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50 Highest Paid Jobs Highlight Disgraceful Gender Pay Gap

Latest figures from the Australian Taxation Office show the gender pay gap is still a huge problem here.

There is a slew of disturbing discrepancies in the top 50 job lists for women and men below.

The most glaring being that a female neurosurgeon takes home just 56 per cent of their male counterparts’ salary, despite being the second-highest-paid professional women.

women earn less than men in Australia

Recent data from the Workplace Gender Quality Agency shows that Australia lags far behind on an international scale when it comes to paying women their true worth.

In a gender pay-gap study of 22 countries, Australia ranked a lowly 16th with an 18 per cent discrepancy.

Hungary topped the list with just a 3.8 per cent difference, with New Zealand second at 5.6.

Here are the top 50 highest paying jobs for women and men in Australia.

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

Australia ranks low on gender equality

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

Australian 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

James Graham

With over 20 years as a journalist and TV producer, James Graham has a wealth of experience covering the full media spectrum. James has a formidable reputation as a talented media veteran and worked as a reporter, script writer and as the producer of the TV documentary The Road To Athens. He has worked across newspapers, radio and the biggest flagship magazine brands in Australia and New Zealand. Previously, James was the News Director at Woman's Day and New Idea. Whether filing celebrity exclusives, or some of the biggest real-life splashes of recent years, James’ career has always been at the frontline of mainstream media. When not writing, you’ll find him at Royal Randwick, his beloved Long Reef Golf Club on the Northern Beaches – or visiting his mum in his native New Zealand.