Highest Paying Courses in Australia 2024 - Top 10 Streams and Universities

Highest Paying Courses in Australia 2024 - Top 10 Streams and Universities

Edited By Stuti Jain | Updated on May 20, 2024 12:37 PM IST

Highest Paying Courses in Australia 2024- The Australian job market shows very positive results with just a 3.7% unemployment rate in the country. The ratio of employment to population is 64.5% in Australia. Health care and social assistance, Professional scientific and technical services, Education and training, Accommodation and Food services are the growing industries set to provide ⅗ of all jobs. This ⅗ of employment growth is expected to be for high skills jobs that require at least a bachelor's level of university degree. International students who want to study in Australia for better career prospects must be aware of job trends as well as the high demand courses in Australia.

The Healthcare industry is at its peak with around 40,000 job openings. Similarly, the Scientific and Technical Services industry is set to create 206,600 additional jobs between 2021-2026. Read the full article to know more about the highest paying courses in Australia for international students.

Top 10 Highest Paying Courses in Australia

When comparing the highest paying degrees Australia 2024, the cost of a course is important. Highest paying courses fetch high ROIs on the cost of studying in Australia. The average salary in Australia is up to AUD 108,980 for experienced skilled workers which may vary according to profession. The below table lists the top 10 highest paying courses in Australia for international students.

Highest Paying Courses in Australia 2024

Course Name

Average Salary per Annum

Average Salary in INR (Approximate)

Surgeon

AUD 406,068

2.15 Cr

Psychiatry

AUD 252,691

1.34 Cr

Internal Medicine

AUD 305,000

1.61 Cr

Mining Engineering

AUD 185,000

97.85 Lakhs

Anaesthetist

AUD 389,000

2.06 Cr

Finance

AUD 280,000

1.48 Cr

Computer Science

AUD 124,628

65.92 Lakhs

Law

AUD 189,000

99.97 Lakhs

Human Resource Management

AUD 300,000

1.59 Cr

Civil Engineer

AUD 109,076

57.69 Lakhs

Anaesthetist

An Anaesthetist administers general or local anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic purposes. It is also used to reduce pain or discomfort in body maintenance. They may also have to take care of patients throughout surgical procedures as well as post-surgery. Some of the specialisations include Obstetric Anaesthetist, Intensive Care Anaesthetist, and Pain Management Specialist. It is considered a very high skill job that is intensive with long hours of working requirements at times.

To become an Anaesthetist, prospects must complete 2 years of work experience after study in the public healthcare system along with a fellowship with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). The number of Anaesthetists is projected to be 6000 by 2026 from 2021 in Australia. Anaesthesiology is one of the highest paying courses in Australia for international students with the Average Salary of an Anaesthetist being AUD 389,000 per year.

Top Courses in Australia for Anaesthesiology

University in Australia

Course Name

Macquarie University

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Medical Sciences


TAFE Queensland

Diploma of Anaesthetic Technology and Practice

University of Sunshine Coast

Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics

Australia National University

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Software Engineering/Bachelor of Medical Science

Surgeon

A surgeon can be a general surgeon or a specialised surgeon. Responsibilities of a surgeon include performing incisions on the body, correcting deformities, treating injuries, and performing various corrective measures for a broad range of medical conditions. Some of the specialisations include Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic, paediatric, and Orthopaedic. A surgeon is expected to have emotional intelligence when dealing with patients. It is considered one of the high-skill level professions that carries heavy responsibility. The growth of new surgeons by 2026 is estimated to be at 800. The average salary of a Surgeon in Australia is 2.2 Cr Indian rupees making it one of the highest paying courses in Australia for international students.

Top Courses in Australia for Surgeons

University in Australia

Course Name

Monash University

Master of Surgery

University of Sydney

Master of Surgery

University of Melbourne

Master of Surgery

James Cook University

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

University of NewCastle

Master of Philosophy (Surgical Science)

Civil Engineering

Dealing with the design, planning and building of various buildings and structures like bridges, dams, canals, and much more, Civil Engineering is one of the highest paying bachelor degrees in Australia for foreigners as the construction industry booms. Currently, 21,300 of civil engineering professionals are employed in Australia with a 12% share of females. Minimum bachelor degree is required to be a civil engineer, though postgraduates earn much higher. Civil engineering professionals also become Geotechnical engineers and structural and transport engineers. There are various scholarships in Australia to check out for studying the course.

Most of the working civil engineers are bachelor's degree holders in Australia. The average salary of a Civil engineer is AUD 109,076 per year making it one of the highest paying courses in Australia 2024.

