Salary & Earnings

What You Can Earn

High voltage is one of the highest-paying sectors within the Australian electrical trade. Because the work requires specialised skills, extensive safety training, and experience on critical infrastructure, employers typically offer salaries well above residential and commercial electrical work. Earnings vary with experience, qualifications, sector, roster, overtime, and location — mining, utilities, and renewables generally pay the most.

$90k–$120k

Newly qualified entering HV, particularly in industrial, utility, and infrastructure roles.

$120k–$180k

Experienced HV electricians, plus overtime, shift work, on-call allowances, and project bonuses.

$160k–$220k+

FIFO / remote mining operations, depending on roster, employer, and responsibility.

$160k–$250k+

Supervisors, superintendents, commissioning and project managers on major projects.

Electricians who complete additional training in HV switching, commissioning, or protection systems often command higher salaries as their expertise develops. Roles with network operators, renewable developers, and major industrial facilities frequently include benefits such as vehicle allowances, superannuation contributions, and training and career development. Specialist commissioning technicians, protection technicians, and technical specialists on major mining, oil and gas, or renewable projects may earn even more once overtime and site allowances are included.

Contracting & consulting

Many HV professionals operate their own contracting businesses or work as specialist consultants. While income varies with workload and operating costs, successful contractors can achieve significantly higher earnings than salaried employees by delivering specialist switching, commissioning, testing, and maintenance services across multiple projects. With continued investment in transmission, renewables, mining, and critical infrastructure, qualified HV professionals remain among the most sought-after and well-compensated tradespeople in the country.