University Salary Employed Study Other
Australian Catholic University $48,985 64% 13% 24%
Australian National University $55,618 49% 29% 21%
Bond University $49,651 55% 22% 23%
Charles Darwin University $52,063 71% 14% 15%
Charles Sturt University $50,825 79% 6% 15%
CQUniversity $49,919 72% 10% 17%
Curtin University $48,873 58% 14% 28%
Deakin University $47,277 54% 20% 26%
Edith Cowan University $48,062 52% 17% 31%
Federation University Australia $47,753 60% 15% 26%
Flinders University $46,048 44% 20% 36%
Griffith University $47,401 49% 23% 28%
James Cook University $50,998 63% 16% 21%
La Trobe University $46,738 51% 24% 26%
Macquarie University $47,309 56% 20% 24%
Monash University $50,775 52% 26% 22%
Murdoch University $48,345 53% 16% 31%
Queensland University of Technology $47,905 59% 17% 24%
RMIT University $44,116 47% 24% 29%
Southern Cross University $46,657 57% 16% 27%
Swinburne University of Technology $44,345 54% 17% 29%
University of Adelaide $55,507 40% 36% 24%
University of Canberra $50,201 58% 17% 25%
University of Divinity $43,035 73% 17% 10%
University of Melbourne $62,659 30% 53% 17%
University of New England $49,436 66% 15% 19%
University of New South Wales $54,167 63% 18% 19%
University of Newcastle $48,814 57% 17% 26%
University of Notre Dame Australia $53,546 71% 11% 18%
University of Queensland $52,276 57% 22% 21%
University of South Australia $47,051 61% 16% 23%
University of Southern Queensland $51,721 73% 12% 15%
University of Sydney $53,524 49% 30% 21%
University of Tasmania $52,428 50% 27% 23%
University of Technology Sydney $46,634 60% 15% 25%
University of the Sunshine Coast $43,785 57% 12% 31%
University of Western Australia $60,672 40% 38% 22%
University of Wollongong $52,610 52% 28% 19%
Victoria University $47,820 48% 23% 29%
Western Sydney University $47,525 45% 28% 27%
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Sources

  • Graduate Destinations Survey (2013-2015)
  • UniCurve modelling

Top Universities for Graduate Salaries

Graduate professionals.

Which are Australia’s best universities for setting up professional careers?

As you might expect, the more prestigious universities perform better. Graduate salaries are higher and more graduates go on to further study. Universities such as Melbourne Uni, UWA and Adelaide Uni are at the top of the pay rankings.

But results do vary.

  • Our analysis shows that some “average” universities beat many of the prestigious ones in terms of getting graduates into jobs.
  • Online universities (e.g. CDU, USQ) generally do well in terms of graduate outcomes. They benefit from having high percentages of working and/or mature students.

The table shows the salary, employment and study rates of first-time university graduates some months after completing their degrees. Observed salaries been adjusted for unemployment, the potential earning power of students doing further study, and high employment rates among online students.

Graduate Salaries by Subject

Subject Grad salary (avg) Top university Grad salary (uni)
Dentistry $68,935 University of Queensland $77,853
Medicine $60,445 University of Western Australia $66,675
Engineering $56,442 CQUniversity $69,430
Physio & occupational therapy $49,730 University of Notre Dame Australia $58,487
Law $49,504 Charles Darwin University $72,980
Nutrition & other health $48,948 University of New South Wales $74,653
Computing $47,179 University of Melbourne $61,692
Agriculture & environment $47,110 University of Melbourne $51,948
Architecture $46,979 CQUniversity $66,835
Science $46,766 University of Melbourne $57,774
Nursing $46,272 University of Adelaide $52,674
Education $45,869 Charles Darwin University $54,635
Psychology $44,386 University of Canberra $57,414
Business $44,288 University of Melbourne $57,296
Social work $44,256 CQUniversity $54,484
Humanities & social science $41,977 University of Melbourne $52,141
Veterinary science $41,901 Murdoch University $47,911
Pharmacy $39,443 University of Tasmania $42,500
Communications $34,514 University of Western Australia $45,172
Creative arts $31,041 University of Canberra $34,759
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Sources: Graduate Destinations Survey (2012-2014), UniCurve modelling

The above table shows indicative salaries by subject for students who recently graduated.

The salary estimates account for:

  • low salaries of unemployed graduates
  • earnings potential of graduates doing further study.

Interpreting Graduate Salary Estimates

The graduate salary estimates show which universities produce with best graduate outcomes. Importantly, the figures control for unobserved earning potential of graduates doing advanced courses. The table uses data from the past 3 Australian Graduate Surveys.

Adjustments

The reported salary amounts are based on the observed median salary of graduates who were working full time at the time of the survey.

Graduate salaries are adjusted for low incomes of unemployed graduates and high earnings potential of graduates doing further studies. Unobserved earning potential is estimated using an economic model that is responsive to pay, study and unemployment rates for the university’s graduate cohort.

  • Unemployed graduates are assumed to be welfare dependent.
  • Graduates doing post-graduate courses are assumed to have higher earning capacity than those who entered the job market.

For online (external students), a regression-based adjustment is made to compensate for higher employment rates. This is done for overall university stats but not by individual subject. Online students are often mature-students who already have a job and study part-time.

Factors not considered

Significant pay factors for which no adjustments were made are:

  1. The average ability of the students in a university.
  2. Job status and age of enrolled students.
  3. The job market conditions in the city/region where a uni is located.