STEM jobs are part of the most lucrative jobs in the world today. The fast-changing nature of the world has led to a demand for professionals with tech skills in the labor market. Businesses, establishments, governments, and even individuals employ tech tools in their day-to-day activities and this is made possible through the creativity of those who have dedicated time to learning in the STEM field.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM-related courses are courses that fall under any of these subgroups in the STEM field. This field enhances innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are necessary to thrive and advance in today’s world.
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As an international student who wants to start a career in the STEM field, it is important you know jobs that are available in this field and how high the demand for the jobs is. This article will take you through a list of some of the highest-paying STEM courses in Australia, this is to help guide you as you proceed on your career in the STEM field.
Table of Contents
Top 15 highest-paying jobs in Australia
1. Data Science
This is a career suggestion in the STEM field. Data science entails studying data and interpreting them for business purposes. Data scientists combine principles and practices from mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence and computer engineering.
Average Base Pay: A$120, 000 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the Next 5 Years: 11%
2. Computer Engineers
Another job suggestion in STEM is Computer engineering. Computer engineers are responsible for designing, developing and testing computer systems and components. They mostly work in research labs that build and test different computer models. They may also be responsible for updating existing computer hardware or manufacturing new ones
Average Base Pay: A$85,000 /yr
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the Next 5 Years: 27.0%
3. Petroleum Engineers
This is also part of the highest-paying jobs in the STEM field. Petroleum Engineering deals with activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be crude oil or natural gas.
Petroleum engineers are responsible for developing methods through which oil and gas can be extracted from the earth. It is a known fact that the world functions on energy, and it is necessary for human activities, thereby making petroleum engineering an important and high-demand course. They work in offices or at drilling and well sites.
Average Base Pay: A$146,422 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the Next 5 Years: 15.1%
4. Cybersecurity Consultant.
Cybersecurity consultants protect computer systems from threats or attacks from malicious systems.
Cyber security is also a field in STEM. It entails protecting organizational assets from both external and internal threats as well as certain disruptions that are caused by natural disasters. It is a collective systematic method targeted at protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer systems, networks and data.
Average Base Pay: A$123,000 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the Next 5 Years: 21%
5. Mathematicians and Statisticians
Mathematicians and statisticians are responsible for analyzing data and using standard approaches to solve problems. Their top employers are research companies, development companies and the federal government. They also work in teams with engineers, scientists and other professionals.
Average Base Pay: A$92,387 per year Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the Next 5 Years: 11%
6. Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists are also called physical therapists. They are responsible for helping people regain movement, strength, and mobility including pain management after an accident through physical therapy. Some of the job duties of physical therapists can include patient consult and diagnosis, leading and guiding therapy exercises, massage, and helping patients use assistive equipment like wheelchairs. They help patients who have been ill and unable to perform physical activities maximally obtain maximal function.
Average Base Pay: A$85,800 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the Next 5 Years: 24.6%
7. Aeronautical Engineers
Aeronautical engineers are responsible for designing, developing and test-running aircraft, spaceships, satellites and missiles. They often work in an office with like-minded individuals and can spend as much as 40 hours per week. They work on projects relating to national defence too.
Aeronautical engineering is another field of engineering saddled with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It is mainly divided into two branches and that include: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering
Average Base Pay: A$145,000 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the Next 5 Years: 8.4%
8. Network Administrator
The primary job description for a network administrator overseeing and managing a network’s infrastructure. Additionally, they sometimes perform support and troubleshooting tasks. Network administrators can work in different settings, including in the business, financial and medical fields, to implement small network connections in addition to multinational and global network systems.
Average Base Pay: A$80,000 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 Years: 18.3%
9. Software Engineers
Software engineers are responsible for designing, testing, developing and maintaining software applications. They work in computer system design and related services in manufacturing. They work in offices or teams with other professionals.
Average Base Pay: A$120,000 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 years: 27.0%
10. Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers design machines and gadgets like electric generators, combustion engines, turbines, air-conditioning systems and lots more.
