The results are in: these are the highest-paid jobs in Australia

Think your dream job will pay you a handsome salary? These are the most cashed-up careers for men and women in Australia.

Judges are among the best-paid professionals for both men and women.

WHEN the latest Australian Taxation Office data was released late last year, struggling Australians got confirmation that unless they’re a male neurosurgeon or female judge, they’d never be able to bid on a dilapidated weatherboard in St Albans.

The top earners list also confirmed that the old cliche of ‘study law or medicine and you’ll be set for life’ rings true, with medical professions — neurosurgeon, ophthalmologist, cardiologist, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and gynaecologist/obstetrician — dominating more than half the list, and male neurosurgeons earning the top salary of $577,674.

For females, judges led the pack earning $355,844, followed by neurosurgeon, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and occupations in finance and trade.

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The gender pay gap is glaring at present with female neurosurgeons taking home $253,992 less than their male counterparts despite being the second-highest-paid professional women.

At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest earning jobs are mostly those with no-specific qualifications — fruit pickers, fast food cooks, dishwashers and restaurant staff.

Though the highest paying jobs list is sobering news for those not wanting a career in medicine or law, it’s not all doom and gloom. The Department of Employment carries out twice-yearly research to identify skill shortages in the Australian labour market.

The latest list, published in March 2017, identifies statewide shortages in areas such as construction, automotive, and IT, as well as chefs, bakers and hairdressers, with many leading recruitment agencies and industry heads supporting these findings.

The automotive industry alone is facing an increasing shortage across all sectors — panel beaters, spray painters, and technicians are among the 27,000-plus vacant positions. “The current shortage across the sector will rise to 35,000 positions in the 2017/18 financial year,” says Nigel Muller, executive manager Training Auto Apprenticeships and Skills Development Centre Technical and Training Services. “New entrants to the industry who have completed secondary school are highly sought after,” he says.

Swapping scrubs for overalls might not be such a bad idea after all.

Male specialists top the highest-paid list.

50 HIGHEST PAID JOBS: MEN

Neurosurgeon, $577,674

Ophthalmologist, $552,947

Cardiologist, $453,253

Plastic and reconstructive surgeon, $448,530

Gynaecologist; Obstetrician, $446,507

Otorhinolaryngologist, $445,939

Orthopedic surgeon, $439,629

Urologist, $433,792

Vascular surgeon, $417,524

Gastroenterologist, $415,192

Diagnostic and interventional radiologist, $386,003

Dermatologist, $383,880

Judge — law, $381,323

Anaesthetist, $370,492

Cardiothoracic surgeon, $358,043

Surgeon — general, $357,996

Specialist physicians — other, $344,860

Radiation oncologist, $336,994

Medical oncologist, $322,178

Securities and finance dealer, $320,452

Thoracic medicine specialist, $315,444

Specialist physician — general medicine, $315,114

Intensive care specialist, $308,033

Renal medicine specialist, $298,681

Neurologist, $298,543

Financial investment manager, $288,790

Investment broker, $286,530

Paediatric surgeon, $282,508

Clinical haematologist, $271,738

Futures trader, $264,830

Endocrinologist, $258,972

Cricketer, $257,527

Rheumatologist, $256,933

Dental specialist, $253,442

Magistrate, $246,737

Equities analyst; Investment dealer, $245,826

Paediatrician, $239,405

Stock exchange dealer; Stockbroker, $238,192

Psychiatrist, $234,557

Emergency medicine specialist, $232,595

Member of Parliament, $232,093

Pathologist, $224,378

Company secretary — corporate governance, $218,432

State governor, $212,652

Actuary, $196,144

Sports physician, $187,468

Petroleum engineer, $185,808

Chief executive officer; Executive director; Managing director; Public servant — secretary or

deputy secretary, $181,849

Mining production manager, $179,439

Professional industries are among the top jobs for women.

50 HIGHEST PAID JOBS: WOMEN

Judge — law, $355,844

Neurosurgeon, $323,682

Plastic and reconstructive surgeon, $281,608

Futures trader, $281,600

Vascular surgeon, $271,529

Gynaecologist; Obstetrician, $264,628

Gastroenterologist, $260,925

Magistrate, $260,161

Anaesthetist, $243,582

Ophthalmologist, $217,242

Cardiologist, $215,920

Urologist, $213,094

Surgeon — general, $210,796

Medical oncologist, $208,612

Specialist physicians — other, $207,599

Specialist physician — general medicine, $207,225

Otorhinolaryngologist, $200,136

Dermatologist, $195,030

Diagnostic and interventional radiologist, $180,695

Cardiothoracic surgeon, $175,500

Paediatric surgeon, $175,314

Endocrinologist, $174,542

Member of Parliament, $173,331

Rheumatologist, $169,409

Intensive care specialist, $169,369

Emergency medicine specialist, $165,786

Orthopedic surgeon, $159,479

Neurologist, $155,217

Renal medicine specialist, $155,133

Psychiatrist, $152,437

Clinical haematologist, $147,970

Paediatrician, $147,347

Securities and finance dealer, $145,208

Dental specialist, $140,505

Actuary, $136,819

Radiation oncologist, $135,678

Financial investment manager, $134,481

Petroleum engineer, $133,315

Mining production manager, $133,061

General medical practitioner, $129,834

Thoracic medicine specialist, $127,645

Stockbroker, $124,433

Paving plant operator, $123,281

Mining engineer, $119,564

Tribunal member, $119,219

Occupational medicine specialist; Public health physician; Sports physician, $118,310

Geophysicist, $117,575

General medical practitioner, $184,639

Chief executive officer; Executive director; Managing director; Public servant — secretary or deputy secretary, $116,855

Metallurgist, $110,359

Engineering manager, $116,732