2025 Salary Trends Report: Annual Increase Over 20%! The Fastest Growing Occupations in Australia Revealed
According to The Daily Telegraph, the manufacturing, transport, and logistics sectors in Australia have led the salary growth over the past year, with an annual increase of over 20%, making them the hottest employment fields in the country. Based on the latest data from the job platform SEEK, “operational team members” – including couriers, labourers, drivers, crane operators, product assemblers, and warehouse assistants – have seen an average annual salary increase of 21.1%, reaching $64,969 AUD.
Following closely are support engineers in the engineering field, with an average salary increase of 17.3%, now reaching $107,221 AUD. Additionally, the top 15 occupations with the highest salary increases include alarm system technicians, registered nurses, government and defence personnel, and telecommunications technicians, with average increases of around 15%.
In contrast, according to the Australian Industry Group, the average annual salary increase for general workers was just 3.5%, showing that salaries for skilled professional roles have grown significantly faster than in other industries.
Leigh Broderick, Senior Executive at SEEK, noted that as the cost of living pressures rise, more workers are proactively seeking higher wages. Talent shortages and the strong demand for professional skills are the two key factors driving salary increases. However, he also cautioned that if the job market slows, the rate of salary growth may decelerate.
Simon O’Hara, CEO of Road Freight NSW, predicts that salaries in the manufacturing, transport, and logistics industries will continue to rise. “We’ve observed some transport-related roles seeing salary increases of up to 30%, which is highly attractive for both newcomers to the field and experienced professionals.”
For example, at Transit Systems bus company, scheduler Samantha Bensemann reported an 11% salary increase over the past year, a reward for taking on more responsibilities and increasing her workload. Entry-level schedulers start with an annual salary of around $68,000 AUD, and with experience, senior schedulers can earn over $100,000 AUD.
Tanya Smith, Executive General Manager of Human Resources at Transit Systems, pointed out that schedulers not only have fast promotion opportunities but also enjoy stable annual salary increases, reflecting the value placed on skills and professionalism in this role.
Ben Thompson, CEO of Employment Hero, predicts that salaries in construction, warehousing, and manufacturing will continue to grow this year, but the retail and hospitality sectors may experience a decline. He advises job seekers not to base their career plans solely on short-term salary trends, particularly as salary growth in tech industries slows.
He recommends focusing on transferable skills, such as expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), as the key to boosting long-term salaries and workplace competitiveness. “AI is undoubtedly one of the most valuable skills in the current market. If you can use AI to improve efficiency and generate more output, you’ll become a sought-after talent in the workplace and earn higher compensation.”
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