Jobs You Can Do on a 485 Visa in Australia (2026) & Typical Salaries

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) gives full‑time work rights in any occupation, without employer sponsorship, allowing graduates to gain Australian experience that may support future skilled or employer‑sponsored PR pathways. The 485 visa is used as a “time buffer” to build skills, gain experience, and improve eligibility for skilled visas or sponsorship.

While you can work in any job, roles aligned to the Skilled Occupation List and areas with strong employer demand (IT, engineering, health, trades, hospitality) offer better PR potential. Salary levels vary by industry and experience; the tables below summarise common job options and indicative salary bands.

A subclass 485 visa allows you to work in any occupation. You are not limited to jobs related to your degree, and you do not need employer sponsorship to start working.

This means you can work in:

• full-time graduate roles

• part-time jobs

• casual work

• contract positions

Many graduates start with whatever work is available while they settle in, but it helps to understand early which jobs may also support future visa options.

Not every job affects PR in the same way.

If you want to keep PR options open, it helps to look for work that matches:

• an occupation on a skilled occupation list

• your qualification

• a future skills assessment pathway

Jobs often linked to stronger PR pathways include:

• IT roles

• Engineering roles

• Nursing and healthcare roles

• Teaching

• Skilled trades

• Chef and cook roles

A job title alone is not enough. What matters is whether your work duties match the occupation you may later use for migration purposes.

Some jobs are in demand and are often the industries where 485 graduates aim to work, because they align with national workforce demand and may also support future PR pathways.

Common high-demand roles for 485 visa holders include:

These industries continue to appear across Australian skilled occupation lists because they match long-term workforce needs. If your work experience on a 485 visa fits one of these areas, it may help later when you look at skilled migration, employer sponsorship, or state nomination options.

Your salary on a 485 visa can vary depending on the city you work in, your level of experience, your employer, and whether you already have Australian qualifications or local work experience. Some industries also pay differently depending on whether you work in a metropolitan or regional area. 

The figures below are general estimates only, but they can help you understand what many graduates may expect when starting out.

These ranges are only a guide. Your actual salary may be higher or lower depending on how quickly you build experience and how closely your role matches current workforce demand.

Source: SEEK

It can build work experience for future visa pathways.

A job that is related to your qualification or appears on a skilled occupation list may help you build experience that can support future visa options. This can be important for pathways such as skilled migration, state nomination, or employer sponsorship.

It gives you time to improve other PR requirements.

Your work can also help in other ways. It may give you time to improve your English score, prepare for a skills assessment, and understand which visa pathway suits your situation best.

It strengthens your profile in skilled occupations.

For example, if you work as a civil engineer, early childhood teacher, registered nurse, or software developer, you may already be gaining experience in an occupation that is recognised for skilled migration. This can become valuable later when you need to show relevant skilled work experience for another visa pathway.

This does not mean every job automatically leads to PR. What matters is whether your role matches the occupation you may later use for migration purposes, and whether you can clearly document your work experience when needed.