Australian Expats Among the Richest in the World

So says this survey from HSBC Bank Australia:

AUSTRALIAN expatriates are among the richest in the world, with one in five earning more than $US250,000 ($322,000) a year.

But almost a third are planning to return home, blaming global economic turmoil for limiting their career prospects.

Research by HSBC Bank Australia, based on a survey of 3100 expats working in 50 countries, found Australians working overseas are living the good life, whereas foreign expats working in Australia have the lowest salaries of all the countries surveyed.

Almost half, or 46 per cent, of Australian expats have an extra $US4000 or so in disposable income each month and have hired help such as nannies or cleaners.

However, foreign expats in Australia are the poorest of those surveyed, with 63 per cent earning less than $US100,000 a year.

Graham Heunis, the head of personal finance services at HSBC Australia, said expats in Russia, Asia and the Middle East were the highest paid, with those in Belgium and Australia the poorest. [Herald-Sun]

When I was an expat in Australia I can assure you that I wasn’t making over $100,000 a year that’s for sure.  Good on ya if you can make that kind of money though even if you have to live overseas.