A British Backpacker’s Surprising Earnings in Australia
A British backpacker has shared her shocking experience of earning significantly more while working as a casual supermarket employee in Australia compared to her previous job as a support worker in the UK. Lauren, a 29-year-old from Liverpool, recently made headlines after revealing how much she is saving by working in the Outback.
Lauren left her support worker job earlier this year to travel around Australia and started working at IGA in Derby, located in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, in May. She now earns more stacking shelves in the remote area than she ever did working grueling 60-hour weeks in the UK.
“It’s insane,” she said in an interview with Daily Mail Australia. “I just can’t believe how much money I’m going to save.”
On TikTok under the username ‘Lauren’s Adventures,’ she posted a video breaking down her pay packet that went viral. In the video, she explained that for the past three months, she had been traveling without working. Then she decided it was time to get a job, looking for somewhere with no distractions and a chance to live the Outback life.
She was stunned by the difference in wages between the UK and Australia. As a support worker in England, she earned £12.50 per hour, working 60 hours a week, including bank holidays and public holidays, which brought home about £2,500 per month.
In contrast, in Australia, the minimum rate she receives for stacking shelves at IGA is $34 an hour, equivalent to around £16. This is already more than what she earned in Britain, but the rates are even higher on evenings and weekends.
“After 6pm, Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays, my rate of pay is $38 an hour, which is the equivalent to about £19. On Sundays, my rate of pay is $45 an hour – equivalent to £22.50 an hour. And on public holidays, my rate of pay is $64 an hour, which is about £30 an hour.”
She added, “So, I was working back home 60 hours a week for less money than I will be earning in a supermarket doing about 40 hours a week. I will be earning more money doing that. My mind is just like, what!”
Despite being aware of the higher cost of living in Australia, Lauren feels she is better off overall. She noted that accommodation can be expensive, but suggested that living with others and house sharing can help reduce costs.
“You can rent a room for $450 a week, some for $300 — that’s about £600 to £800 a month. I’ve decided to experience outback life, so I’ve come to Derby. My accommodation is $165 a week — around £80.”
Her story resonated with many online, with fellow Brits commenting that they too have earned far more in Australia. One person wrote, “I earn more here working at David Jones in retail than I did in a health clinic.” Another added, “It’s crazy – you can earn a decent amount in hospitality and retail, especially on weekends. So good.”
However, not everyone agreed with Lauren’s take. Some pointed out that everything in the UK is cheaper, including food, rent, electricity, cars, and fuel. One person said, “You can live in the UK on less than £2,000 a month easily.”
Another warned, “The cost of living in Australia is nearly double. I’m from England too – it pretty much balances out in the end.”
