Nearly 90% of temporary skilled migrants in Australia who were granted a Subclass 457 visa in 2009-10 to date are managers and professional workers, according to official data released by the federal government.

According to those figures, the average total salary package for all new temporary skilled migrants sits close to $100,000, up $10,000 since the previous year.

The mining industry has the highest salaries, with an average total remuneration of $169,000. In the financial and insurance services sector, salaries for skilled migrants are currently at an average of $127,600.

In terms of geographic distribution, Western Australia is home to the highest paid skilled migrants, with an average total salary of $114,800, followed by New South Wales with $101,100, Queensland with $97,900 and Victoria with $94,200. 

At the end of January 2010, there were 71,290 Subclass 457 primary visa holders in Australia, a number that is 13% lower than the same period of 2009. Registered nurses, doctors and computing professionals are at the top of those primary visa grants.