It’s one of 72 out of 1100 occupations where women earn more than men, according to the Australian Taxation Office, which has released its annual Tax Stats covering the 2016-17 financial year.

Female magistrates, authors, illustrators and pro surfers also earn more than men.

“They might be very small populations, for example female pro surfers earn $76,000 and males earn $48,000, there could be a couple of outliers in the female population that bump the average up,” said ATO deputy commissioner Louise Clarke.

This year’s Tax Stats present an overview of 16.5 million 2017 income tax returns for 13.9 million individuals, 970,000 companies, as well as super funds, partnerships and trusts.

Each year the ATO reveals the postcodes around the country with the highest and lowest salaries, as well as the top-earning occupations and data on charitable donations.

Surgeon remains the highest-earning profession with a national average taxable income of $394,866, followed by anaesthetists on $367,343 and internal medicine specialists on $299,378.

The top earning postcode was Sydney’s 2108, which covers Coasters Retreat, Currawong Beach, Great Mackerel Beach and Palm Beach, with an average of $230,330.

Melbourne’s 3142 postcode, covering Toorak and Hawksburn, was the second highest nationally with an average taxable income of $193,904.

NSW was also home to the lowest earning area. Postcode 2308, covering Newcastle University and Callaghan, had an average taxable income of $20,589.

Queensland had five of the bottom 10 postcodes, with 4611 recording the second lowest average income nationally of $23,225.

In total, Australians reported donating $3.5 billion in charitable donations with an average gift size for those who did donate of $770.

The most generous state was Western Australia, with 30 per cent of residents claiming an average deduction of $1190.

Northern Territory residents recorded the lowest charitable donations, with 34 per cent of residents claiming an average deduction of $405.

Ms Clarke said “unsurprisingly” doctors were still the top three income-earning groups this year, while the lowest-earning occupations remained agricultural labourers, fast-food cooks, leaflet deliverers and other unskilled work.

“One thing that has changed though is five of the 10 bottom-earning postcodes are in Queensland, where last year it was Victoria,” she said.

“It could be because some of the postcodes are areas where there are primary producers who may be struggling with drought or natural disaster, or it could be related to some other change in work trends.”

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