Australia's best jobs: The occupations with the least hours and most pay are revealed - and you'll never look at your dentist the same way again
- Australia's top professions striking a balance between hours and pay revealed
- Dentists appear to have a good balance, earning well and working short weeks
- Interestingly, the top six earning jobs in Australia are all in the medical field
The careers that earn the most pay while working the least hours have been revealed - and some of those topping the list may surprise you.
The figures, from Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, show that while some top earning jobs require long work weeks, others offer less hours with their healthy pay packets.
Dentists have taken the number one spot, with the profession raking in almost $70 an hour on average while clocking just over 42 hours a week.
Dentists have taken the number one spot, with the profession raking in almost $70 an hour on average while clocking just over 42 hours a week (stock)
Optometrists and those in the Medical Imaging field perhaps have the shortest working weeks of top earning professions
Dr Stephanie Charnock, a dentist at Melbourne's Royal Dental Hospital, says that even though it is not the type of work you have to take home with you, it can be very fast paced.
'We are very busy. We have allotted breaks but it's because we don't get breaks at any other times, otherwise, we're very busy seeing client after client,' Dr Charnock told WA Today.
'I have some friends who have cups of tea at their desk and to me that sounds amazing because for me that's not an option,' she said.
Information and Communication Technology is another top earning profession that offers relatively good hours.
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ICT Managers earn more than $56 an hour while working roughly 44.5 hours a week.
ICT Business and Systems Analysts work just 42 hours a week and pull in more than $50 an hour.
Optometrists and those in the Medical Imaging field perhaps have the shortest working weeks of top earning professions, because, like dentists, they cannot take their work home.
Optometrists work just 41.5 hours per week and make $44 an hour, while Medical Imaging Professionals, such as those running MRI machines, earn the same and work an even shorter 40.8 hours a week.
Electrical Engineer is another job that pays quite well, offering $48 an hour for 43.8 hours a week
Medical Imaging Professionals, such as those running MRI machines, earn about $44 an hour and work 40.8 hours a week
Economists make more than $49 an hour and work 44 hours a week, while Air Transport Professionals, either flying or directing aircraft, work the same hours and earn $52 an hour.
Electrical Engineer is another job that pays quite well, offering $48 an hour for 43.8 hours a week.
Intelligence and Policy Analysts also have short office hours, working just over 41 hours a week and earning $43 an hour.
Interestingly, the top six earning jobs are all in the medical field, with anaesthetists earning the most at more than $78 an hour and surgeons putting in the longest weeks, typically working more than 55 hours in a week.
Intelligence and Policy Analysts also have short office hours, working just over 41 hours a week and earning $43 an hour