Top Universities in Australia for Civil Engineering

University Name

Courses

University of New South Wales

M.Eng Civil Engineering, Master of Engineering Science (MES) Civil Engineering, B.Eng Civil Engineering, B.Eng Civil Engineering with Architecture.

University of Sydney

M.Eng Civil Engineering, B.Eng Civil Engineering, Master of Professional Engineering Civil Engineering

University of Melbourne

M.Eng Civil Engineering

Monash University

B.Eng Civil Engineering

University of Queensland

B.Eng Civil Engineering

Mining Engineering

Mining Engineering deals with aspects of engineering involved with mining and extraction of metals, natural gas and oil from the Earth. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Australia has a high concentration of oil and natural gas reserves along with mineral deposits across its land. A number of new job seekers is expected to grow very strongly by 2026 reaching 18,800. Full time Mining Engineers on average work 50 hours per week, 6 hours more than the national average of working in Australia. What makes Mining Engineering one of the highest paying courses in Australia is 50% higher median earnings compared to other jobs.

Top Universities in Australia for Mining Engineering

University Name

Courses

Curtin University

M.Eng Mining Engineering, B.Eng Mining Engineering, B.Eng Metallurgical Engineering (Major)

University of New South Wales

B.Eng Mining Engineering, M.Eng Mining Engineering

University of Queensland

B.Eng Mining Engineering

University of Western Australia

M.Eng Oil and Gas

University of Adelaide

M.Eng Mining Engineering, Graduate Diploma Mining Engineering, BS Mining Engineering

Psychiatry

Psychiatry is a well respected profession across the world that diagnoses and treats symptoms of mental, emotional and behavioural illnesses. Psychiatrists can also be mental health counsellors. After completion of a study degree, training with the Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is mandatory to become a Psychiatrist in Australia. The average salary of a Psychiatrist in Australia is one of the highest at AUD 252,691 per annum. For international students, Psychiatry will be one of the highest paying degrees Australia 2024.

Top Universities in Australia for Psychiatry

University Name

Courses

University of Melbourne

MS Clinical Psychology, MS Applied Psychology, MS Educational Psychology

University of New South Wales

PhD Psychiatry

University of Sydney

Master of Medicine Psychiatry

University of Queensland

MS Psychology

University of Western Australia

Grad.Dip Clinical Psychology, MS Industrial and Organisational Psychology

Computer Science

Computer Science graduates are in high demand across various industries in Australia including healthcare, public administration and safety, Finance and insurance, and professional and technical services. It is among the top master courses in Australia with high ROI. Computer science graduates typically become Database Designer, Computer Applications Engineer, and Systems Architect. International students migrate to Australia to study computer science programs in top universities where the best of the infrastructure is available. A software engineer on average earns AUD 1,24,628 per year.

Top Universities in Australia for Computer Science

University Name

Courses

University of Melbourne

Master of Computer Science, Master of Information Technology, B.S Computing and Software Systems, Diploma Computing

Australian National University (ANU)

M.S Computing, B.Eng Software Engineering, M.S Computer Networks, M.S Cyber Security, Strategy and Risk Management

University of New South Wales

Master of Information Technology, BS Computer Science, B.Eng Computer Engineering

University of Sydney

Master of Information Technology, BS Advanced Computing, M.Eng Information Technology Management

University of Technology Sydney

Master of Information Technology MIT, Bachelor Computing Science

Law

Legal professions in Australia are seeing an increasing number of jobs. In Australia, lawyers can be either barristers or solicitors. A barrister is equivalent to a “lawyer” in India and requires a minimum bachelor's degree in Law. While a barrister pleads before criminal, civil, and industrial courts and other tribunals, solicitors are concerned with legal advice, preparation and drafting of legal documents on matters relating to Law. Practising lawyers are barristers in Australia who need to pass the Bar Examination to get an Australian barrister practising certificate. Over 2000 new jobs are estimated to be created between 2021-2026. The average salary of a lawyer in Australia is AUD 189,000/year.

