Last updated: September 12th, 2024
Australians are feeling crushed by the unpredictable economy, rising living costs and an unstable job market. Many salaries are no longer adequate to survive, let alone thrive.
Making matters worse, most high-paying jobs list experience, specialised knowledge or tertiary education as prerequisites for getting your foot in the door.
But a lack of experience need not stop you from earning good money.
(Related: How To Deal With A Toxic Boss).
1. Real Estate Agent.
High-paying job for ambitious, target-driven people.
The most successful real estate agents started out in entry-level positions with zero experience in the industry.
They retain the same responsibilities as their less senior counterparts but have the added responsibility and stress associated with larger deals.
Like senior agents, entry-level agents:
- Build relationships with property owners in their area.
- Match potential buyers with homes.
- Look for off-market sales opportunities
Entry-level agents also handle most of the research into days on the market and auction clearance rates while taking care of paperwork and coordinating inspection times.
(Related: How To Ask For A Pay Rise).
How does pay work?
Contrary to popular mainstream opinions, not all real estate agents make obscene amounts of money. The good old 80/20 rule applies – 20% of the agents make 80% of the money.
Expert Tip.
To earn top dollar, you must aim to become the best real estate agent in your area. Expect to work very hard for 3-5 years – before you start earning great money. The job attracts a lot of young Gen Ys with unrealistic expectations. Most of them wash out before the 12-month mark.
Australian real estate agents work on a commission basis. In other words, you eat what you kill.
The agency you work for will receive a fee for sales you make – between 1.6% to 4% of the total price, depending on location and competition in the area.
Most agents earn commission only, but some companies provide base pay of $50-$80K, according to Glassdoor.
Source: Glassdoor, Sydney real estate wages.
2. Virtual Assistant.
Great job if you have niche skills and need flexibility.
Nowadays, most workplaces offer the option to work entirely online, increasing the demand for virtual assistants. Freelancers Union estimates that 50% of the workforce could be virtual by 2028.
Businesses can save as much as 78% of their operating costs by hiring virtual assistants compared to in-house workers.
That means, as a VA, you can work from home or wherever you choose. The job requirements will differ depending on the client and their needs. You will need basic hardware and connectivity:
- Fast computer.
- Dedicated, noise-free workspace (you might need to take calls).
- Fast internet connection.
- Bookkeeping software to track your expenses (we love MYOB).
- Internet security.
Expert Tip.
Generic VAs who perform entry-level tasks (e.g., data entry) earn very little ($5-10/hour), as these jobs can be offshored. Increase your earning potential to more than $50/hr by specialising. For example, if you were a nurse, consider becoming a medical EA.
Average earning capacity: $25-$60/hr. The more niche your skills are, the more you earn.
3. Airline Flight Attendant.
Great job if you like working in hospitality.
Thanks to the travel perks, being a flight attendant is a highly sought-after role. You don’t need experience to become one, as the airlines will train you from scratch.
It is, however, policy and procedure-heavy. Contrary to popular opinion, you are not employed to serve drinks. You are, first and foremost, a safety officer in the sky.
You will:
- Welcome passengers.
- Assist passengers to their seats.
- Be responsible for checking tickets.
- Run through safety procedures.
- Offer refreshments and assistance.
- Manage crowds in the event of an emergency.
The pay is about on par with Australian median salaries. It’s not outstanding (you won’t get rich doing this job), but most airlines offer cash bonuses for outstanding performance.
Expert Tip.
Non-cash perks are outstanding, too – especially if you fly internationally. You’ll explore foreign cities and take advantage of cheap standby (airline employee-only) tickets.
Sydney to London for $300? Yes, please.
Above: Glassdoor, Sydney cabin crew wages.
4. HR Assistant.
Job that can lead to substantial pay increases.
A human resources assistant is an entry-level role that can lead to substantial pay.
As an HR assistant, however, you will perform administrative tasks to support your boss and the broader company. You will:
- Manage personal records of employees.
- Keep track of rostered days off, annual leave, bonuses and promotions.
