Bottom line may surprise

Melanie Burgess reveals the jobs to apply for which pay more than you may expect

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

Their workers may not be in the top 1% of earners, but they have found a hidden gem that pays a comfortable salary without requiring excessive time at university or the need to pack up and move to the mines.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports the average adult earns about $61,000 a year, with the average full-time salary about $84,000.

These roles potentially pay much more.

Train guard/driver

Salaries differ between states, but train guards and drivers are often well paid as they work irregular shifts – including on weekends and public holidays – and can be rostered at different locations.

In some states, guards earn about $80,000 as a trainee then about $90,000 once qualified.

Train drivers earn even more, with Glassdoor revealing salaries averaging between $95,000 and $114,000 nationally.

A South-East Queensland trainee guard earns $78,000 and this jumps to $89,000 once qualified.

Trainee drivers are paid $89,000 a year then $95,000 once qualified.

Queensland Rail is currently hiring trainee guards and drivers, with applications closing tomorrow.

Successful trainee driver candidates must complete a theoretical and practical training program, which takes about 13 months, while trainee guards undertake about 14 weeks of training.

Supermarket manager

Scanning groceries at a check-out 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.

For jobseekers who do not wish to work their way up through the ranks, however, most supermarkets also run graduate programs for people with bachelor degrees. They are given a year or two to learn how each department runs then are thrown in the deep end with a management role.

Electorate officer

The typical electorate officer’s role includes speech writing, preparing media releases, overseeing

websites, managing social media, preparing newsletters, responding to constituent inquiries and liaising with Government departments.

Applicants require an understanding of government and parliamentary processes and office IT skills, but not necessarily a university qualification.

They typically start on between $64,000 and $75,000 and this figure increases each year.

Relief teacher

The trade-off for working in a temporary role without job security or paid leave is usually extra money.

In the case of relief teachers in South Australia, this can mean earning as much as $461 a day, or $92,000 a year if they pick up 200 days of work.

The daily rate starts at $318.

Permanent teachers start on $66,500 a year but can go on to earn more than $100,000 as a leader, deputy

principal or principal.

Principals earn as much as $162,000.

In the case of 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 can go on to earn more than $100,000 as a Head of Curriculum or Head of Department.

Executive principals earn about $162,000.