finance

Jobs in Townsville 2026, Top Industries & Salary Guide

Find jobs in Townsville across defence, healthcare and mining. Discover top employers, salary expectations and how to apply for work in North Queensland's largest job market.

By Townsville Daily · Published 20 July 2026

How we reported this

Produced with AI assistance and reviewed against our editorial standards. Sources are linked where available. Spotted an error or need a correction? Contact [email protected].

Jobs in Townsville 2026

Townsville is the economic capital of North Queensland, its employment base is significantly more diversified than Cairns, with a large Defence presence (Lavarack Barracks, the largest Army base in Australia), a substantial healthcare and education sector and a significant role as the service hub for North Queensland's mining and resources sector. smartjobs.qld.gov.au

Top Industries Hiring in Townsville in 2026

Defence, Lavarack Barracks houses the Australian Army's 3rd Brigade, the largest active Army base in Australia. The ADF employs thousands of uniformed and civilian personnel in Townsville. Additionally, defence industry suppliers (Thales, BAE Systems, NCI Information Systems) have Townsville operations. defencejobs.gov.au
Healthcare, Townsville University Hospital (the tertiary referral hospital for all of North Queensland, from Mackay to Thursday Island) and the Mater Private are major employers. Specialist medical roles are in high demand given the hospital's regional catchment.
Mining Support Services, Townsville is the service hub for the Mt Isa mining operations and the broader North Queensland resources sector. Glencore, BHP, QMC and their contractors maintain Townsville offices for engineering, logistics, HR and finance functions.
Education, James Cook University (Townsville's largest tertiary employer), TAFE Queensland and the large school sector employ thousands.

Best Job Boards for Townsville Jobs

Employment Agencies in Townsville

Leading Townsville recruitment agencies: Hays, Randstad, Chandler Macleod, Drake and Skilled Group. For resources and mining: NES Fircroft, Workforce Extensions and WorkPac.

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.

Your newsroom. Shaped by you.

The Daily Townsville is in beta. AI may assist with research, summarising and drafting. Automated checks assess sourcing, accuracy and editorial risk before publication, and sensitive material is held for human review. Spotted something off, or want us covering a topic? Tell us. Your feedback is entirely optional and helps shape what we publish next.