City-based teachers, mechanics, general practitioners, chief executives, chefs, house cleaners and child care workers may also want to consider a move to the country for better pay.
There are 85 occupations where net incomes are higher in country Australia compared to the capitals, according to a recent analysis by the Regional Australia Institute.
There was an income premium of 26 per cent in remote areas with industries like agriculture and mining, particularly among truck drivers, machinery operators, tradies and technicians.
The findings of the Beyond City Limits report were significant not just for regional economies, but the national workforce, the institute’s chief executive Liz Ritchie said.
“This report busts the long-held myth that you have to live in a major city to earn a high income,” Ms Ritchie said.
The research used census and tax data to look at incomes across occupations, before factoring in age, gender, education and housing costs.
Managers and sales workers’ net incomes were lower in both inner regional and remote areas, while professionals and admin staff only experienced income premiums in remote or very remote areas.
Wages were slightly lower overall in inner regional areas, such as Albury, Dubbo, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga in NSW, the Latrobe region in Victoria and Toowoomba in Queensland.
Ms Ritchie said Australians needed to know about the career opportunities in regional areas, where there were 67,000 job vacancies in January.
“There are plenty of good jobs, where you can earn a very good income,” she said.
“Combine that with the regions’ liveability factors, like less traffic, more affordable housing and access to nature and you can understand why so many people have already made the move.”
The research recommended several policy focus areas, including promotion of regional jobs and social infrastructure investments.
The institute has launched its online interactive Regional Jobs Guide to help workers understand country labour markets.
– with AAP.
