Admittedly, salaries for experienced electronics engineers in Australia are low compare to civil and mining engineers. I have found it is financially the best to take on other senior responsibilities as your career progresses such as team leadership and even project management, but making sure I never give up the core work what I love doing. I am a Principal engineer of a global electronic equipment company, but still much of my time is architecture of technical solutions, writing code and developing circuitry because getting things working is what I have enjoyed the most professionally and privately for over 30 years.
My suggestion to anyone is first of all put what you love doing first and foremost. One volunteer is worth ten conscripts. Someone who has passion for electronics or code is worth ten people who, for example, get engineering degrees because of cultural or family expectations or money and plod their way through. I have seen many of the latter in more recent times, and these days real enthusiasts are getting harder to find. The "volunteer" will do electronics at home and continue to have a thirst for learning. The "conscript" will have no interest unless it makes money.
A good engineer is worth his salt and a smart company will pay him a higher salary in order to retain his skills and passion. Success mean being happiest. The high salary becomes an effect rather than a cause.
Dave, I have never had a cup of coffee in my life, literally. Strange thing I was among two adult acquaintances in their 40's recently and both of them has also have never had a cup of coffee in their lives. The probability of that would be pretty low in Australia.