Looking for a job change? These are 2024's most in-demand jobs that have the highest salary.

Think it's time to change careers? Well now is the time to do it.

With 2024 having just kicked off, it's the perfect opportunity to try out something new, especially if you find yourself dreading to go to work. 

Interestingly, research shows that each of us will go through approximately three to seven career changes throughout our lifetime. 

Either way, we're happy to report there are plenty of jobs out there for you to choose from for your next chapter - and they're occupations that are very in-demand right now.

Also did we mention they pay well? Like seriously well.

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The number of occupations with workers in short supply jumped to 332 in 2023 from 286 in 2022, according to Jobs and Skills Australia, and that number is bound to increase this year.

With this in mind, we looked at which industries are looking for lots of employees this year, and we've narrowed it down based on the options with the highest salary. Because in this cost-of-living crisis, we all deserve a decent raise.

Trades - electricians. 

Jobs and Skills Australia has identified 38 critical occupations, mainly in trades and technical occupations. Electricians and electrical engineers are critically important across these areas. 

These occupations can make you around $130,000 annually according to data. Considering the call-out fee alone at the moment for a good electrician can set you back $300 - these tradespeople are making some good bank.

In Australia, electrical apprenticeships take around four years and they involve both on-the-job and off-the-job training. And another great aspect of being an electrician is that it's an in-demand job across the country.

Health industry - anaesthetists.

Data shows that the most severe shortages in the Aussie labour market are seen among health professionals, where 82 per cent of occupations lack workers. 

This included dentists, radiographers, optometrists and general practitioners. Of course, frontline workers such as nurses and paramedics are also always desperately needed. But the rates of burnout and poor mental health associated with these roles are sadly quite high. 

Right now in particular though, there is one major job in the health industry that is in big demand. And it's anaesthetists. According to Seek, the salary for anaesthetists is approximately $222,000.

The downside however, is that the training and studying it takes to be an anaesthetist, while necessary, will set you back years and years. There will also be a hefty tertiary education bill, though the future salary will certainly have you sitting pretty years down the track. 

So if the healthcare industry is one you've been considering getting into, and you're up for gaining new skills and qualifications - becoming an anaesthetist might be a good option.

Hospitality - chefs.

If you consider yourself quite the whiz in the kitchen, you could always consider training to become a chef and working in hospitality. The catch though is climbing to the top of the ladder, as that's where the higher salaries come about. We're talking about the executive chefs and food and beverage managers, where the salaries can be around the $150,000 mark.

Just a few months ago, chefs were added to the top 10 most in-demand jobs in Australia, as per the Federal Government's Skills Priority List.

The work-life balance for this job though is notoriously not fantastic. There's nights and weekend work, and public holidays are often a chef's busiest days of the year.

But when you have a passion for food and cooking and it's one of your greatest skills - this is an industry where you can truly flourish. Plus, a great bonus about working in the hospitality sector is that you are working in an international industry - there is no limit to where you can work in the world.

ICT - software engineers. 

The Australian Financial Review reports that almost 70 per cent of information technology jobs are deemed short of workers, including software engineers, web developers, and cybersecurity specialists.

Software and application programmers remain among the top three most in-demand jobs in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and the most in-demand in the ACT.

Despite the need for these jobs, very few people choose to go down this path - likely due to the high-level results required to enter the university courses. But if you have quite the knack for ICT and digital skills, it's worth it for the salary - often ranging anywhere from $100,000 to $220,000.

Construction - managers.

A LOT of people in construction are doing well financially.

If you're in this industry and you have 'manager' as part of your title, there's a good chance you're making over $140,000.

Some examples include construction managers, contracts managers, health safety and environment managers, safety managers, quality managers, project managers, site managers and more. Simply put - there's a lot on offer. 

It's important to consider though that lately a lot of construction firms have been going into liquidation. Which is ironic, considering the high demand.

Legal - solicitors.

Last but certainly not least, we have a good 'ol solicitor. While these jobs certainly aren't the highest-paid options in law, they still will leave you with a sizeable salary - over $100,000.

This is an occupation that is newly in shortage in 2023. As for why this is, Jobs and Skills Australia estimates it's because of the training gap and how long it takes for applicants to have the necessary skills and qualifications.

The demand is so high that Australian law firms recorded a demand growth of 4.9 per cent in the second half of this latest financial year, compared to US firms, where demand dropped by 2.6 per cent.

So if you want to live out your Suits fantasy - the long hours, competitiveness and all - then becoming a solicitor could be on the cards.

Feature Image: Getty

This story was originally published in October 2023 and has since been updated with new information.

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