Immigration Australia Skill List: 20 Occupations to Know

Australia doesn’t rely on a single all-purpose skills list; it maintains several—the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) and separate state registers. If your job title appears on any of them, you’re on the fast track to a skilled-migration visa and may even sidestep employer-sponsorship hurdles.

Each list is a gateway to points invitations, state nomination, employer sponsorship or accelerated processing. Knowing where your occupation sits helps you schedule English testing, arrange a skills assessment and lodge a competitive Expression of Interest. Whether you’re a registered nurse in Manila or a software engineer in Colombo, the rules start with the same question: is your occupation listed? In the next sections you’ll find 20 high-priority occupations, the visas they unlock and the core eligibility boxes most applicants must tick.

Before you pin your hopes on a visa, search the Home Affairs site: enter your job title or ANZSCO code and match the result with the latest Core Skills Occupation List PDF. That quick double-check keeps you aligned with official criteria. Let’s dive straight into the occupations dominating the 2025 Australian skilled-migration landscape.

1. Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 2544)

Registered nurses have dominated every immigration Australia skill list update since 2010, and 2025 is no exception. From tertiary hospitals in Sydney to outreach clinics in the Pilbara, healthcare employers are competing hard for qualified talent.

Why this role tops the demand charts

Australia’s aging population, universal-health reforms and post-pandemic backlogs have created chronic shortages across public and private sectors. Government labor forecasts tip a further 13–15 % growth in nursing jobs by 2030, with acute needs in aged care, mental health and remote practice.

Visa pathways open to nurses

• Points-tested visas: 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (State Nominated) and 491 (Regional Provisional)
• Employer-sponsored routes: 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage), 186 (Employer Nomination – DE & TRT)
• Regional concessions via Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) for rural placements

Eligibility snapshot: qualifications & licensing

Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) plus a positive AHPRA registration outcome. English proficiency of IELTS 7 / OET B in each band is mandatory. Three-plus years’ experience often lifts your Expression of Interest ranking.

Salary & job-market outlook

Average full-time pay sits between AUD 75 000 and 110 000, with rural loadings, penalty rates and overtime boosting total packages. Employers are offering relocation bonuses and study support to secure long-term staff, signaling a buoyant market for years ahead.

2. Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313)

Code still rules. From fintech sandboxes in Sydney to AI labs in Melbourne, employers are scrambling for mid-senior engineers who can ship secure, scalable products—and the skills lists reflect that urgency.

Why software engineers remain on the Core Skills Occupation List

• Ongoing digital-transformation budgets across banking, health-tech and mining-tech
• 2025 start-up funding record highs in NSW, VIC and QLD
• Government cyber-security mandates that widen demand for DevSecOps and cloud talent

Visa pathways for tech professionals

• Points-tested: 189, 190, 491 (fast-tracked under PMSOL)
• Employer-sponsored: 482 (Medium-term stream), 186 (Direct Entry or TRT)
• High-flyers: Global Talent Visa 858 in “Digitech” target sector

Qualifications & skills assessment

Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Software Engineering or closely related field. Secure a positive ACS skills assessment—either post-qualification experience of two to three years or the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway if your degree is non-ICT.

Earnings & growth

Median package sits around AUD 110 000; senior cloud or AI leads top AUD 150 000. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts another 30 000 software-engineering roles by 2027, so competition is for talent, not visas.

3. Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211)

Bridges, tunnels, wind farms—you name it, civil engineers are drawing the blueprints and keeping the cranes moving. Because the occupation appears on every major immigration Australia skill list, qualified engineers find themselves courted by both government and private employers.

Infrastructure boom driving demand

Federal and state budgets earmark billions for rail-freight corridors, renewable-energy zones and flood-mitigation upgrades, creating a pipeline of roles that outstrips local graduate numbers. Remote and regional shires are offering relocation bonuses to secure site supervisors.

Visa routes

Civil engineers score solid points for age, degree level and skilled work, making subclasses 189, 190 and 491 popular picks. Employer sponsorship under 186 or 482 is common on mega-projects needing quick starts.

