Top ANZSCO Occupations for Australian Visa Sponsorship (2026)

975,622 Visa Grants Across Hundreds of ANZSCO Occupations

Australia's employer-sponsored visa system uses the ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) framework to classify eligible roles. With 975,622 Subclass 482/457 grants issued over two decades and 3580 active sponsors, the data reveals clear patterns in which occupations Australian employers sponsor most. Browse occupation-level data on our Australian visa sponsorship page.

Top Occupation Groups

1. Information Technology

IT consistently leads Australian visa sponsorship. Key ANZSCO codes include:

• 261311 — Analyst Programmer
• 261312 — Developer Programmer
• 261313 — Software Engineer
• 262111 — Database Administrator
• 263111 — Computer Network and Systems Engineer

Skills assessment body: ACS (Australian Computer Society). Processing time: 6-12 weeks. Cost: AUD 500-530.

IT salaries for sponsored workers typically range from AUD 80,000-150,000, comfortably above the TSMIT threshold. Many IT roles qualify for the Specialist Skills stream at AUD 135K+. Check software developer sponsorship data.

2. Healthcare

Registered nurses, medical practitioners, and allied health professionals are in chronic shortage:

• 254111 — Midwife
• 254411 — Nurse Practitioner
• 254418 — Registered Nurse (Medical)
• 253111 — General Practitioner

Skills assessment: ANMAC for nurses, AMC for doctors. Healthcare workers often receive priority processing. See nursing sponsorship data.

3. Engineering

• 233211 — Civil Engineer
• 233512 — Mechanical Engineer
• 233311 — Electrical Engineer

Skills assessment: Engineers Australia via the CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) pathway. Engineering roles are well-paid, typically AUD 90,000-140,000.

4. Trades

Trades occupations have grown significantly, especially:

• 351111 — Baker
• 351311 — Chef
• 331111 — Bricklayer
• 331212 — Carpenter

Skills assessment: TRA (Trades Recognition Australia). Trades workers must demonstrate practical skills, not just qualifications. Chef sponsorship data.

5. Accounting and Finance

• 221111 — Accountant (General)
• 221112 — Management Accountant
• 221113 — Taxation Accountant

Skills assessment: CPA Australia, CAANZ, or IPA. Accounting is competitive; candidates need CPA/CA membership or equivalent.

Core Skills vs Specialist Skills Stream

Feature	Core Skills	Specialist Skills
Salary minimum	AUD 73,150	AUD 135,000
Occupation list	Must be on Core Skills List	Any ANZSCO occupation
Labour market testing	Required	Not required
PR pathway	ENS 186 after 2 years	ENS 186 after 2 years

The Specialist Skills stream is particularly valuable for occupations not on the Core Skills list — if your employer offers AUD 135K+, you qualify regardless of ANZSCO code.

Skills Assessment Bodies

Sector	Assessing Body	Typical Time	Cost (AUD)
IT	ACS	6-12 weeks	$500-530
Nursing	ANMAC	8-16 weeks	$600
Engineering	Engineers Australia	8-12 weeks	$700-1,200
Trades	TRA	3-6 months	$300-500
Accounting	CPA/CAANZ/IPA	6-10 weeks	$500-600
Teaching	AITSL	8-16 weeks	$400

State-by-State Demand

Demand varies by state. NSW and Victoria have the most sponsors overall, but other states have specific shortages:

• NSW: IT, finance, healthcare — highest volume
• Victoria: healthcare, engineering, education
• Queensland: trades, agriculture, tourism
• Western Australia: mining, engineering, trades (resource sector)
• South Australia: healthcare, food processing, engineering

How to Improve Your Chances

1. Choose the right ANZSCO code — match your experience to the occupation code carefully; incorrect codes lead to refusals
2. Complete your skills assessment before job searching — many employers prefer candidates with assessments already done
3. Target sponsors directly — search 3580 Australian sponsors on ApplyWave
4. Meet the TSMIT — ensure your salary offer is at least AUD 73,150
5. Prepare English early — book IELTS/PTE months in advance; retake if needed