What’s the Lowest Paying Jobs in Australia? Here’s Where to Start

Australia is one of the top 10 countries with the highest average salary. As of October 2023, Australian full-time workers earn an average salary of $90,000 yearly with a minimum wage of $812.44 a week before tax. Regardless of these figures, many Australians still work in low-wage jobs amid the rising cost of living. Read on to find out what the list of lowest paying jobs in Australia includes.

Related: Other Than Skills, You Need a Visa for Work in Australia

Checkout Operator

Checkout operators or cashiers in Australia are struggling. Not only do they hold one of the lowest-paying occupations in the country, but the positions are also disappearing due to the massive growth of self-service checkout in many retail stores.

Checkout operators handle a number of tasks. These include accepting and distributing customer payments for products and services. They also have to scan, weigh and document goods’ prices, and prepare deposits. For all these responsibilities, they make an hourly salary of around $18.68. 

Dishwasher

Kitchen stewards or dishwashers are those in charge of ensuring the cleanliness of dishes, utensils, and all kitchen equipment used daily. They may also help with cleaning and sanitizing cooking and other floor preparation spaces.

Dishwashers usually work in eating establishments, such as restaurants or cafes. Some may also work in other facilities, including hospitals and school cafeterias. In Australia, dishwashers can make an average hourly salary of $23.83 or around $47,000 a year.

Fast-Food Cook

Cooks work in various institutions, including cafeterias, fast-food franchises, and fine dining establishments. And fast-food cooks are on the lower end of that spectrum. They are responsible for preparing a specific selection of foods served at fast-food restaurants. These include hamburgers, pizzas, fish and chips, tacos, etc.

Fast-food cooks are required to operate various types of kitchen equipment, including grills, fryers, and ovens. At certain restaurants, they are also needed to assist with meal service, processing customer payments, and taking orders. For all these tasks, they only earn approximately $26.01 per hour.

Factory Worker

Factory workers are in charge of manufacturing a wide variety of goods. They work in different manufacturers, including those that produce food and drink, chemical products, textile, and many more. It doesn’t only end there; their work involves various tasks, such as operating machinery, sorting and packing goods, monitoring process lines, etc.

Although factory workers in Australia earn far more than those in other countries, it’s still among the lowest-paying occupations on the mainland. On average, factory employees in Australia can earn $51,833 a year, or around $26.58 per hour before tax.

Retail Assistant

Retail assistants or sales assistants are those who work in wholesale establishments and retail. Their jobs include selling products and services like cosmetics, clothing, household appliances, hardware, and many more. They must have decent communication skills to help customers find their needs. 

However, the job market for retail assistants in Australia is getting very challenging due to the rise of online retail. Yet still, retail is one of the biggest industries in the country that is responsible for employing more than a million people. Today, retail assistants can only make an hourly salary of around $26.67.   

Pick and Packer

Pick and packers, simply known as pick packers, come out as the sixth lowest paying job in Australia on the list of lowest paying jobs. It’s a physically demanding profession that requires workers to assist with manufacturing order fulfillment and inventory management tasks in a retail or warehouse environment.

While pick and packing are considered low-skill occupations, all workers in this position are highly required to possess basic math skills, written communication abilities, and physical fitness. In Australia, pick packers can earn an average salary of $27.27 per hour, which is relatively low considering their working conditions.

Housekeeper

Housekeepers are in charge of ensuring the cleanliness of a wide variety of facilities. These include hotels, motels, commercial properties, nursing homes, private households, and many more. 

Their responsibilities often vary depending on their employer. Still, they are mostly required to maintain kitchens, clean floors, dust lighting fixtures, handle laundry, change bed sheets, and even prepare meals. Some may also help with shopping for groceries and caring for pets. Housekeepers earn an average of $27.85 per hour for all these duties in Australia.

Childcare Worker

Childcare workers are professionals who are responsible for the children’s well-being. They could be in charge of feeding and monitoring their personal hygiene, overseeing playtime, preparing activities based on their ages, and assisting older kids with their schooling.

Childcare workers are employed at various institutions, including schools, their own homes, children’s homes, or childcare centers. They may work part-time or full-time, depending on the employer’s requirements. In mainland Australia, childcare workers can make an average salary of $29.10 per hour.

Receptionist

Receptionists frequently serve as the company’s face to clients and customers. They play an essential role as the first person most people will encounter; they welcome and provide assistance to customers or clients, answer and receive the phone, and sort and deliver mail. Certain businesses also require them to perform some administrative work.

This position rarely requires the applicants to have a higher educational background other than a high school diploma. Candidates’ experiences are usually more valued in many companies out there. For some people, it could be an enjoyable 9-5 job since most can make an average salary of $53,069 a year in Australia.

Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants are responsible for handling a number of office management duties. Their job description mainly includes data entry, answering calls, placing supply orders, organizing meetings, and taking minutes at meetings. They may work for an organization or with a specific individual.

While landing an administrative assistant position is now often requiring a bachelor’s degree, this profession still makes a list as one of the lowest-paid occupations in Australia. Employees in this position make an average income of $59,113 a year despite all the high-level job requirements for this role.

Bottom Line

It’s unsurprising that checkout operators come out as the lowest paying job in Australia on the list of lowest paying jobs. However, the most unexpected thing is that the receptionist and administrative assistant also make the list, despite both being enjoyable jobs for some. Despite that, many lucrative businesses still promise high salaries, which you can learn further in the article about Australia’s high-paying jobs and Australia’s high demand careers.

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