SEEK has released its bi-annual data on Aussie salaries. Despite the slowdown in job ads, the average advertised salary across Australia is on the rise and up 3.5% in comparison to last year.
In a SEEK consumer survey of over 2,000 candidates, 66% of candidates agree that salaries within workplaces should be more widely known and transparent. However, more than half (55%) would never ask someone else how much they earn and more than half (53%) also feel uncomfortable when someone asks how much they earn.
This report, summarised below, offers some of that hoped-for transparency as it shows the difference between 2018 and 2019 salaries in Australia and the main industries that are contributing to salary growth. It is broken down by nation and then by state. To learn more about the gender differences revealed in the report, you can read up here.
The nation stats
Despite the slowdown in job ads (-6.5%, May 2019), the average advertised salary across Australia is on the rise and up 3.5% (y/y, May 2019) with the average at $86,222 in comparison to $83,277 in 2018.
The top five industries showing the most salary growth in 2019 are Mining, Resources & Energy, Construction, Consulting & Strategy, Engineering and Information & Communication Technology with each of these industries reporting an average salary upwards of $108K.
Within these industries, Architects and Management positions (held in Mining, Resources & Energy, Engineering, Information & Communication Technology and Accounting) have the highest paying roles across the nation with a salary ranging from $130,302 – $142,196.
Top 5 highest paying roles in Australia:
Architects: $142,196
Management (Mining, Resources & Energy): $139,782
Management (Engineering): $136,564
Management (Information & Communication Technology): $135,480
Financial Managers & Controllers (Accounting): $130,302
The state stats
There is a strong growth in salaries across all of the states in May (2019), with Western Australia leading the way, and Southern Australia coming in last.
WA 2018: $86,060 2019: $89,610 % Increase: 5.3%
NSW 2018: $75,145 2019: $88,171 % Increase: 3.6%
ACT 2018: $84,862 2019: $88,075 % Increase: 3.8%
VIC 2018: $82,754 2019: $85,561 % Increase: 3.4%
NT 2018: $81,436 2019: $85,561 % Increase: 3.9%
QLD 2018: $80, 136 2019: $82,855 % Increase: 3.4%
SA 2018: $77,569 2019: $79,352 % Increase: 2.3%
TAS 2018: $72,820 2019: $75,637 % Increase: 3.9%
Specific regions in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland are showing a significant growth. WA’s Broome & Kimberley rose by 10.8%, Port Hedland, Karratha & Pilbara saw 10% increase, in SA’s Yorke Peninsula and Clare Valley, there was an 8.8% rise, followed by the Mackay & Coalfields region in Queensland which rose by 7%.
Kendra Banks, Managing Director, SEEK ANZ, said “WA, SA and Queensland regions are heavily populated with mining towns that have specifically contributed to the growth in salary. We have seen a consistent rise in salary across the resources industry, with mining contributing to both salary and job growth over the past three and a half years.”