Assessment & licensing

Submit a Competency Demonstration Report to Engineers Australia unless you hold a Washington Accord degree. Some states—Queensland’s RPEQ, for example—require separate registration before you sign off on designs.

Pay & prospects

Average salaries run AUD 95 000–135 000, with project allowances lifting packages in regional Western Australia and Northern Territory mining hubs. Employment growth remains steady thanks to multi-year project pipelines and bipartisan infrastructure commitments.

4. Electrician (General) (ANZSCO 341111)

From high-rise apartments in Brisbane to solar farms in the outback, Australia’s construction and energy boom has pushed “sparky” demand onto every immigration Australia skill list. Qualified electricians who can wire safely to AS/NZS 3000 are being snapped up faster than apprenticeship numbers can replenish the ranks.

Why tradies are critical

Housing-start pipelines, battery-storage roll-outs and large-scale renewables all need licensed electricians. Add mandatory retro-fits for EV chargers and you have continuous work in both metro and regional postcodes.

Visa options

• 190 (State Nominated)
• 491 (Regional Provisional)
• 482 (Medium-term stream)
• DAMA concessions for remote employers

Licensing & assessment steps

Secure an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) through Future Skills International or Vetassess, complete gap training on arrival, then sit the capstone assessment for a full state electrical licence.

Wage & job outlook

Hourly rates hover at AUD 45–55 plus overtime; FIFO mining rosters in WA and QLD can add site allowances pushing totals past AUD 160 k annually.

5. Secondary School Teacher (ANZSCO 241411)

High school educators with solid subject knowledge are in short supply across Australia’s public, Catholic and independent systems, especially in science and mathematics streams.

Skills gap in STEM and regional schools

Math, physics, chemistry and IT teachers top every 2025 shortage forecast, leaving rural and outer-metro principals scrambling for qualified staff.

Visas that fit educators

Points-tested 189, 190 and 491 visas dominate; some regional schools also sponsor under subclass 482 with labor-market concessions.

Requirements & teacher registration

Four-year Bachelor of Education or postgraduate diploma plus supervised practicums, English IELTS 7.0, and state registration with NESA, VIT or TRB.

Pay scale & regional bonuses

Starting salaries hover around AUD 75k, rising to AUD 120k for experienced heads of department; relocation, housing and retention bonuses sweeten remote contracts.

6. Chef (ANZSCO 351311)

Australia’s restaurants, resorts and aged-care kitchens are scrambling for qualified chefs as tourism rebounds and locals rediscover dining out. Employers from Darwin to Hobart are dangling sponsorships and sign-on bonuses to keep their pass set running smoothly.

Hospitality recovery fuelling shortages

Visitor numbers have bounced past pre-pandemic levels, while new hotels in Queensland and Victoria add hundreds of brigade roles—many on split shifts nobody local can fill.

Visa avenues

• 190 or 491 for points-tested applicants
• 482 (Medium-term) for quick hires
• 494 (Regional Employer) where towns need head chefs yesterday

Skills verification

TRA’s Job-Ready Program or an Offshore Skills Assessment, plus an AQF Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery and solid post-qualification experience.

Salary spread

Most commis start around AUD 60 k; experienced sous and head chefs command AUD 80 k–95 k, with overtime and tips sweetening the pot.

7. Construction Project Manager (ANZSCO 133111)

Project managers hold construction’s purse strings and schedules, keeping them firmly on Australia’s 2025 skill lists.

National construction pipeline outlook

• Housing Accord promises 1.2 million new dwellings plus refurbishments by 2030.
• $120 billion pipeline for rail, metros and green-hydrogen plants keeps cranes busy nationwide.

Visa choices

• Points-tested 189, 190, 491 attract candidates scoring well on age, English and experience.
• Tier-1 builders sponsor under 482 or 186 when projects can’t wait for invitation rounds.

Competency evidence

A bachelor’s in construction management or engineering plus five years’ verifiable PM experience meets immigration criteria; AIPM certification boosts points.

Earnings

Typical packages sit between AUD 120k–160k, with site or FIFO allowances adding another 20 percent.

