Contractors earned an average of $111,400 in FY 2025/26 🙌
Contractors and consultants have gotten a bad rap in recent years. There’s been plenty of stories in the media about the government’s “shadow workforce”, focusing on the high ratio of contractors and consultants to permanent employees – and the high fees they charge.
But what this argument misses is the true value of contractors. Contractors and consultants are industry experts who bring immediate impact to any project or organisation. They’re not just charging for their time – they’re charging for their experience, their efficiency, and their ability to problem-solve.
In short: When hired effectively, contractors are a bloody good investment.
How contractors work
Generally, there are three main ways contractors work: for a fixed period, for a specific project, or on a rolling basis.
- A fixed-period contract can help fill a gap or provide extra support for a set duration – like during a busy season or for a defined campaign.
- Project-based contracts are often tied to the completion of a specific piece of work, rather than a fixed timeframe.
- A rolling contract runs in short terms that renew as needed – the most flexible of the three.
Earnings by industry
Business Consulting and Advisory
Many Consultants are former leaders in their field who enjoy working across multiple companies, rather than being tied to just one. They can solve a specific problem, create new internal processes, launch new products or services, or even provide ongoing support indefinitely – it all depends on business needs.
IT and Technology
IT Contractors can step in to solve specific problems a business might be having with its internal tech stack or customer-facing websites or apps. They can also provide support during busy periods. A Contract Support Agent can take some of the weight off a full-time support team, ending their contract when demand dies down.
Professional Services
For these classic white-collar professions, working as a sole trader involves more freedom than the traditionally employed equivalent. Think better work-life balance, higher earning potential, and the ability to design your career around the work that interests you.
General Administrative Services
Administrative Services includes everything from election-day poll workers and contract administrative assistants, to waiters and waitresses for special events – basically, anything that needs administrative support on an occasional basis. For example, Event Management workers are the first port of call when a big headline act rolls into town – but because there aren’t usually concerts every night, they’re only contracted for the duration of the event planning.