Top Universities in Australia for Law

University Name

Courses

University of Melbourne

Master of Law (LLM), LLM Criminology, Graduate Diploma Corporate Law, MA Public and International Law, LLM Construction Law, M.Phil Law, MA Private Law

University of New South Wales

Master of Law LLM, LLM Corporate, Commercial and Taxation Law, LLMMedia, Intellectual Property and Technology Law, LLM Criminal Justice and Criminology

University of Sydney

Master of Law LLM, MA Business Law, Master of Criminology, Master of International Law, Master of Law LLM

Australian National University (ANU)

Master of Law LLM, Bachelor of Law LLB, LLB Criminology, M.Phil Law

Monash University

LLM Criminal Law and Forensics, LLM Commercial and Corporate Law, Bachelor of Law, Master Legal Studies, LLM Dispute Resolution

Internal Medicine Specialist

A branch of Medicine, Internal medicine deals with the diagnosis, testing and treatment of disorders of internal organs in a human using specialised medical techniques. Doctors specialising in Internal Medicine in Australia are known as internists or consultant physicians. This is one of the highest paying courses in Australia in Medicine. The average salary drawn by an internal medicine specialist in Australia is AUD 305,000 per year or 1.6 Cr per annum.

Top Universities in Australia for Internal Medicine

University Name

Courses

University of Melbourne

Doctor of Medicine, Biomedicine, MPhil Dental Science

University of New South Wales

Master of Public Health, MRes Health Administration

University of Sydney

Master of Physiotherapy, MPhil Medicine and Health

Australian National University (ANU)

Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Health Science, MPhil Clinical Research

Finance

Financial analysts are in demand across industries in Australia. 8500 new Financial Manager jobs will be created between 2021-2026 in Australia as per labour market estimates. While Financial and Insurance services are the primary industry for specialists in Finance, their expertise is also required in Healthcare, Manufacturing, Public Administration and Safety, and other professional industries. This is one of the jobs with a higher margin of earnings than most professions in Australia. Related professions include Chief financial officers, financial analysts, finance directors and financial controllers. The average salary of financial analysts is AUD 280,000. Universities along with the highest paying masters degrees in Australia are mentioned in the table below:

Top Universities in Australia for Finance Degree

University Name

Courses

University of New South Wales

Master of Finance, MS Financial Analysis, MS Taxation

University of Melbourne

M.Mgmt Accounting and Finance, Graduate Diploma International Tax, Graduate Diploma Tax

University of Sydney

Bachelor of Finance

Monash University

Master Banking and Finance, Master Advanced Finance, MS Financial Mathematics

Australian National University (ANU)

Master of Finance, MA Financial Management, M.Phil Finance

Human Resource Management

Human resource management is the highest paying masters degrees in Australia and is a part of business administration that deals with recruitment, assessment, and appraisals of human resources in an organisation. Human resource professionals also conduct interviews and create various methods to assess and promote employee well-being. Interestingly, 57% of HR managers in Australia are female. Currently, there is a need for qualified human resource managers across all major industries in Australia. 19,300 new jobs will be available in the Australian job market between 2021-2026. The average salary of a Human Resource manager per year is AUD 300,000 for graduates from top universities in Australia.

Top Universities in Australia for Human Resource Management

University Name

Courses

University of Melbourne

M.Mgmt Human Resources

University of New South Wales

Master of Human Resource Management (Human Resource Analytics),

Monash University

MS Human Resources Management

University of Sydney

MS Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Graduate Diploma Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

University of Queensland

M.Bus Human Resource Management, Bachelor of Business Management Human Resources

Industries With Highest Growth in Job Vacancies 2024

Industry

High Skill Occupations

Health Care and Social Assistance

Anaesthetist, Psychologists, Optometrist, Paediatrician, Dental Specialist, Cardiologist

Construction

Civil Engineer, Engineering Manager, Architect, Industrial Engineer

Professional, Scientific and Technology Services

Accountants, Software and Applications Programmers, Management and Organisation Analysts, ICT Managers

Education and Training

Primary and Secondary School Teacher, University Lecturer, University Tutor

Manufacturing

Production Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager, Petroleum Engineer,

Mining

Mining Engineer, Human Resource Manager, Environmental Research Scientist

Public Administration and Safety

Finance Manager, Management Consultant, Public Relations Manager, Software Engineer, Computer Network and Systems Engineer

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the profession with the highest salary in Australia?

Professionals in Healthcare, Technology, Education, Mining, Manufacturing and Public Administration currently have the highest salaries in Australia.

2. What is the industry with the most job opportunities in Australia for 2023?

Healthcare and Social Assistance is the industry with the highest job opportunities in the coming years. Doctors, Surgeons, anaesthetists, and internal medicine specialists are going to be required in the coming years.

3. What are the highest paying jobs in Australia without a Degree?

White Hat Hackers, Fitness Instructors, Marketing Managers, ICT Managers, Senior Care Worker, Social Media Managers are some of the high paying jobs that don’t require a full-time degree in Australia. 

