High-Paying Jobs in Canberra: Pay, Sectors and Visa Routes

Canberra doesn't have Sydney's bank towers or Melbourne's size, yet the capital quietly pays better than anywhere else in Australia on average. If you have a skilled background and want a well-paid job in a calm, planned city, it's worth a serious look.

There's a catch, and it matters. Many of Canberra's best-known employers are federal government agencies, and most of their jobs need Australian citizenship. This guide explains where the money is, which doors are open to newcomers, and how the ACT's own migration program works. Figures are as of September 2026, so check each official page before you act.

Why Canberra pays well

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) runs a survey of employee earnings every August. In its August 2025 results, released in December 2025, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had the highest median weekly earnings of any state or territory, at AUD 1,600. The Northern Territory came second at AUD 1,510, and the national median was AUD 1,425.

Source: ABS, Employee earnings, August 2025. These are medians for all employees in their main job, part time included.

The reason is the mix of work. Canberra is home to the federal parliament, most Commonwealth departments, defence headquarters, national research bodies and two major universities. That creates a large pool of professional, policy, technology and management roles, and fewer low-wage jobs than a typical city of its size.

Where the well-paid jobs are

Canberra's economy leans heavily on government, but a lot of the work is done by private firms, universities and hospitals that serve it. Here are the main areas to watch.

Technology and cyber security

Government digital projects and national security work keep demand steady for technology specialists. The 2025 Occupation Shortage List from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) rates several technology roles as in shortage in the ACT:

• Cyber Security Engineer
• Cyber Security Architect
• Cyber Governance, Risk and Compliance Specialist
• Cyber Security Operations Coordinator
• DevOps Engineer
• Software Tester

Be realistic about other tech roles, though. The same list rates Software Engineer, Developer Programmer, Data Scientist and ICT Business Analyst as not in shortage, both nationally and in the ACT. You can still find those jobs, but you'll compete with plenty of local applicants.

Health care

Hospitals and community health services across the ACT struggle to fill clinical roles. The 2025 list rates most registered nurse specialties, midwives, general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and radiographers as in shortage in the ACT.

Health jobs are regulated. You'll need registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) through the relevant national board before you can practise, and that can take months.

Construction and engineering

Construction project managers, civil and structural engineers, quantity surveyors and building inspectors are all rated in shortage in the ACT. So are most building and electrical trades, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters and bricklayers.

Teaching and early childhood

Early childhood, primary and secondary teachers, and special needs teachers, are rated in shortage in the ACT. Teachers must be registered with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute before working in a school.

Law, finance and professional services

Solicitors, taxation accountants and external auditors are rated in shortage in the ACT. General accountants, management accountants and policy analysts are not, so expect more competition there.

For a national view of which occupations are in shortage, read our guide to in-demand jobs in Australia.

Government jobs: the citizenship rule

This is where many overseas job seekers get caught out. The Australian Public Service (APS) is Canberra's largest employer, and its rules are strict.

According to the Australian Public Service Commission, subsection 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999 means an agency head must not engage someone who isn't an Australian citizen unless they consider it appropriate. They can waive the requirement, either for a set period (with a condition to become a citizen) or on an ongoing basis.

Even with a waiver, a few things still apply:

• You must have the right to work. A non-citizen needs a valid visa that allows the work.
• Temporary visa holders get temporary jobs. If you're on a temporary visa, the APSC says engagement should be non-ongoing and limited to the time left on your visa.
• Security clearances are separate. Many defence and national security roles need a clearance, and agencies must consider how citizenship interacts with that requirement.
• Moving between agencies isn't automatic. A waiver from one agency doesn't guarantee another will accept you.

The practical result is that most new arrivals start with private employers, universities, hospitals, consultancies and contractors. Once you become a citizen, the APS opens up. Our guide on how to become an Australian citizen explains the four-year residence rule.

Visa routes into Canberra

You need a visa that lets you work before you can take any job in Australia. For Canberra, three routes come up most often.

Employer-sponsored workers must be paid at least the market rate and above an income threshold set by Home Affairs. For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423. Our overview of jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship explains the 482, 186 and 494 visas in detail.

How ACT nomination works

The ACT Government can nominate skilled migrants for two visas: the permanent Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the provisional Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). Nomination triggers an invitation from Home Affairs to apply for the visa.

Places are limited

The federal government gives the ACT a fixed number of places each financial year. For 2025–26, the ACT had 800 places for the 190 and 800 for the 491. At the time of writing, the ACT says it hasn't yet received its 2026–27 allocation, and it will publish an invitation schedule once it does.

