Aussies with jobs in mining make almost $65 an hour on average working a 42.5 week meaning they rake in a whopping $2744 for just five days work, new research has revealed.
The second biggest earners in the country are tradies and other staff in the electricity, gas, water and waste services space who score a $53 an hour payday for a 36.7 week meaning they take home $1951, according to analysis by fintech company Finder.
But it you’re looking to rack up just 33 hours a week and still get paid $50 an hour, a job in the information media and telecommunications industry could earn you $1730 a week.
Meanwhile, those in financial and insurance services also scored $50 an hour for working 35.8 hour weeks with $1819 landing in their bank account each week.
However, if you want to earn the big bucks forget retail which averages just $29 an hour or accommodation and food services and arts and recreation both of which have an hourly rate of $31 and arts and recreation, recording the lowest paid industries in Australia.
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Other big earners include public administration and safety professionals who score $49 an hour alongside people in professional, scientific and technical services.
Construction also pays well with an average hourly rate of $46 and almost 35 hours meaning they take home $1604 a week.
Meanwhile, transport, postal and warehousing employees earn $45 an hour, while education and training sits at $43 an hour.
But Finder personal finance expert Kylie Purcell said it’s not always as easy as just switching to a higher-paying industry, especially if you love what you do.
“Those in dangerous or highly skilled industries typically get paid more per hour. But if you’re not happy with your wage, don’t quit just yet,” she advised.
“Remember your job doesn’t have to be your sole source of income. Investing can be another way to make your money work for you.”
Dividend stocks pay a passive income that can go directly into your bank account, she added, while she also encouraged Aussies not to shy away from share trading.
“The share market can seem like a scary, far-away land for those with thousands of dollars to spare, but it’s actually very accessible to the average Aussie,” she said.
“Thanks to mobile apps, you can invest with as little as a dollar, or roundup your debit card purchases to invest your spare change.”
You don’t need to be a finance fiend either, she said.
“Choose a couple of well-rounded exchange traded funds (ETFs) with shares in a diverse range of industries, and you’re set to go,” she said.
“History tells us that by investing in an index fund you can get an annual return of around 9 per cent over several years.”
Overall, the average hourly wage in Australia is $46.58.
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While Australia has one of the highest annual wages in the OECD, Aussies work longer hours than most European nations, an average of 1683 hours per year or 32 hours per week.
Among OECD countries, Iceland tops the chart, with an impressive hourly wage of $66 followed by Luxembourg at $65 and Denmark with $61.
Mexico comes in last place, with the average worker earning just $10.85 per hour and working the longest hours in the OECD at an average 2124 hours per year or 41 hours per week.
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