HIDDEN PAY GEMS REVEALED

SOME occupations are notoriously high-paying but there are also many roles that fly under the radar and pay more than most people realise.

These workers have found a hidden gem that pays a comfortable salary without requiring a long time at university or the need to move to the mines.

TRAIN GUARD/DRIVER

Train guards and drivers are often well paid, as they work irregular shifts – including weekends and public holidays – and at various locations.

Guards earn about $78,000 as a trainee then about $90,000 once qualified. Trainee drivers are paid $89,000 then $95,000 once qualified. QR chief executive Nick Easy says in the past year more than 100 trainee drivers and 260 trainee guards have been recruited.

SUPERMARKET MANAGER

Scanning groceries at a checkout may not earn the big bucks but sales assistants who can work their way up to management have a surprise waiting for them.

A store manager at Coles earns on average $99,000 a year, Glassdoor data reveals. Meanwhile, an area manager at Aldi earns about $121,000.

RELIEF TEACHER

The trade-off for working in a temporary role without job security or paid leave is usually extra money. For relief or supply teachers in Queensland, this means earning about $374 a day, or almost $75,000 a year if they pick up 200 days of work.

Permanent teachers start on $59,000 a year but recruiter Hays reports they can go on to earn $162,000 a year as an executive principal.

Carlie Graham (pictured) is a train driver with Queensland Rail.

“I was doing mortgage broking and finance and my brother was a coal train driver, so he recommended it when the job came up,” she said.

“I joined the railway in 2010 and was a guard for six years.

“It is a good income, but also you have to earn it.”