High demand IT jobs in Australia 2022

Australia’s labour market has changed significantly over the past decade due to major social and technological transformations. One such change is the rise in popularity of digital technologies, which have consequently led to an increase in demand for IT professionals, particularly those who specialise in cyber security, data analytics and artificial intelligence. The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicted that by 2021-22, there would be 135,000 new jobs created within the information technology industry, and this would be a 7% growth from 2016 levels. In this article, we will cover the high demand IT jobs in Australia for 2022. Below mentioned jobs are some of the many different positions available for those with a diverse range of skill sets and experience levels in IT. We have used data from popular job portals such as Seek, Indeed, Payscale and Glassdoor for the average annual salary.

a. Analysts:

Data analysts

Data Analysts or business intelligence analysts jobs are in high demand due to the increasing digitisation of various industries, which has led to a massive surge in data generation. Data analysts play an integral role within organisations by leveraging statistical computing techniques, predictive modelling and machine learning algorithms to develop insights into business operations that help decision-makers make informed decisions. According to statistics from the ABS, the median annual salary for data analysts is around $97,400 AUD. It should be noted that this figure doesn’t include other forms of compensation such as bonuses, stock options etc. Many data analysts choose this field of employment so that they can work independently with minimum supervision. This also means that they are responsible for identifying new ways to extract value from the data at hand, using analytical techniques such as statistical methods or programming languages.

Business/System Analysts

Business/System analysts are responsible for understanding an organisation’s requirements and translating them into IT solutions by using technology as a medium. The person needs to have an understanding of business requirements, business flows, negotiation skills and communication skills along with a few technical skills such as the ability to understand and draw UML diagrams, ERD, Data Flow Diagrams, Wireframe and also write a couple of technical documents. The median annual salary for business analyst roles is around AUD 100,000.

b. Computer Network Professionals:

Network Administrators

Network administrators are directly involved with the maintenance and upkeep of a company’s IT infrastructure. They ensure that an organisation’s computer networks function properly at all times and they must have strong communication skills as they will regularly liaise with various employees to provide assistance when required. As Cyber security continues to be a major priority for organisations, more companies are looking for qualified individuals who have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to combat modern-day security threats from increasingly sophisticated hackers. The median annual salary for network administrators is around AUD 95,500.

Security Analysts and Administrators

Security Analysts are tasked with identifying and resolving security threats in a timely manner. Similar to computer network administrators, security analysts must have excellent communication skills as they will be required to communicate with team members on a regular basis. However, the main difference is between a network administrator and a security analyst is that a security administrator needs to focus more on the security of the network rather than overall administration. The median annual salary for this role is around AUD 101,100.

IT Support Professionals

Having an understanding of computers and being able to diagnose and solve problems are two key factors that are heavily weighted when hiring individuals who want to work in IT support. Individuals in these roles assist users with various system problems, so familiarity with basic troubleshooting techniques is advantageous. The median annual salary for this role is approximately AUD 60,600.

c. Database Administrators:

Database administrators are responsible for managing large volumes of data across different systems within an organisation. Database administrators are required to make sure that data processing functions properly at all times. This can be achieved by managing, organising and monitoring database servers and making tweaks if required in order to improve performance. The median annual salary for this role is approximately AUD 95,189.

d. Testers

Testing is one of the key steps involved in the software development cycle. Testers use various techniques such as manual testing, automation testing and regression testing to test the applications once it has been written by the software and web developers, which can provide the developers feedback on how well or badly it works. The median annual salary for this role is around AUD 80,000.

e. Software Developers:

Similar to data analysts, companies are looking for software developers with strong analytical and technical skills. For this reason, software developers who possess a solid foundation in mathematics, programming and technology may be better suited to pursue these types of roles. Software developers have the opportunity to work with organisations across different industries ranging from finance, healthcare etc., in Australia. This role can further be categorised into the following:

Web Developers

Developers who like to create web-based applications are known as full-stack web developers. They need to know multiple languages such as server-side scripts and client-side scripts. Individuals with experience in these types of scripts and languages can look forward to career progression and access to exciting job opportunities. The median annual salary of a web developer is around AUD 94,000.

Junior Web Developers

Individuals with strong analytical skills and an interest in programming can consider applying for entry-level roles as junior web developers. Individuals who wish to build a successful career within this field will need experience in the role or relevant qualifications. Normally, junior developers help web developers in large projects. The median annual salary is around AUD 70,000.

Software Developers (Systems Software)

This type of system requires knowledge of complex programming languages such as C and C++ that are used to develop systems software, such as device drivers or operating systems. Individuals who want to build a successful career in this industry need to have excellent problem-solving skills in order to identify new ways in which technology can be used by companies in their daily operations. The median annual salary is around AUD 105,200.

Developers

Mobile Application Developers design and develop mobile applications for some of the most popular smartphones and tablets on the market. The median annual salary for this role is around AUD 127,000.

f. Misc IT Professionals:

Data Architects

Data architects design and develop systems that ensure the high performance of software applications by making sure that relevant data is fed into the system. Data architects need to identify what type of architecture will help companies meet their goals while supporting growth strategies. The median annual salary of a data architect is approximately AUD 106,900.

Data Scientists

Data scientists are the most sought-after professionals in Australia as the world is progressing towards the new generation technologies such as AI, robotics, swarm intelligence, metaverse and cryptocurrency, and data scientists play a major role in the innovation and development of AI and robotics. As a data scientist, a person has to extract data, migrate the extracted data into a sensible format, and manage the migrated data. Additionally, a data scientist will be required to generate advanced algorithms, and organise information using data visualisation and machine learning techniques. Employers want graduates with a background in IT, information systems, software engineering or a bachelor’s in Math. The average salary of a data scientist is close to AUD 108,745 per year.

IT Sales Managers

Individuals who have strong business acumen and want to transition into the IT industry should consider applying for a position as a sales manager. Individuals with experience from previous employment can leverage their existing contacts to secure new clients. The median annual salary is around AUD 96,400.

IT Business Development Managers

Business development managers are somewhat similar to sales managers except that they are also responsible for making sure that company products and services reach out to new customers. While sales managers can only focus on product promotion and revenue generation, business development managers need to figure out the long-term market prospects of the product. They also need to identify new growth opportunities within existing customer relationships. The median annual salary of an IT business development manager is approximately AUD 111,000.

IT Project Managers

Many IT professionals aspire to become project managers at some stage of their careers due to the increased levels of responsibility that come with the role, as well as the increased level of remuneration. This is the most important role in any software company. The median annual salary for a project manager is around AUD 121,000.

IT Sales Consultants

Individuals who have strong sales skills are highly sought-after in the IT industry. Individuals with sales backgrounds have an advantage when applying for roles within this field because they understand how companies operate from a business perspective. The median annual salary for this role is around AUD 65,000.

Conclusion

While these figures can be taken as accurate, they have been calculated from different job portals’ databases and may not necessarily reflect the actual salary figure. The median is determined by calculating an average of about one half of which falls below and one half above, giving a mid-range level. It represents the salary at which half the employees work higher than this salary and half work lower than this salary. If you want to work in IT in Australia, then these are some of the most high-paying jobs in the IT sector.

Alternatively, you might also be interested in other job sectors such as medical, hospitality, social work or even construction. If so, please check our relevant career pages.