<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339571</docID> <postdate>2025-03-04 06:02:42</postdate> <headline>Butchers, bakers and makers better off in the bush</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339572" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20230530001805181855-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>When it comes to pay, butchers may be able to do better in the bush, according to a new report. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Stephanie Gardiner</strong> in Orange</span></p> <p><strong>Butchers, bakers and smallgoods makers are better off living in the country, with research showing workers across nearly 100 occupations can get more bang for their buck in the bush.</strong></p> <p>City-based teachers, mechanics, general practitioners, chief executives, chefs, house cleaners and child care workers may also want to consider a move to the country for better pay.</p> <p>There are 85 occupations where net incomes are higher in country Australia compared to the capitals, according to an analysis by the Regional Australia Institute released on Tuesday.</p> <p>There was an income premium of 26 per cent in remote areas with industries like agriculture and mining, particularly among truck drivers, machinery operators, tradies and technicians.</p> <p>The findings of the Beyond City Limits report were significant not just for regional economies, but the national workforce, the institute's chief executive Liz Ritchie said.</p> <p>"This report busts the long-held myth that you have to live in a major city to earn a high income," Ms Ritchie said.</p> <p>The research used census and tax data to look at incomes across occupations, before factoring in age, gender, education and housing costs.</p> <p>Managers and sales workers' net incomes were lower in both inner regional and remote areas, while professionals and admin staff only experienced income premiums in remote or very remote areas.</p> <p>Wages were slightly lower overall in inner regional areas, such as Albury, Dubbo, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga in NSW, the Latrobe region in Victoria and Toowoomba in Queensland.</p> <p>Ms Ritchie said Australians needed to know about the career opportunities in regional areas, where there were 67,000 job vacancies in January.</p> <p>"There are plenty of good jobs, where you can earn a very good income," she said.</p> <p>"Combine that with the regions' livability factors, like less traffic, more affordable housing and access to nature and you can understand why so many people have already made the move."</p> <p>The research recommended several policy focus areas, including promotion of regional jobs and social infrastructure investments.</p> <p>The institute has launched its online interactive <a href="https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Toolkits-Indexes/Regional_Jobs_Guide.aspx">Regional Jobs Guide</a> to help workers understand country labour markets.</p> </body>