The Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) latest statistics based on 2015-16 tax returns show the average taxable annual income for Mudgee workers was $54,475.

While it is nearly $2000 less than Orange workers, it’s $1,107 more than in Lithgow and just over $3000 more than in Dubbo.

However, it is not even a third of Australia’s richest area – Sydney’s eastern suburbs – where the average income is up to a staggering $192,500 each year.

And it is about $6,700 less than the Central West’s top spot, Millthorpe.

NSW Business Chamber regional manager Western NSW Vicki Seccombe said Millthorpe had a lot of tree-changers from Sydney and health professionals living in the village.

She said higher wages in Orange compared to similar-sized Central West cities was probably due to the number of health, government and mine workers, with salaries at the hospital, Department of Primary Industries and Cadia mine generally higher.

Ms Seccombe said Mudgee’s higher wage was probably also due to having three mines nearby.

“Cadia salaries are perceived as being higher than businesses in town,” she said.

The ATO figures showed that medical jobs continued to be the best paid. The only non-medical profession to average more than $250,000 was financial dealers on $263,309.

On average, Mudgee workers’ total superannuation savings were $111,361.