- Plan and schedule performance reviews.
- Fix salary discrepancies.
- Conduct exit interviews.
This role is a great option to get your foot in the door with a company you love or as a starting point if you see yourself working in HR.
Starting salary in Australia: $80,000
(Related: The Great Resignation Is Over).
5. Sales Representative.
One of the highest-paying jobs in Australia.
Sales jobs pay very well because they’re business profit centres.
Expert Tip.
To make more money, avoid “cost-centre” jobs (e.g., customer service, PR/communications). The more of a rainmaker you are, the more money you’ll earn.
But sales jobs are not for everyone. Don’t even think about it unless you have a confident, extroverted, type-A personality. You will spend your days:
- Nurturing lead pipelines.
- Qualifying inbound leads.
- Demonstrating services and products to warm leads.
- Negotiating prices.
You will need to develop a thick skin, as the job involves dealing with a lot of rejection.
The upshot?
A challenging sales job is the best training ground for senior management roles. A huge proportion of C-suite executives have a strong sales background.
(Related: What Is The Minimum Wage In Australia?)
How does pay work?
Base plus commission structures are the norm.
- Expect a modest base salary (around $60K for junior roles).
- You can earn a lot in commissions if you are driven and hungry.
Expert Tip.
A lot of commission structures use a “reverse waterfall” method that incentivises extreme performance. For example, you may earn 2% of all monthly sales over $100K, 4% of all monthly sales over 150K and 10% of all monthly sales over $200K.
6. Recruiter.
Great job for people who want to “make it.”
Noticing a trend here? Yes, recruitment is another sales job.
This is a job for people who enjoy chasing targets and have highly developed social skills.
Important!
If you don’t like receiving feedback, recruitment is not a job for you. People with low emotional intelligence need not apply, either.
As a recruiter, you will:
- Find and close new deals.
- Write job descriptions.
- Manage job postings.
- Screen and interview candidates.
Expert Tip.
There are two types of recruitment jobs: in-house (also known as “talent acquisition”) or external (also known as “agency”). The latter pays significantly more.
As with all sales roles, you will be on a base + commission structure.
But before you get too excited, remember that your employer will expect you to generate 3X of your base in revenue – for you to keep your job.
Expect excellent bonuses once you exceed your 3X multiple. For example, it’s common for recruiters to receive 2-4% of all sales above that threshold.
(Related: How To Deal With Difficult People At Work).
7. Web Developer.
Job with very high earning potential (and ideal for introverts).
What can you do if you want a high-paying job, but don’t enjoy sales?
Consider a career change into web development.
You will need to spend 1-3 years learning the ropes before earning great money. An undergraduate degree or diploma in Computer Science will also help.
Important!
Experienced developers can earn eye-popping salaries. Facebook, for example, pays between $400,000 and $1,000,000 to its best developers with 7-10 years of experience.
As a web developer, you will create graphics and websites, either in-house or as a freelancer. ‘Web-devs’ often specialise in one of three fields:
- Front-end: These designers deal with the visuals and behaviours of users.
- Back-end: These developers control the servers and any bugs or issues.
- Full-stack: These developers do both, involving building new websites and applications for their company or clients plus problem-solving any performance issues.
As a junior web developer, you will likely shadow a senior developer while you master coding languages like Python, JS and Ruby on Rails.
If you enter the full-stack development route, you’ll also participate in design reviews.
Above: Glassdoor, web developer salaries in Sydney.
8. Claims Adjuster.
Great job for people with low risk tolerance.
The primary role of a claims adjuster is to evaluate and determine the validity of insurance claims.
Claim adjusters operate across housing, cars, corporate, hospitality and all other insurance industries.
As a claims adjuster, you will:
- Investigate property damage or personal injury.
- Conduct interviews (this can include police, hospital staff and witnesses).
- Consult with specialists such as lawyers, engineers and architects.
- Negotiate payments.
- Determine whether or not insurance fraud is a possibility.
