The jobs with six-figure salaries that don’t require a university degree

Jobs that don’t require a university degree are typically paying six-figure salaries, new tax office data shows.

They are not the nation’s top-paying jobs – after many years of studying and practising medicine, brain surgeons earn an average salary of $553,569.

That is more than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on $549,250.

Plastic surgeons, meanwhile, are on typical salaries of $475,081, making more than lifesaving heart surgeons on $464,243 and judges on $423,945.

But it’s still possible to earn an above-average salary with only a vocational qualification without the need to spend years at university.

New Australian Taxation Office data for 2019-20 showed railway station managers had average taxable incomes of $109,123.

This was significantly higher than the average tax salary of $63,882, covering both full and part-time workers.

The federal government’s Your Career website describes railway station management as ‘stressful’ and noted future demand for the job was in decline, especially with more professionals able to work from home.

The Victorian government’s Rail Academy site advised those wanting to become train station managers to prepare to put in 40 to 44 hours a week, including at night, weekends and public holidays.

Railway jobs in general are well-paid with signal operators getting $117,308 while train drivers make $118,873.

In another transport-related job, air traffic controllers had average salaries of $150,132, with this occupation requiring a Diploma of Aviation.

Helicopter pilots had average pay of $123,481, requiring attendance at a flight school to obtain a licence.

They were far from the only jobs that don’t require a degree but still make more than a university lecturer on an average salary of $110,857 or a barrister on $138,904.

Dredge operators working on marine construction projects had average salaries of $139,522.

Paper mill operators were paid $102,176 while crane operators on construction sites made $104,692.

Coal miners have average salaries of $124,550, compared with $150,442 for power plant operators running the coal-fired electricity generator.

Bank managers had average taxable salaries of $144,595, with this occupation requiring a Certificate IV in Financial Services.

They make even more than dentists, on $131,773. 

But with the big banks closing branches, as customers do more transactions online, there are fewer long-term career paths for bank managers.

Nonetheless, the SEEK jobs website on Tuesday had 657 vacancies for bank managers. 

Other managers also earn six-figure salaries, with construction site managers on $117,043, which is comparable with school principals on $130,142 and advertising managers on $110,044.

Police inspectors are typically paid $120,310. 

Those who fancy themselves as TV presenters or announcers can command an average taxable salary of $136,410 but the media industry is intensely competitive, with employment dependent on ratings and advertising revenue.

Journalists usually need to have a communications degree from a university but on-air personalities have been employed after obtaining a diploma.

Television journalists had average taxable salaries of $107,918, with this role covering reporters in front of the camera and producers behind the scenes.

They often interview economists, who have average salaries of $147,358, but they need to have a degree in economics.

Those with analytical skills can also become accountants with managers of a practice having average salaries of $109,724.

Those in this field usually have a Bachelor of Accounting from university, followed by either an accreditation as a CPA – Certified Practising Accountant – or a Chartered Accountant.

Individual tax returns every year and quarterly business activity statements are the most common tasks for accountants but others in this field can specialise in insolvency, where they work out what a distressed company owes creditors. 

In a related field auditors, who examine the financial records of companies, command average taxable incomes of $142,922.

Most people in this field have a university degree but to practise, they need to be a Certified Internal Auditor. 

Those who are very good at mathematics can become an actuary, where they evaluate risk and calculate insurance premiums.

This specialty requires a university degree, but the average pay is $194,613. 

The big money, however, is in finance broking with investment brokers having average taxable pay of $269,064 in a role where they help clients obtain finance.

Those in this role can obtain a Certificate IV in finance and mortgage broking. 

Futures traders had an even higher average salary of $290,942 while stock brokers had even higher pay of $306,518.

Financial investment managers made more again, with average pay of $331,812.

They made even more than mining engineers on $185,568. 

In the field of medicine, the suburban general practitioner typically made $175,731 a year. 

But those who become specialists make considerably more, with neurosurgeons, who do brain operations, making $553,569.

This was the only profession where the average salary was more than Mr Albanese’s $549,250 remuneration running the nation.

But opthalmologists, or eye doctors, were up there on $520,966. 

Ear nose and throat surgeons, formally known as otorhinolaryngologists, typically earned $502,800.

Plastic surgeons weren’t far behind on $475,081.

They made more than heart surgeons, also known as cardiologists, who typically earned $464,243 while orthopaedic surgeons, operating on the back, were paid $436,407.

Anaesthetists in the operating theatre had average salaries of $388,814.

Cancer doctors, known as oncologists, made $321,360.

Gastroenterologists who specialise in intestinal problems were typically paid $401,912.

Urologists, who specialise in men’s reproductive health, made $442,091 compared with gynaecologists on $363,453.

Paediatricians on average earned $240,800 as doctors specialising in the health of children, compared with $252,691 for psychiatrists.