive apprenticeships |
| 2 | Metal fitters and machinists | $2,606 | 119,900 | Engineering mechanical trade |
| 3 | Electricians | $2,191 | 197,300 | Electrician apprenticeship |
| 4 | Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics | $2,100 | 29,700 | Air conditioning and refrigeration |
| 5 | Telecommunications trades workers | $2,060 | 15,800 | Telecommunications apprenticeship |
| 6 | Plumbers | $1,990 | 107,600 | Plumbing apprenticeship |
| 7 | Electronics trades workers | $1,882 | 31,600 | Electronics and communications |
| 8 | Plasterers (wall and ceiling lining) | $1,841 | 31,600 | Wall and ceiling lining |
| 9 | Carpenters and joiners | $1,760 | 149,600 | Carpentry apprenticeship |
| 10 | Structural steel and welding trades workers | $1,688 | 79,100 | Engineering fabrication |
| 11 | Motor mechanics | $1,622 | 112,600 | Automotive apprenticeships |
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, median weekly earnings for full-time employees before tax (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). Figures are for qualified workers, not apprentice rates.
What Is the Highest Paying Trade in Australia?
Of the trades 1300apprentice recruits for, automotive electricians have the highest median earnings at $2,808 a week, followed by metal fitters and machinists at $2,606. Electricians come third at $2,191 a week, but they are by far the largest trade on the list, with 197,300 people employed and the strongest employment growth.
The Highest Paying Trades in Detail
1. Automotive Electrician
Auto electricians install, diagnose and repair the electrical and electronic systems in vehicles, from starting and charging systems to engine management and high-voltage systems. Explore our automotive apprenticeships.
2. Metal Fitter and Machinist
Fitters and machinists assemble and dismantle components and operate machinery to cut and shape metal. The pathway is the Certificate III in Engineering Mechanical Trade.
3. Electrician
Electricians install, test and maintain wiring, switchboards and electrical equipment in homes, businesses and industrial sites. It takes around four years through an electrical apprenticeship, and Electrician (General) is on the 2026 Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. See how to become an electrician.
4. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics install, maintain and repair air conditioning and refrigeration systems, including their electrical components and refrigerant handling. Start with the Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.
5. Telecommunications Technician
Telecommunications technicians install and maintain the copper and fibre cabling and network equipment behind phone and data systems. Start with the Certificate III in Telecommunications Technology.
6. Plumber
Plumbers install and maintain water, drainage, gas and sanitary systems, and the trade has strong employment growth. Start with the Certificate III in Plumbing or read about plumbing apprentice wages.
What Makes a Trade Pay More?
Award rates are only the minimum, and allowances, overtime and penalty rates add to them. Under the electrical award, for example, qualified electricians receive an industry allowance and an electrician’s licence allowance on top of the base rate, and leading hands receive an additional leading hand allowance.
How to Start a High Paying Trade
Every trade on this list starts with an apprenticeship. With 1300apprentice, we employ you directly, place you with a host employer and pay your wages, superannuation and training fees while you qualify. No experience is needed to apply, and there is no upper age limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest paying trade in Australia?
The highest paying trade in Australia among the trades we recruit for is automotive electrician, with median full-time earnings of $2,808 a week according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Metal fitters and machinists ($2,606) and electricians ($2,191) follow.
Is electrician a high paying trade?
Electrician is a high paying trade, with median full-time earnings of $2,191 a week according to Jobs and Skills Australia. It is also the largest trade in Australia, with 197,300 people employed, which means steady demand for qualified electricians.
Do apprentices earn the same as qualified tradespeople?
Apprentices do not earn the same as qualified tradespeople, because apprentice award rates are a percentage of the qualified rate that rises each year of the apprenticeship. See apprentice salaries by trade and our electrical apprentice wages guide for current rates.
Which trades are in highest demand?
Electrician (General) is on the 2026 Australian Apprenticeships Priority List, and electricians had the strongest employment growth of the trades in this guide, adding 7,200 workers a year according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Plumbers and carpenters also recorded strong growth.
