If you’ve just finished or are about to finish your university studies in Information Technology, it’s good to have an idea of what your graduate IT salary may be. The IT industry has a lot to offer for graduates in Australia. 

You may not realize it, but many of the things that you enjoy today such as social media, video conferencing, and applications like Afterpay, are possible thanks to Information and Communication Technology. The demand for IT services is only going to increase which is a good sign for IT graduate salaries. 

Based on trends over the past five years, Linkedin suggests that the IT industry will have the biggest growth in 2022. More growth means more jobs! 

Since nearly everything nowadays is tech-based, there’s going to be a huge demand for skilled IT workers in Australia. This is likely to result in a skills gap. Right now in Australia, we have a shortage of skilled IT engineers, software developers, software testers, UX/UI designers, business analysts, and data scientists. There’s even more demand for cloud engineers in DevOps and full-stack development. These are some of the highest-paying IT jobs in Australia!

In Australia, and globally, we will always need IT graduates, and that is why the IT industry has some of the highest paying jobs in Australia. 

So, how do you negotiate a good Graduate IT salary?

  • Become familiar with your industry market and salary trends – research is your best friend!
  • Study job boards – sites like Seek and Indeed help you get a glimpse of what a graduate IT salary may be for various IT roles
  • Talk to recruiters – engage in conversations with recruiters to find out what salary range your experience and expertise is worth
  • Know your value – be confident in your research, as well as your strengths and expertise

While these are all great tips for negotiating your graduate IT salary, most of the time it is best to start less. Even as an IT student or graduate, you can consider a paid or unpaid IT Internship to start your career. The internship experience will kick-start your career in IT.

After scoring your first IT graduate job, focus on building your skills, experience, and portfolio to prove your worth and development. Once you have 12 months of experience, you can negotiate a higher graduate IT salary.

Which universities have the best prospects for high graduate IT salary?

Securing an IT degree from one of the top universities in Australia can certainly influence your starting salary rate. So, if you’re wanting to secure one of the highest paying IT jobs in Australia, where you study and get your IT degree matters!

During the hiring process, factors such as the reputation, prestige and rank of the university the applicant studied at act as predictors of employee performance. Put simply, the best universities attract the best students and provide the best training.

Some of the top universities for an IT degree in Australia are:

  • The University of Melbourne
  • Monash University
  • The University of New South Wales
  • The University of Sydney
  • The University of Queensland
  • University of South Australia
  • University of Western Australia
  • University Technology Sydney
  • RMIT University
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What are the best cities for high graduate IT salaries?

As technology hubs and the homes of the top IT firms in Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, and Brisbane tend to be the best cities to secure high graduate IT salaries. These cities in particular have strong, robust economies to provide higher-paying wages for IT graduates.

What skills do IT Graduates need for high salaries?

There’s no doubt that securing one of the highest-paying IT jobs in Australia will depend on your skills and expertise. 

While you should definitely build your skills in different types of software and programming languages, big data analysis, technical writing, and project management, here are some other tips for increasing your graduate IT salary:

  • Online courses: Online course providers such as Udemy, LinkedIn, and Coursera offer online professional development. You can gain certification at the end of your course! This is a great way to show that you have taken the time to go above and beyond tertiary-level studies to enhance your skills.
  • Build a portfolio: A portfolio of work is a fantastic way to demonstrate your value through your achievements and accomplishments. Rather than just telling employers about your abilities, portfolios provide tangible evidence of your relevant skills.
  • GitHub: This is what most senior IT professionals and recruiters want to see. They are keen to see your GitHub contribution and evidence of your work as an IT graduate.

Rising Graduate IT Salaries

In 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) expected IT workers to earn an extra 6.8 percent to their salary — almost 5 percent higher than the national average.

Salaries for IT workers are on the rise, so it’s a great time to be a job-seeking IT graduate in Australia. Remember these key points: start less, develop your skills, know your worth and impress the panel.