The ACT is blunt about demand: it says demand for 190 and 491 nomination "far exceeds" its allocation.

The Canberra Matrix

You can't just apply for ACT nomination. You first need a SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) with Home Affairs, and then you submit a Canberra Matrix. This is a points tool where you claim points for things like skilled employment, English, qualifications, time living or studying in Canberra, investment and close family ties.

The ACT ranks submissions by residency, occupation and points, and invites the highest-ranked people. A few rules to know:

• You must pay the service fee within 7 days, or the Matrix lapses.
• A Matrix lapses after six months without an invitation. Updating it extends validity, up to 12 months from the original submission.
• Every point you claim must be provable on the date you submit or update.
• The ACT won't tell you your ranking or your chances.

The occupation list

The ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List (formerly the ACT Critical Skills List) sets which occupations can be nominated. It was last updated on 10 October 2025. The ACT says Matrix submissions in critical sectors, including care, education, construction, renewables and advanced technology, may be prioritised, and some occupations may be capped.

The two-year commitment

If the ACT nominates you for a 190 or 491, you must live and work in Canberra for at least two years from the visa grant, or from your arrival if you're moving from overseas.

Costs and money

Canberra pays well, but it isn't cheap, and the migration process has several layers of fees.

ACT nomination fees

These were the ACT's published fees, last updated 27 July 2026. They're non-refundable and don't guarantee an invitation or a nomination. Home Affairs visa application charges, skills assessments, English tests, health checks and police certificates all cost extra.

Superannuation and tax

Australian employers must pay superannuation (a compulsory retirement contribution) on top of wages. The Australian Taxation Office says the super guarantee rate rose to 12% on 1 July 2025. When you compare offers, check whether a figure is "base salary", "base plus super" or a "total package", because they aren't the same.

You'll need a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office to be taxed correctly. Temporary residents can also claim some of their super when they leave Australia for good, so keep your fund details.

Everyday costs

Rent is usually the biggest expense in Canberra. Budget for bond (a rental deposit), the first weeks of rent, furniture and heating, because Canberra winters are cold. Use official data and real listings to plan, rather than social media estimates.

Banking and sending money home

Many Australian banks let new migrants open an account shortly before or after arrival, so your employer can pay you straight away. If you send money home, compare the total cost of each transfer, including the exchange rate margin, not just the advertised fee.

Scams to watch for

Canberra's reputation for high-paying government work makes it an easy hook for scammers. Watch for these signs:

• "Guaranteed" government jobs for foreigners. No one can guarantee an APS job, and most need citizenship.
• Paying for a job offer or sponsorship. Home Affairs rules say sponsors must pay sponsorship and recruitment costs themselves and must not pass them on to workers.
• "Guaranteed" ACT nomination. Only the ACT Government decides who is invited and nominated, and it says invitations aren't guaranteed.
• Fake Matrix points. If your documents don't prove your claims, the ACT refuses the application. False information can also cause problems with Home Affairs for years.

Step by step: from job search to a job in Canberra

1. Check your occupation. Look it up on the Occupation Shortage List and the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List.
2. Get your skills assessed or registered. Start any skills assessment, Ahpra registration or teacher registration early.
3. Take an English test. Most skilled visas and nominations need proof of English, and higher scores earn more points.
4. Target employers who can hire you. Focus on private firms, universities and hospitals if you're not a citizen, and read each ad's eligibility line.
5. Choose your visa route. Either find a sponsoring employer for a 482 visa or lodge a SkillSelect EOI for ACT nomination.
6. Submit a Canberra Matrix if eligible. Only claim points you can prove, and pay the fee within 7 days.
7. Apply for the visa when invited or nominated. Home Affairs makes the final decision.
8. Plan your first months. Set up a bank account, TFN, super and housing as soon as you arrive.

Your Canberra checklist

• Read the ABS earnings data and treat it as a guide, not a promise.
• Check whether your target jobs need citizenship or a security clearance.
• Confirm your occupation's shortage rating for the ACT.
• Check the ACT occupation list and any caps.
• Start skills assessment or professional registration early.
• Budget for ACT fees, visa charges and settling-in costs.
• Never pay for a job offer, sponsorship or a "guaranteed" nomination.
• Check the ACT migration website for 2026–27 allocations and invitation rounds.

Canberra rewards patience. Start with the private employers and occupations that can actually take you, build your local experience, and the city's government jobs may follow once you qualify for citizenship.