Wages and rates of pay
Pay rates for part-time / casual work
Employers lodging vacancies on Careers Online must comply with our terms and conditions for advertising. For part-time and casual work an hourly rate of pay is required. Check with the Workplace Infoline line on 1300 363 264 if you have a query about a rate of pay (and in some cases employment conditions).
Graduate salaries in Australia
The GradsOnline website provides average starting salaries for graduates. You can search by discipline and course level. The salary rates are averages and do not take into account the level of responsibility or what any competitors offer.
In Australia in 2007, the median annual starting salary for new bachelor degree graduates aged less than 25 and in their first full-time employment was A$43,000. Males earned a starting salary of A$45,000 and females earned A$42,000.
(Source: GradFiles, December 2007, Graduate Careers Australia)
International salaries and rates of pay
International employers are advised that it is a requirement of Careers Online that all employment listings (other than volunteer positions) include a salary or rate of pay. Our experience suggests that students and graduates respond positively to listings where they can get an idea of the rate of pay being offered, as opposed to listings which only use terms like "negotiable" "market rate" or "to be advised". While you must put a monetary figure in the salary box, you can also add words to clarify your salary structure, or willingness to negotiate with the successful candidate.
Here are some examples:
- $1,500 - $2,500 per month, depending on qualifications and experience
- RM 2000 pm plus annual bonus
- Not less than €1400 per month
- £22,500 per annum plus performance incentive
- Rp 3.5 mil. pm plus staff discounts and share plan
Please note that your Careers Online job listing is only accessible to students, staff and graduates of the University of Melbourne.
If you company is offering vacation work or internships to students, you are required to list the allowance or rate of pay. As a general rule, companies offer the equivalent of half to two thirds of the graduate starting salary (pro rata) for internships, although this may increase in particular sectors or where there is strong competition for candidates.
Private Individuals employing students
Tertiary education institutions in Victoria have agreed to rates of pay for students who are employed by private individuals to undertake various jobs around the home, including technical support.
| Type of job | Hourly rate of pay |
|---|---|
| CHILDCARE | |
| general child care and babysitting | $12 - $15 per hour |
| picking up/dropping off (using own car) | $0.60 per km |
| DOMESTIC | |
| house cleaning | $14 - $16 per hour |
| light housework (e.g. meal preparation, laundry, cleaning) plus childcare | $16 per hour |
| HOUSE & GARDEN | |
| general gardening (including mowing) | $16 per hour |
| supplying own mower and equipment | $20 per hour |
| landscaping / labouring / decorating / painting | $17 per hour |
| PRIVATE PARTY HELP (supplying own clothing) | |
| standard | $15 - $17 per hour |
| public holidays | $22 - $25 per hour |
| TUTORING | |
| Primary and Secondary up to Year 10 (tutored by an undergraduate) | $22 per hour |
| VCE - Year 11 and Year 12 (tutored by an undergraduate) | $25 per hour |
| Tertiary (tutored by an undergraduate) | $30 per hour |
| *postgraduates may charge an extra $5 per hour | negotiable |
| **tutoring 2 students together may be charged at time and a half | negotiable |
| ***tutoring 3 students together may be charged at double time | negotiable |
| PC SUPPORT | |
| basic | $25 per hour |
| intermediate | $30 per hour |
| advanced | $40 per hour |
| WORD PROCESSING | |
| A4 double spaced page | From $3.00 per page |
| A4 single spaced page | From $4.00 per page |
| WEB PROGRAMMING | |
| Maintenance | $25 per hour |
| Standard programming | $30 per hour |
| Web design | negotiable |
| INTERPRETING / TRANSLATING | |
| non-technical | $25 |
| technical data quoted independently | negotiable |
WorkCover
Students are automatically covered by workplace injury insurance in private households if the person or people employing them do not expect to pay more than $7,500 per year in wages. Private individuals paying more than this amount in wages need to take out a workplace injury insurance policy. For further information, contact WorkCover on +61 3 9641 1444 (or toll free outside the metropolitan area at 1800 136 089) or check the WorkCover website