The top 10 highest salaries in Australia paying up to $700,000
The Hays Salary Guide for 2025-26 surveyed more than 12,000 professionals and hiring managers to find out the current state of the salary landscape, including those jobs pulling in the biggest amounts and those with the fastest salary growth.
Across the country, it found the national average salary was $141,900, and nearly two-thirds of Australian workers are preparing to quit their jobs in the next 12 months to obtain better pay and benefits, and greater career opportunities.
Hays APAC CEO Matthew Dickason said the data revealed "clear divides" in which industries were paying more and were planning to continue to do so.
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CEOs and Managing Directors topped the list, with those in commercial organisations with turnovers of more than $500 million able to pull in typical salaries of $700,000 plus. For organisations with turnovers between $50 and $500 million, the typical salary range was $400,000 to $700,000.
Chief Operating Officers and Chief Financial Officers can also earn $600,000 plus in organisations with turnovers over $500 million, while CEO salaries can reach $500,000 even in not-for-profit organisations.
Heads of Treasury can earn up to $410,000 in Sydney and $300,000 in Melbourne. Heads of Tax can make up to $400,000 in Sydney, while Heads of Internal Audit can earn up to $400,000.
Australia's top sales job earners are General Managers, particularly in the area of Consumer Goods. General Managers can earn up to $400,000 in Sydney and Melbourne, while Vice Presidents of Sales in IT and Telecoms can earn up to $350,000.
What are the highest salaries in Australia?
The Hays Salary Guide for the 2025-26 financial year, released today, reveals typical salaries for thousands of jobs across Australia.
Here are the top 10 highest salaries and the maximum typical amount that can be earned.
CEO and Managing Director $700,000+
Head of Treasury $410,000
General Manager of Sales and Sales Director $400,000
Head of HR and HR Director $400,000
Commercial Construction Manager $400,000
Property Development Director $388,000
Chief Information Officer $375,000
Defence Operations Director $360,000
Banking and Finance Head of Quantitative Risk $350,000
Mining Jumbo Operator $330,000
Most salaries listed are for roles in Sydney, with a few exceptions for specific roles in Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Salaries can vary depending on the size of the company and how long you have been employed in the specific role.
Biggest sectors for salary growth
The report also revealed the top sectors for year-on-year salary growth, with financial and insurance services topping the list with growth of 12.9 per cent.
This was followed by construction (11.7 per cent), IT/Tech system design (9.6 per cent), legal (7.8 per cent) and mining (6.9 per cent).
Queensland recorded the strongest salary growth nationally, with average salaries up 5.6 per cent to $139,000.
New South Wales was close to the average at $143,800, with salary growth in line with the national average at 5.1 per cent.
Victoria's average salary was sitting at $142,300, while Western Australia had the highest average salary at $147,200.
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