8. Accountant (General) (ANZSCO 221111)

Accountants keep Australian businesses compliant, so it’s no surprise they remain on the immigration Australia skill list year after year.

Finance & compliance driving demand

Digitized tax lodgments, e-commerce growth and tighter ASIC rules have created shortages of junior BAS agents and senior auditors.

Visa doors

• 189 (Skilled Independent)
• 190 (State Nomination, often with occupation ceilings)
• 491 (Regional Provisional)
• 482 (Medium-term stream for urgent hires)

Assessment & professional bodies

Secure a positive skills assessment from CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA. IELTS overall 7 (minimum 7 per band) or PTE 65 meets English criteria.

Salary snapshot

Graduate salaries start around AUD 65 000, climbing beyond AUD 120 000 for taxation specialists or cloud-accounting managers in capital-city firms.

9. Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO 233512)

From naval shipyards in Adelaide to aerospace composites plants in Victoria, mechanical engineers are powering Australia’s next wave of advanced manufacturing. The occupation sits firmly on every immigration Australia skill list update, giving qualified applicants a clear runway to permanent residency.

Advanced manufacturing and defense contracts

• $100-billion Naval Shipbuilding Program needing propulsion, HVAC and systems engineers
• Defense and space sectors commissioning precision-machining and mechatronics talent
• Growth in hydrogen, battery and robotics start-ups widening demand beyond traditional heavy industry

Visa links

189, 190 and 491 are the go-to points visas, while employers with urgent project timelines regularly nominate under 186 (Direct Entry or TRT).

Credentials & assessment

Submit a Competency Demonstration Report to Engineers Australia, unless you hold a Washington Accord degree—then the fast-track pathway applies. Strong English (IELTS 7) and three years’ post-grad experience boost points.

Pay range

Typical packages sit between AUD 90 000 and 140 000. Defense contractors often stack on security-clearance allowances, relocation help and paid overtime, edging total remuneration even higher.

10. Early Childhood (Pre-Primary) Teacher (ANZSCO 241111)

Universal preschool funding puts early-childhood teachers on Australia’s 2025 skill lists.

Government funded preschool expansion

Government deals fund 15 hours of preschool a week, creating thousands of roles—especially in regional NSW, SA and Tasmania.

Visa alternatives

• 189 (Skilled Independent)
• 190 (State Nominated, often priority)
• 491 (Regional Provisional)
• 482 (Medium-term stream for fast hiring)

Education & skills assessment

An ACECQA-approved four-year teaching degree (or equivalent bachelor + graduate diploma) is mandatory. Obtain a positive AITSL assessment and meet IELTS 7 or PTE 65 in each band.

Remuneration & job security

Entry salaries start around AUD 70 000, rising to AUD 100 000 for experienced room leaders. Long-term government funding delivers rock-solid permanency and relocation incentives.

11. ICT Business Analyst (ANZSCO 261111)

If you can flip effortlessly between SQL queries and stakeholder workshops, Australia wants you. Companies ditching legacy systems for cloud-native stacks face a chronic shortage of analysts who can turn fuzzy business goals into actionable user stories—hence the occupation’s perennial spot on the immigration Australia skill list.

Bridging tech and business needs

• Agile delivery across banking, health and government digitization projects
• Strong demand for consultants with data-analytics or cyber-security domain knowledge

Visa tracks

• 189, 190 and 491 points visas
• 482 (Medium-term) for urgent contract roles

Assessment criteria

• Positive ACS skills assessment combining a relevant bachelor’s and at least two years’ experience—or RPL route
• English: IELTS 7 or PTE 65 each band

Earnings data

Median salary hovers around AUD 100 000; senior contract BA rates hit AUD 900–1100 per day in Sydney and Melbourne.

12. Plumber (General) (ANZSCO 334111)

Australia can’t build new suburbs, retrofit aging pipework or roll out grey-water systems without licensed plumbers. If you’re handy with copper, PEX and a pipe bender, you’re on every 2025 immigration Australia skill list.