- Prepare reports for use by claims examiners of investigation findings.
You will then weigh up all the details and information to decide on the validity of an insurance claim. A claims adjuster is an exciting role where all days (or cases) are different.
Starting salary in Australia: $75,000.
9. Proofreader.
Stable job with good hourly rates.
Proofreading is a fabulous option for those with a strong attention to detail and a love of words.
The primary duty of a proofreader is to read and double-check various texts to ensure that everything is grammatically correct.
You may write across:
- Print media.
- Blogs.
- Websites.
- Email marketing.
- Social media and more.
Proofreaders function much like editors, yet they focus purely on grammatical errors rather than structural and tone changes.
Beginning your editing journey as a proofreader provides you with much room for growth.
You can move into a role in a publishing company, act as a self-employed independent contractor or work in-house as Head of Copy for a brand.
Pay rates in Australia: $35-70/hour.
10. Police Officer.
Great if you want a job with meaning.
Police officers, like all front-line workers, are necessary for the safe functioning of our society.
Important!
This is a high-responsibility, high-stress job, as it involves enforcing the law while protecting people and property.
You do not need experience because you will undergo significant training. Moreover, expect on-the-job training and probationary periods at different stations.
Many find this to be a satisfying and challenging career with a great sense of camaraderie.
Starting salary in Australia: $70,000.
(Related: How To Get A Job In Mining).
11. Junior Financial Analyst.
Job with excellent earning potential.
Financial analyst careers are an excellent choice for those who love numbers, finance and accounting. As a junior financial analyst, you will partner with senior analysts to:
- Complete accounting tasks.
- Undertake financial management of a business.
- Analyse data from various markets.
- Offer financial guidance in line with business strategy.
- Manage and maintain a business’ financial paperwork.
Financial analysts complete many
Starting salary in Australia: $95,000.
(Related: Best Small Business Accounting Software).
12. Blogger.
Very high-risk job. You’ll either make zero money, or a lot.
Whilst blogging may have fallen off the radar over the last five years with the rise of social media, it is undoubtedly making a comeback.
Many businesses implement blogs to reach wider audiences or educate customers on the power of their services and products.
You have the option of working for yourself or a business:
- Self-run: As a freelancer, you can buy a domain to host your website and provide free content (in your niche), plus connect this to your social platforms.
- Employed: You may blog for one company or multiple clients as an independent contractor or a full-time employee, providing you with flexibility and diversity.
The pay rates of bloggers range widely. Some earn next to nothing, while others make more than a million dollars per year. Your earning capacity will depend on:
- What you write.
- Who you write for (tip: writing for finance niches pays the most).
- Your levels of productivity and efficiency.
The great news: this role is predominantly virtual, and you can work from wherever you choose!
Pay in Australia: $10,000 – $1,000,000+
How To Get A High-Paying, Entry-Level Job?
Once you have decided on your career direction, updated your resume and applied to your favourite companies, here are a few tips to help you nail your interview.
Regardless of whether or not your role is entry-level (and you have no experience), ensure that you’re well prepared, know a lot about the company, and be ready demonstrate how you’ll add value to the business
My tips:
- Ace Your Cover Letter: You should outline why you are the best fit for the role engagingly and professionally.
- Explain Your Why: Infuse your motivation for the job throughout your resume. Be sure to utilise our top-rated resume template here.
- Adapt Your Experience: Edit your resume to favour your most aligned skills at the top.
- Research the Company and the People: Understand the company’s culture and vision and how this matches your own.
- Prepare for the Interview: Explore our tips here!
Most importantly, remember to be yourself. Be honest, be confident and remain open to the learning experience that interviewing can provide.
Final Words On Landing A High-Paying Job.
High-paying jobs come with high expectations, so think twice before applying for one.
Nothing in the world is free. Noone will give you money to do nothing. Not for a long time, anyway.
The best way to earn a lot of money is to focus on solving big problems. Resist the temptation to take easy jobs. Seek out jobs that challenge you, overperform, and watch the money roll in.
Irene
