South Australian doctors, teachers and IT workers reveal their real wages

As the cost of living surges, workers from doctors to gardeners have revealed what they really get paid – and some might surprise you.

Australia’s lowest-paid workers will receive some reprieve from surging inflation and rising cost of living, with a 5.2 per cent pay rise announced by the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday.

More than 2.7m low-paid and award-reliant workers earning as little as $20.33 an hour will now receive, at minimum, $21.38 per hour.

But with $12 lettuce and soaring energy and petrol prices, salaries across a number of industries are firmly at the forefront of South Australians’ minds.

As the wage debate rages, South Australians have taken to social media for transparency over industry expectations.

In a thread on Reddit, anonymous workers have revealed their annual salary and how many real hours they put in – with some surprising results.

South Australian workers are revealing their real wages.

According to the thread, a third-year non-specialised public-hospital doctor working about 50 hours per week would take home $94k without night shifts or overtime.

A private-school maintenance worker and groundskeeper said they took home just under $70k per annum for a 38-hour week, while a second-year teacher took home $70k, plus another $11k as a musician on the side.

A software architect working 40 hours per week said they took home $175k plus a $20k bonus per year doing remote work from Adelaide.

While the minimum-wage announcement will provide desperately-needed relief for many, it’s not just low-income earners receiving a pay boost.

Public office holders and MPs will receive a 2.75 per cent pay rise from July 1, meaning the salary of a backbencher will rise to $217,060.

MPs had their pay rises frozen during the pandemic, and given inflation is tipped to reach 7 per cent by the end of the year, the 2.75 per cent rise is technically a pay cut.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will receive an annual wage of $564,364, excluding expenses and allowances, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will pocket $401,561 a year.