The incredible jobs that pay huge money in Australia – and you don’t need a degree to get them

A TikTok user has shared three unexpected careers that pay huge money in Australia. 

Hangrybynature, who posts videos about Asian and Australian culture, said plumbers, train drivers and traffic controllers can rake in the big bucks. 

‘A qualified plumber can earn up to $150,000 a year, charging $80 or more an hour,’ she said.

The TikToker said train drivers can take home up to $130,000 a year, while a traffic controller can receive up to $180,000 annually. 

A TikTok user has shared three unexpected careers that pay huge money in Australia

But some of Hangrybynature’s 240,000 followers were quick to question the validity of her research. 

‘I don’t think you understand the difference between a plumber and the owner of a plumbing business,’ one person commented.

According to Pay Scale, the average hourly rate for a plumber in Australia is $29.76. 

An average plumbing contractor would take home $38.34 an hour, with salaries varying from $57,069 to $124,025 per year.  

Other viewers questioned the high salary allocated for traffic controllers in the TikTok, with many explaining that high hourly rates were due to the inconsistency in work. 

According to Pay Scale, the average hourly rate for a plumber in Australia is $29.76. An average plumbing contractor would take home $38.34 an hour, with salaries varying from $57,069 to $124,025 per year (stock image)

‘Did it for three years, I only know one person who broke six figures before tax and they had to work every weekend and public holiday… Not worth it,’ one person wrote.

‘What kind of traffic controller is getting 180K a year when their shifts are based on when they need them,’ another wrote.

A third added: ‘Traffic controllers hours though, very inconsistent and so much shift work.’ 

The average train conductor salary in Australia is $75,329, with yearly earnings ranging from $50,000 to $102,000, according to Pay Scale.

The TikTok video has more than 500,000 views and 72,000 likes.  

The average train conductor salary in Australia is $75,329, with yearly earnings ranging from $50,000 to $102,000, according to Pay Scale (stock image)