Ongoing construction & maintenance

Mass apartment builds, hotel refurbishments and tougher water-efficiency rules are fuelling nationwide shortages—especially for gas-fitters, roof plumbers and backflow–certified trades.

Visa opportunities

• 190 (State Nominated)
• 491 (Regional Provisional)
• 482 (Medium-term stream)
• DAMA agreements for remote councils and mining camps

Licensing route

Obtain an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), complete gap training at a local TAFE, log supervised hours, then sit your state plumbing licence exam.

Wage insight

Plumbers earn AUD 45–55 per hour plus overtime; FIFO roles in WA and NT add site allowances and paid flights, pushing annual packages past AUD 150 k.

13. Medical Laboratory Scientist (ANZSCO 234611)

Behind every accurate diagnosis sits a medical laboratory scientist, and Australia’s visa lists keep the Bunsen burners warm for qualified applicants.

Post-pandemic diagnostic demand

PCR machines bought for COVID-19 now crunch genomics and cancer panels, while pathology labs expand 24/7 rosters to clear elective-surgery backlogs.

Visa choices

• 189 (Skilled Independent)
• 190 (State Nominated)
• 491 (Regional Provisional)
• 482 (Medium-term stream for urgent hires)

Assessment & accreditation

Secure a positive skills assessment from AIMS; you’ll need an AQF-equivalent Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science plus supervised professional practice and IELTS 7 overall.

Salary

Packages range from AUD 70 000 in public-hospital labs to AUD 110 000 in private pathology groups, with shift penalties boosting take-home pay.

14. Physiotherapist (ANZSCO 252511)

Physiotherapists who keep Australians moving headline every immigration Australia skill list. Hospitals, NDIS providers and sports clinics need more hands, especially beyond the capital cities.

Aging population & NDIS growth

Aging joints, post-COVID deconditioning and a rapidly expanding NDIS caseload have pushed nationwide physio vacancies up 30 % since 2023.

Visa availability

189, 190, 491 and employer-sponsored 482 visas list physiotherapy; several states flag it ‘critical’ for rapid nomination.

Licensing

AHPRA registration requires an accredited bachelor or master’s, proof of supervised practice and English scores of IELTS 7 or OET B.

Remuneration

Typical salaries range AUD 80k–110k; mobile community roles, weekend shifts and rural retention bonuses can nudge total packages well past AUD 130k.

15. Welder (First Class) (ANZSCO 322313)

Think stainless TIG on wine vats one week, heavy MIG on dragline buckets the next—Australia’s boom economy needs elite welders able to swap rods and processes without missing a bead.

Manufacturing & mining maintenance

Shipbuilding in South Australia, LNG modules in Western Australia and continuous maintenance on iron-ore trains keep first-class welders on every 2025 immigration Australia skill list.

Visa doors

• 482 (Short-term and Medium-term streams)
• 190 and 491 state / regional nominations
• Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) for remote workshops

Skill verification

Trade Recognition Australia or VETASSESS practical assessment, often followed by onsite competency tests for AS/NZS 1554 certification.

Pay range

Typical rates hit AUD 40–50 per hour; FIFO mining rosters add site allowances, flights and 12-hour overtime, pushing annual packages beyond AUD 160 k.

16. Network Administrator (ANZSCO 263112)

From keeping hybrid clouds humming to tightening zero-trust firewalls, network administrators are the unsung heroes of Australia’s digital economy—and their job title pops up on every major immigration Australia skill list.

Cyber-security & cloud migration

• Enterprises racing to AWS, Azure and Google Cloud need admins fluent in routing, VPNs and IaC tools
• Mandatory Essential Eight security compliance adds steady demand for patch-management and monitoring skills

Visa paths

• 189, 190, 491 for points applicants
• 482 (Medium-term stream) when employers need immediate coverage

Assessment necessities

Positive ACS skills assessment combining a bachelor’s in IT (or closely related) with at least two years’ post-grad experience; CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA certifications strengthen the case.

Salary outlook

Median packages sit between AUD 85k and 115k; specialists in SD-WAN or hybrid cloud command up to AUD 140k, especially on short-term contract gigs.

