Swinburne University undergraduates are securing some of the highest salaries among Victoria’s tertiary institutions, with median wages for those transitioning from bachelor-level courses into the workforce last year approaching $78,000. For postgraduates, Federation University graduates achieved the highest wages upon entering the workforce, with a median annual salary exceeding $104,000, according to the latest Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey. This survey annually assesses university employment outcomes and student experiences.
Despite these impressive salary figures, the survey revealed that undergraduates in Victoria were less likely to secure full-time employment within a year of completing their degrees compared to their peers nationwide. The survey, which included responses from 258,000 graduates, undergraduates, and postgraduates, found that only 69 percent of Victorian undergraduates found full-time work after graduating last year, compared to the national average of 74 percent.
Employment Disparities Across Universities
The employment outlook was more favorable for Victorian postgraduates, with an employment rate of 86 percent, closely aligning with the national figure of 87.6 percent. Swinburne undergraduates were the most likely to secure full-time employment in Victoria, with a rate of 74.3 percent, followed closely by Monash University at 73.2 percent. In contrast, RMIT and Melbourne University undergraduates were the least likely to find full-time employment, with rates of 60.8 percent and 59.6 percent, respectively.
Melbourne University attributed its lower employment figures to its unique curriculum structure. The university noted that nearly half of its students complete one of seven undergraduate degrees followed by a specialist postgraduate degree before entering the workforce, which affects its employment data.
“Given the Melbourne curriculum is different to the majority of others in operation currently within the Australian higher education sector, the methodology underpinning this survey makes it difficult to draw direct comparisons from the available data in this report,”
said Professor Gregor Kennedy, the university’s academic Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
National Standouts and Post-Pandemic Trends
Nationally, the standout university for securing full-time employment was Brisbane’s Charles Sturt University, where 89.1 percent of graduates found jobs in 2024. Avondale University in New South Wales followed closely with an 88.1 percent employment rate. Dr. Angela Baker, education director at the Social Research Centre, which conducts the survey, noted that post-pandemic gains in university employment outcomes across the country have slowed, although job prospects for graduates remain better than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This year’s findings suggest that the gains in employment in the post-COVID labour markets of 2022 and 2023 are starting to ease in 2024, particularly for undergraduates,”
she said.
“However, full-time employment rates are still higher at all study levels than prior to 2020, and graduate salaries continue to rise year-on-year.”
Gender Disparities in Salary Outcomes
The research also highlighted a persistent gender gap in salary outcomes for male and female university graduates. In some cases, postgraduate men earned nearly $20,000 more than their female counterparts after completing their studies. According to the survey, the median salary for postgraduate males in health services and support was $119,400, compared to $100,000 for females. Similarly, male postgraduates in computing and information systems earned $115,000, while females earned $100,000. In engineering, male postgraduates earned $114,000, compared to $100,000 for women.
Despite these disparities, former Swinburne student Zuzanna Kaczynska expressed satisfaction with her post-university outcome. The 23-year-old secured a graduate position with the Queensland government even before completing her degree. Kaczynska, who completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in ethics, technology, and computer science, credited the practical focus of her course, including internships, for helping her land a job.
“There was a big emphasis on getting experiences wherever you could,”
she said.
“Through casual and part-time jobs, through volunteering, being involved with Swinburne University clubs, and I was part of student network leaders.”
As the employment landscape continues to evolve, Victorian universities may need to adapt their strategies to ensure their graduates remain competitive in the national job market. The ongoing challenge will be to address the gender pay gap and ensure equal opportunities for all graduates, regardless of their field of study.
