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Home / Business / Economy / Employment

Sydney traffic controller reveals she earns almost $3000 a week

By Sarah Sharples
news.com.au·
13 Jul, 2021 01:21 AM3 mins to read

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Chloe Taouk works at construction sites. Photo / Supplied

Chloe Taouk works at construction sites. Photo / Supplied

An Australian lollipop lady has revealed she earns almost $3000 a week, but her tongue in cheek post claimed that workers need a pay rise, causing outrage among some users.

The TikTok user, Chloe Taouk, posted a video outlining how much she makes a day controlling traffic around Sydney's construction sites.

It features footage of the young woman and her colleagues on the job and breaks down how many hours she works a day and what she earned for it.

Working almost 58 hours in six days, she raked in a whopping $2949, although it's not clear whether this is her earnings before or after tax.

For one shift on Thursday she worked just 15 minutes, scoring herself $148, while Sunday was the most lucrative with $717.40 in the bank for 12.5 hours due to double time.

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Her longest shift was 14 hours on a Wednesday, which netted her $611.50, while a higher rate on Saturday gave her $557 for nine hours.

During the week, she worked for 12 hours on the Monday raking in $496, while her 10-hour shift on Tuesday scored her $409.45.

Her earning equated to being $50 an hour for the week. Photo / TikTok / @chloetaouk2
Her earning equated to being $50 an hour for the week. Photo / TikTok / @chloetaouk2

Overall, her pay packet equates to an incredible $50 an hour for her working week.

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The average salary for a Sydney traffic controller is $130,000, although the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union revealed some are on a whopping $180,000 per year with huge demand due to Sydney's booming construction industry.

The TikTok video was set to the song, Beggin by Maneskin, which didn't impress some social media users.

"Over paid for doing nothing," commented one man.

"Your take home pay on an average day is my whole week ... and a lot of people make way less. I'm not against you getting a pay rise, but perspective," said one woman.

"I save lives for a living. You're saying I could control traffic and make in one day doing that what I make in a week?" said another user.

But others came to her defence, arguing that the job is actually dangerous.

Her colleagues featured in her video. Photo / TikTok / @chloetaouk2
Her colleagues featured in her video. Photo / TikTok / @chloetaouk2

"For the haters, traffic controllers risk their lives with oncoming traffic to protect the workers. It might look easy, but it's also dangerous," said one woman.

"Traffic control ain't no easy job. Standing in sun and rain all day ain't easy. Plus trying to deal with traffic is hectic," wrote one person.

"As good as the pay is, I couldn't stand there for 12 hours a day doing nothing, that's a hard job in my books," noted one user.

Others wished they were on such good money. "My paychecks every two weeks look like your Thursday," wrote one woman.

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However, some were quick to point out that traffic control is seasonal work and the jobs and money aren't guaranteed long term.

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