Average Base Pay: A$105 per year
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 years: 3.1%
11. Biochemistry
Biochemistry deals with life science and chemical science. It is the application of chemistry to the study of biological processes. Biochemists work in laboratories and offices and are also responsible for conducting experiments and analyzing the results.
Average Base Pay: A$75,500 /yr
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 years: –
12. Architecture
Architects are responsible for designing the overall outlook of houses, buildings and other structures. They must ensure that the result is both beautiful, functional and also effective. They visit construction sites, prepare drawings and ensure that the plan is followed.
Average Base Pay: A$96,000 /yr
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 years: 16.8%
13. Robotics Engineer
A Robotics engineer creates and builds robots. This STEM field requires people who have a knowledge of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer programming.Â
Average Base Pay: A$80,000 /yr
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 years: 5.5%
14. Financial Management Specialist
The job description of a financial management specialist is to help people manage their money better by identifying investment options, recommending money management strategies, creating financial reports and so on.
Average Base Pay: A$137,000 /yr
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 years: 32.2%
`15. Civil Engineer
Civil engineers develop and oversee projects like roads, buildings, sewage systems etc. They examine factors like durability, effectiveness, longevity, cost of materials and so on.
Average Base Pay: A$91,250 /yr
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Growth Rate in the next 5 years: 13.4%
Top schools in Australia that offer STEM-based courses
Some of the top schools offering STEM-based courses in Australia include:
- University of Melbourne
- University of New South Wales
- University of Sydney
- Monash University
- University of Queensland
- Monash University
- Queensland University of Technology
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of Adelaide
- Australian National University
Eligibility criteria to study STEM courses in Australia
The eligibility criteria to study a STEM course in Australia differs based on different factors like the course, the university you’re studying at and so on.
However, there are some generally acceptable standard requirements. But it is important to note that these are not all the requirements from your university, but this is to help guide you as you proceed on your journey.
The generally acceptable criteria include:
- Undergraduate students have a higher secondary school leaving certificate that shows that you took major science subjects. On the other hand, for postgraduate students, you need a bachelor’s degree in the STEM course you want to pursue. The minimum GPA score is 3.0/4.0 in the major STEM universities in Australia.
- For a bachelor’s degree, you must have SAT or ACT. For a master’s, you must have a GRE or GMAT. The scores vary depending on the school you picked and the exact course you are going in for.
- Also, every student seeking to study a STEM course at any level in Australia must have a good score on the language proficiency test. The language proficiency tests are either SAT or TOEFL.
- Additionally, to study any STEM course in Australia, you will need a copy of your passport and your Australian student visa
Required Documents
The required documents you need to study STEM-related courses include:
- Official High School Transcripts
- A letter of recommendation
- Higher Secondary Certificate
- Bachelor’s Degree (for masters)
- Work experience certificate (if any)
- Language test scores
- GRE or GMAT scorecards
- Personal Essay
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume or CV
- Proof of your financial resources
- Student visa.
How to get STEM jobs in Australia.
Getting a STEM job will not come easy even though it’s in demand. Students seeking to start a career in STEM need to pay extra attention and ensure they are the best so as to put themselves on the top of the employer’s list.
Although STEM jobs are highly lucrative, getting the right skills will determine how fast you can get a job, and how well-paid the job will be.
Anyone seeking to start a career in the STEM field should embrace problem-solving, critical and creative things, and excellent people skills, among others.
In addition to all of these, gaining the right technical knowledge is needed most STEM jobs require the minimum of a bachelor’s degree. These all work hand in hand to put you on top.
Get started with us today
Seeking to start a career in the STEM field? Enrolling in the top universities in the world can increase your chances with employers. Unfortunately, it can be quite expensive to study abroad due to the current economic crisis. But this shouldn’t limit you as there are other options you can explore to enhance your career.
MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require any cosigner or collateral before application. You can reach out to us, as we’ll love to guide you through this journey.
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