Australian tradespeople have been forced to explain their sky-high salaries on national television after workers went viral bragging about their salaries on social media.
In a video posted to TikTok in February by employment technology startup getahead, several Queensland traders were interviewed and revealed how much money they made.
The professionals interviewed include a plumber, carpenter, diesel installer and auto electrician, all of whom have a six-figure salary.
A second-year apprentice claimed he earned $1,100 a week, a coal miner said he earned $160,000 a year, while a car electrician earned $120,000 a year.
The diesel installer was one of the highest earners, as he had specialized in heavy earthmoving machinery and revealed that he earned $130 an hour, the equivalent of at least $250,000 a year.
Carpentry Australia chief executive Jake McArthur (right) and the industry body’s development director Nathan Quinn (left) defended the high wages tradesmen earn in an interview on Sunrise (pictured).
The video caused a stir online, with many Australians claiming they were in the wrong business after hearing about the exorbitant salaries.
Carpentry Australia chief executive Jake McArthur and the industry body’s development director Nathan Quinn appeared on Sunrise on Wednesday defending the high pay packages.
McArthur said Australians needed to understand the reasons behind high wages.
“There’s a bit of a buzz about this particular TikTok,” McArthur said.
‘But we need to understand what’s behind those pay packages. It’s about things like risk, (a variety of) different roles, responsibilities and skills.’
Quinn added that a trader’s salary also reflected their skills and years of experience in their particular industry.
“What someone can earn in a skilled trade, like carpentry, also depends on how long they’ve been in the industry,” Quinn said.
‘As you progress, if you become a subcontractor, the salary may increase. So if you’re running your own business, if you have the right support around you… the money and the opportunities are definitely there.
‘It really depends on where each person is in their life cycle. Depending on your circumstances… you can earn more money depending on the conditions.’
Apprentices starting out in their respective fields tend to receive low salaries during the period in which they receive training and gain experience and skills.
It comes after a video posted to TikTok in February by employment technology startup getahead interviewed Queensland tradespeople, with many revealing they earn a six-figure salary.
Those seeking a trade are also subject to years of training, long hours, physically demanding jobs, and some also work in risky or exhausting conditions.
Typically, part of a tradesman’s salary also goes toward a work vehicle, expensive tools, and sometimes expensive equipment such as safety and work clothing.
McArthur explained that the various factors are “important considerations” to think about before entering into a trade.
‘(However) it’s a fantastic job and you have great earning potential. “Anyone who wants to get into this trade, particularly carpentry, the best trade of all, should dive in,” Mr McArthur said.
Analysis by insurance brokerage Trade Risk found that the average gross annual salary of a trader was $90,940, an increase of 11 per cent compared to 2019 figures.
“We believe it is the best representation of how much Australian traders actually earn, as it uses the taxable income provided to us by thousands of self-employed traders across Australia,” the report said.
Boilermakers had the highest average salary at $112,535, followed by electricians at $96,338 and plumbers at $95,507.
However, for people working in the mines, talent.com reported a median income of $124,000.
Entry-level positions start at $101,000, but more experienced ones can earn $180,000 per year.