Skip minimum wage with these high-paying entry-level jobs for uni graduates
Not all salaries are created equal, but with a university qualification under your belt, landing an entry-level role doesn't necessarily mean low pay. Is your dream job on this list?
Whether you’ve recently graduated or graduation is on the horizon, you’re likely thinking about the next step in your career.
While room for professional and salary growth is important to consider, an entry-level role that allows you to follow your passion and pay the bills straight away is ideal.
What is a good starting salary for a uni graduate?
The average entry-level salary in Australia is around $65,000 per year or $33 per hour. An entry-level salary is considered high if more than this.
While some roles are accessible without a degree or certificate in your field of expertise, many of these roles favour higher education qualifications. You can also increase your salary over time by looking for promotion opportunities or negotiating for higher pay.
How hard is it to find a job as a new graduate?
Difficulty landing a job after uni is dependent on many factors. Demand for certain jobs can vary from state to state. Some industries will hire at particular times of the year, and some positions are simply more competitive than others.
Familiarising yourself with this information will help increase your chances of finding a job after uni. You can also gain a competitive edge by collecting experience through internships, volunteer work, and building a portfolio of real-life or hypothetical work.
Other tips for increasing your chances of getting a high-paying job after uni include:
- Research your chosen industry to show initiative and expertise
- Brush up on your interview skills to present your best self
- Tidy up your CV and LinkedIn profile
- Personalise your cover letter for each job application
- Reach out to a recruiter
- Use your network including your uni lecturers
- Get a reference from a colleague, manager or teacher
- Apply for roles even if they are listed as needing 1-2 years of experience
Here’s a list of 13 high-paying entry-level jobs
Marketing
Account manager
Average entry-level salary: $80,000
This role involves managing client relationships, pitching campaigns and collaborating with other marketing teams. An account manager role is a good way to get your foot in the marketing door and learn the ins and outs of the industry.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Media and Communications
Sales Representative
Average entry-level salary: $66,000
As a sales rep, you can work in any industry that sells goods or services. Real-estate and call centres pay particularly well, and the role often comes with the opportunity to earn cash bonuses, commission and rewards.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Business
Law
Law clerk
Average entry-level salary: $65,000 - $85,000
As an entry-level role to become a lawyer, a law clerk typically provides administrative and operational support to lawyers, judges and solicitors. This may include preparing and reviewing documents, managing courtrooms, and writing court reports.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Laws
Health and wellness
Public health officer
Average entry-level salary: $67,000 - $89,000
This role involves identifying and evaluating health risks in a community or environment, alongside planning and implementing projects that promote better health and well-being.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Public Health
Business and economics
Financial risk manager
Average entry-level salary: $85,000
In this role you will identify, assess, monitor, and prevent financial risk for a business. Risk management roles in financial institutions pay particularly well.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Business (Economics, Finance and Trade)
Business or financial analyst
Average entry-level salary: $70,000 - $85,000
Financial analysts identify and evaluate economic trends and opportunities, estimate risk, and develop business plans. Investment management, research, portfolio management and fund management often make up their role.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Business (Finance)
Executive Assistant
Average entry-level salary: $70,000 - $80,000
This role centres around supporting executives and managers with their workload through calendar, communication, project and administration management.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Business with a Major in Business Administration
Design
Junior UX designer
Average entry-level salary: $70,000 - $100,000
A UX (user experience) designer is responsible for how a website, app or product looks, with a focus on optimising the visual experience for business objectives. Salary is highly dependent on your portfolio. There are also many freelancing opportunities, which in turn empower you to set your own rate.
Study pathway: Graduate Certificate of UX Design
Construction
Survey technician
Average entry-level salary: $80,000 - $100,000
Become a surveyor by first becoming a survey technician. This role supports a surveyor by collecting and analysing data, planning projects and preparing maps. Jobs in real estate and construction are common.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Surveying Technology
Associate project manager
Average entry-level salary: $95,000 to $115,000
Turn your construction experience or know-how into a career onsite, but off the tools, by studying to become a project manager. Starting as an associate, in this position you’ll manage client relationships, ensure all work adheres to specifications and timelines, and coordinate schedules, budgets, and staffing.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management)
Information Technology
Junior software engineer
Average entry-level salary: $70,000 - $100,000
Software engineers design, develop, test, deploy and maintain software systems and applications—anything from computer games to operating systems. A software programmer typically earns less than a software engineer, but is a similar—and still high-paying—entry-level role.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming)
Data engineer
Average entry-level salary: $66,000 - $86,000
Roles in data are in high demand. Data engineers build systems, algorithms and tools to collect, consolidate, validate and structure data for businesses to improve performance.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Data Analytics
Computer systems analyst
Average entry-level salary: $70,000 - $90,000
Systems analysts primarily analyse, design, test and implement systems to improve efficiency and productivity within a business.
Study pathway: Bachelor of Computer Science
Want to start a career in one of these areas? Start by talking to a friendly student advisor—they'll provide impartial advice on what path to take and assist you in selecting and enrolling in the right course for you.