4. What is the average salary in Australia?

As per Australian immigration reports, the average annual salary for basic workers is AUD 68,900 per annum. However, skilled and experienced workers earn up to AUD 108,980 per annum.

5. What is the cost of living in Australia?

The cost of living in Australia for a single student is in the range of AUD 30,000-34,000 per annum. 

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Questions related to

Get answers from students and experts

Hello,

Here’s a brief overview of your questions regarding higher studies in physiotherapy in Australia:

  1. Difference between Doctorate (DPT) and Masters :

    • Doctorate in Physiotherapy (DPT) : Typically a clinical doctorate, focused on advanced clinical practice, research, and patient care. It’s a professional degree for those seeking higher clinical expertise and leadership roles.
    • Masters in Physiotherapy : More research-oriented and can be specialized in areas like sports, musculoskeletal therapy, or neurophysiotherapy. It’s ideal for expanding knowledge in specific fields.
  2. DPT without a Master's : Yes, you can pursue a DPT directly after a BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy). Some universities offer direct entry into the DPT program without requiring a Master's degree.

  3. Residency in Australia : Physiotherapists in Australia can apply for residency through the Skilled Migration Program if they meet the qualifications and requirements, including obtaining registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) .

  4. Requirements for University Admission :

    • Academic qualifications : A BPT degree with good academic standing.
    • English proficiency : IELTS or TOEFL scores.
    • Work experience : Some programs may require clinical experience.
    • AHPRA Registration : For practice in Australia, you must register with AHPRA to work as a physiotherapist.

These are general points; individual university requirements may vary.

To get list of top colleges in Australia, visit : https://studyabroad.careers360.com/australia/universities-in-australia-unvlst

Hope it helps !

Australia is home to several prestigious universities offering Aerospace Engineering programs. These programs are designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills in designing, developing, and maintaining aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems. Some of the top universities for Aerospace Engineering in Australia include:


1. **University of Sydney**: Known for its comprehensive aerospace program, the University of Sydney offers a Bachelor's and Master's in Aerospace Engineering. It provides hands-on learning through state-of-the-art facilities and industry partnerships.

2. **Monash University**: Monash is renowned for its research in engineering and offers a well-rounded Aerospace Engineering program that includes both theoretical and practical components.


3. **University of New South Wales (UNSW)**: UNSW is one of the leading engineering schools in Australia and offers a top-tier Aerospace Engineering program, emphasizing innovation and cutting-edge technology.


4. **RMIT University**: RMIT in Melbourne offers a Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering) (Honours), focusing on the practical aspects of aeronautical and space systems.


These programs usually require students to have strong backgrounds in physics and mathematics. Admission typically involves meeting specific academic criteria and, in some cases, interviews or entrance exams. Graduates have excellent job prospects in both the aviation and space sectors, within Australia and globally.

Hi there,

Hope you are doing fine.

Yes it is possible to pursue a Masters in Education (M.Ed) in Australia with a bachelor’s degree in engineering (B.E). Australian universities have flexible entry requirements and value diverse academic backgrounds. However you will need to meet specific admission criteria set by the universities you are interested in.

To enhance your application you can highlight any relevant experience you have in teaching, training or educational projects. Some universities might also require you to submit a statement of purpose explaining your interest in transitioning to education and how your background in engineering could contribute to your study and future career in education.

You should review the specific requirements for each university and program by reaching out to the admissions offices of the universities you are interested in to confirm their acceptance criteria and discuss your unique background.

Hope this resolves your query.

A B.Ed. from IGNOU may be recognized but requires additional assessments in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

  • UK : Assessment by UK ENIC and possibly additional qualifications like a PGCE.
  • Australia : Evaluation by AITSL and meeting state-specific criteria.
  • New Zealand : Assessment by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, including possible English proficiency and practical teaching requirements.

Further qualifications or training might be necessary in each country.


For migrating to Australia with a high visa success rate, both commerce and medical fields offer strong opportunities, but they differ significantly:

  1. Medical Field :

    • High Demand : Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, allied health) are in high demand.
    • Visa Success : Higher chances due to skill shortages.
    • PR Pathway : Clear pathways for permanent residency.
    • Career Options : Wide range of opportunities with good pay.
  2. Commerce Field :

    • Opportunities : Demand for accountants, finance professionals, and business analysts.
    • Visa Success : Good, but dependent on specific roles and skill shortages.
    • PR Pathway : Viable but might require additional qualifications or experience.
    • Career Options : Diverse opportunities in finance, business, and management.

Choose based on your interests, skills, and long-term career goals.

hope this helps you!!

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