11 Highest Paying Blue Collar Jobs in Australia

3. Structural steel construction workers

Average weekly salary: $1,600
Employment growth: 3.9
Skill level: 4

Structural steel construction workers assemble rigging gear which is used for moving equipment and structural components, erecting scaffolding, securing steel reinforcing in concrete forms, etc. While in last five years labor force in the occupation significantly increased, projections for next couple of years show that this positive trend will slow down. By 2019, the occupation will gain only 1,200 workers, which will account for 3.9 percent increase. Compared to the labor force in other occupations, steel construction workers are much younger with the average age of 33 years. Although these tradies have solid earnings, they work five hours longer per week compared to the national average for all occupation. Currently, the labor force counts 30,800 workers who are divided among manufacturing, electricity, gas, water and waste services and mining.

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