Tradies earned an average of $78,800 in FY 25/26 👍
Tradies are among the highest-earning and most stable sole trader business owners in the country.
That’s not to say that tradies aren’t facing challenges. The recent rising fuel costs have hit them especially hard, due to their generally higher levels of petrol usage. Unlike other sole traders who can often choose to work from home, tradies have no choice but to travel to and from job sites.
But tradies are a resilient lot – as reflected in their strong earning potential.
The future of tradie industries
Unlike some other sole trader work types, demand for the trade services remains relatively constant. From niche specialisations, to general construction roles, tradies are generally able to find work across the country, throughout the year.
The physical nature of the trades means tradies are less likely to have to compete with AI in the near future. Although investment in robotics is growing, current rates of development suggest that physical labour will be augmented by automation, rather than out-and-out replaced.
Job security for tradies is more certain than for knowledge workers who are yet to see how AI will impact their industries. The future, whatever it brings, looks bright.
Earnings by industry
Building Services
Some tradies prefer smaller service jobs – like painting a single room or responding to water pipe emergencies. They can do this as a one-person show, or by working as a subcontractor for a company or another sole trader. But most tradies seek out larger projects that can occupy them for weeks - or even months - and for the really ambitious ones, they may need to hire subcontractors in order to complete jobs in a timely manner.
Construction
Construction workers have generally strong wages due to recent labour shortages, and minimum base rates for construction employees set by the Fair Work Commission. Although these base rates don’t apply to sole traders, they can influence market rates – especially as skilled construction workers are in high demand.
Manufacturing, Repair, and Maintenance
Manufacturing, repair, and maintenance jobs can range from quick fixes for private individuals, to ongoing contracts for larger corporations. In both cases, operating as a sole trader makes a lot of sense – they can contract with individuals as a one-man show, or subcontract to a company for bigger, more predictable work packages.
Transport Services
Sole trader Truck Drivers own and operate their own truck, but contract their services to freight companies. They’re responsible for the running and maintenance of their equipment, and may need to load and unload their consignments, depending on their contract.