17. Automotive Mechanic (ANZSCO 321211)

Australia’s vehicle fleet has topped 21 million, and workshops can’t find enough qualified techs for petrol, diesel and electric models.

Vehicle fleet growth & EV transition

Fleet leasing, rideshare boom and mandated EV adoption targets generate continuous demand for diagnostics, battery maintenance and high-voltage safety skills.

Visa possibilities

Most mechanics secure 190 or 491 invitations; regional dealerships often fast-track 482 sponsorships under shortage concessions or local DAMAs.

Certification

Obtain an Offshore Technical Skills Record, complete Certificate III in Light Vehicle Technology, then sit your state trades test.

Earnings

Qualified techs earn AUD 60k–95k; dealership master mechanics, hybrid specialists and rural workshops add bonuses, tool allowances and overtime.

18. Quantity Surveyor (ANZSCO 233213)

Quantity surveyors keep Australia’s mega-build budgets honest and remain hot property on every immigration Australia skill list.

Cost control on mega-projects

A $200-billion pipeline of rail, data-center and renewables works fuels unrelenting QS demand. Employers prize value-engineering, tender analysis and airtight claims expertise.

Visa options

189, 190 and 491 suit points applicants; 186 covers employer sponsorship on fast-moving builds where start dates can’t wait for invitation rounds.

Assessment & qualifications

AIQS handles skills checks; candidates need a four-year QS or Cost-Engineering degree plus two years’ experience. Chartered membership earns valuable extra points.

Pay

Salaries land between AUD 90k and 130k, with site allowances, completion bonuses and FIFO loading pushing totals well beyond the headline figures.

19. Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511)

Community and clinical social workers are stretched thin across Australia, leaving hospitals, NGOs and local councils scrambling for qualified staff and moving the occupation high on every immigration Australia skill list.

Community services & mental health needs

• Rapid NDIS expansion drives demand for disability-support case managers
• Aged-care reforms require more psychosocial professionals in residential homes
• Refugee settlement and family-violence programs seek culturally competent practitioners

Visa avenues

189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (State Nominated) and 491 (Regional) are common; employers with immediate vacancies also sponsor under the 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa.

Accreditation

Secure a positive AASW skills assessment by proving a four-year Bachelor of Social Work or accredited master’s plus supervised field placement; IELTS 7 (or equivalent) is the English benchmark.

Salary

Full-time salaries run AUD 75 000–105 000, with remote or FIFO community roles offering loadings, rent subsidies and extra leave.

20. Veterinarian (ANZSCO 234711)

Australia’s shortage of vets spans sheep stations, quarantine posts and suburban animal hospitals, keeping the role squarely on priority lists.

Regional agricultural support + pet-care boom

Livestock welfare standards, biosecurity surveillance and an unprecedented surge in household pets all lift demand, while long driving distances make recruitment in regional shires particularly tough.

Visa routes

• 189, 190, 491 (often flagged priority by rural states)
• 482 Temporary Skill Shortage for clinics needing immediate cover

Skills assessment

Secure a positive AVBC outcome: show a recognized veterinary degree, clinical practice proof and English at IELTS 7 across all bands.

Income & incentives

Packages range AUD 85k–130k; rural employers add relocation grants, rent-free housing or student-debt reimbursements to lure long-term staff.

Moving Forward on Your Migration Journey

Spotting your occupation on an official immigration Australia skill list is more than good news—it’s your entry ticket to multiple visa streams. The next move is all about timing and paperwork. Lock in a positive skills assessment with the relevant body (ACS, AHPRA, Engineers Australia etc.) as early as possible; no invitation will stick without it. In parallel, book an English test and aim to clear the points-boosting band scores on your first try. Both steps can take weeks—or months—so starting now keeps you ahead of quarterly invitation rounds.

Once those essentials are underway, you can lodge an Expression of Interest, chase state nomination, or accept employer sponsorship with confidence that your documentation will back you up. If you’d like a roadmap tailored to your circumstances, grab our free skilled-migration booklet or book a one-on-one strategy call through Simon Mander Consulting. Your Australian career could be one application away.