Australia's highest salary jobs in 2026-27: what you take home after tax

Highest salary jobs in Australia: what lands in your bank account

If you are aiming for one of the highest salary jobs in Australia, you probably want to know how much actually reaches your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy. The headline figures can be eye-watering – but the amount you keep depends on your tax bracket, the Medicare levy, and whether the salary is quoted as a total package or plus super.

This guide draws on the latest public data from the Australian Taxation Office, the Hays Salary Guide FY26/27, and the Michael Page 2026 Salary Guide. All figures are in Australian dollars and refer to the 2026-27 financial year unless stated otherwise.

The top-paying roles by industry

Medical specialists dominate the ATO’s list of highest earners. Neurosurgeons average $577,674, ophthalmologists $552,947, and cardiologists $453,253. Anaesthetists and surgeons also feature prominently, with averages around $447,000 to $472,000. These figures are from the ATO’s latest tax return data.

Legal and executive roles also command top dollar. The Hays Salary Guide reports that equity partners in law firms can earn up to $850,000 or more, with a national average around $710,000. Chief executives and managing directors in large commercial organisations (turnover over $500 million) can earn $700,000 or more. The Michael Page guide lists senior executive band 3 in the public sector at $400,000, and C-suite roles at $350,000.

Finance and banking roles are well represented. Head of Treasury can reach $510,000 in Sydney, while Head of Quantitative Risk tops $400,000. Financial dealers and investment managers average around $355,000 and $288,000 respectively, according to the ATO.

Technology and mining also offer high salaries. Chief Information Officers earn up to $375,000, and Chief AI Officers debut at $350,000 nationally. In mining, registered mine managers can earn up to $300,000, with jumbo operators in Western Australia reaching $312,000 typical.

How these figures compare to the national benchmarks

To put these salaries in perspective, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour or $1,004.90 a week – that’s $52,255 a year. The full-time adult ordinary time earnings (excluding overtime and employer super) are $2,083.70 a week, or $108,352 a year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A top earner on $400,000 earns about 7.7 times the full-time average and 7.7 times the minimum wage. But after tax and Medicare, the multiple shrinks. For example, a $400,000 salary attracts about $157,370 in tax and Medicare, leaving $242,630 take-home – still 4.6 times the full-time average take-home (roughly $85,000 after tax on $108,352).

Tax and Medicare on the highest salaries

For the 2026-27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:

• 0% on the first $18,200
• 15c per dollar from $18,201 to $45,000
• 30c per dollar from $45,001 to $135,000
• 37c per dollar from $135,001 to $190,000
• 45c per dollar over $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% on taxable income. The latest single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013; full-time salaries pay the full 2%.

A $500,000 salary would have tax of $51,370 plus 45c per dollar over $190,000, which is $139,500, plus Medicare of $10,000 – total $200,870, leaving $299,130 take-home. Use our Tax and Medicare page to estimate your own situation.

Superannuation and take-home pay

Most high-paying job ads quote a salary “plus super”. The compulsory super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So if your package is $400,000 plus super, your employer pays an extra $48,000 into your super fund – but that money is not available as take-home pay until you retire. If the salary is quoted as a total package including super, the super component is still not part of your bank account.

Key takeaways

• The highest salary jobs in Australia are in medicine, law, executive management, finance, and technology.
• Headline figures can exceed $500,000, but take-home is reduced by progressive tax and the 2% Medicare levy.
• Always check whether a salary is quoted as base plus super or inclusive of super.
• For a personalised estimate of your take-home pay, visit our Take-home pay guide.