Exploring tech careers

What to know

• This tool is primarily designed for employers and recruiters. The framing is from an employer perspective, but the underlying data about what candidates value is useful when exploring what to look for in a role
• Data is based on an ongoing survey of 14,000+ candidates, making it more reliable than anecdotal advice
• The Gen Z and Graduate filters make the data directly relevant to school leavers entering the workforce

How to use this resource

• Use the filters to explore what matters most to candidates in a specific industry. Filter by Information & Communication Technology to see what drives people towards tech roles
• Filter by Graduate or Junior seniority alongside Gen Z generation to see data most relevant to school leavers entering the workforce
• Use the findings as a prompt for self-reflection: what matters most to you in a role? The data shows common priorities, but it's worth identifying your own
• The results can also help you prepare for interview questions like "what do you look for in a workplace?" or "what motivates you?" with something more grounded than a generic answer

What to know

• This article lists job titles and brief descriptions only. For detail on what a role involves, what it pays, and what qualifications are needed, follow the links to individual career pages
• The article was written for a general adult audience. Some sections (e.g. changing careers, salary negotiation) are more relevant to people already in the workforce than school leavers
• The Technology & Engineering section covers common roles but isn't exhaustive. Tech-adjacent roles like Data Analyst, Digital Marketer, and UX Designer also appear in other sections
• Some roles listed are broad categories (e.g. 'Engineer') rather than specific job titles. Explore sub-specialties to find what fits your interests
• Job titles reflect common roles as of publication (May 2024). Emerging tech roles in particular evolve quickly

How to use this resource

• Scan through the industry sectors to find areas that interest you. You don't need to read every entry, let curiosity guide you
• When a job title catches your eye, click through to SEEK's dedicated career page for that role to learn more about what it involves and what it pays
• The Technology & Engineering section is a useful entry point if you're curious about tech, but also check Science & Research and Finance & Business — many tech-adjacent roles appear in those categories too
• The 'Emerging professions' section is worth a read if you're interested in roles that have emerged in the last decade
• Use the 'How do I decide on a career?' section as a reflection prompt: it walks through the key factors to weigh before committing to a direction

What to know

• Salaries shown are for experienced workers, not starting pay. Entry-level salaries will usually be lower
• Job satisfaction scores come from current workers in those roles, not from people just starting out
• Some niche or newer roles (especially in tech) may have limited data. If a career isn't showing up, try searching a related title
• Not sure where to start with tech? The Information & Communication Technology and Science & Technology sections cover far more roles than just software development

How to use this resource

• Search for a career in the search bar to pull up a full profile. You'll see typical tasks, salary, required skills, and job satisfaction ratings from real workers in that role. Try searching for a role like UX Designer, Data Analyst, or Cybersecurity Analyst to get started

• Not sure where to start? Browse by industry, pick a sector that interests you, and scroll through the roles available
• Click into any role card to read more, including whether demand for that role is growing or shrinking
• Use the salary comparison feature to see how a role's pay stacks up against others in the same industry
• Explore the Information & Communication Technology industry section to see just how many different careers exist in tech

What to know

• This tool is time-sensitive: the data reflects a specific point in time and will become outdated. Always check the publish date before relying on the data
• Job market trends shift regularly. Use this as a starting point for discussion rather than a definitive guide to where to focus

How to use this resource

• Use as a conversation starter about which industries are growing and what that means for career planning
• Browse the interactive data tool on the page for a fuller picture beyond the six highlighted roles. Tech and digital roles may appear with different growth patterns depending on when the page is viewed
• The job market context (job ads trending down year-on-year but applications remaining steady) is useful background if you find the job market more competitive than expected
• Use the state and territory filters to check whether roles you're interested in are growing in your area. Demand isn't evenly spread across Australia, and this tool makes that visible
• Cross-reference what you find here with the Explore Careers tool for a fuller picture. Job Trends shows where demand is moving; Explore Careers shows what those roles actually involve and what they pay

What to know

• Salaries shown are for experienced workers, not entry-level. Starting pay is usually lower, sometimes significantly so
• Figures come from advertised job listings, not actual offers. They're a useful guide, not a guarantee
• High-salary roles at the top of the list (e.g. $250K+) typically require years of experience or senior leadership. They're not realistic benchmarks for someone just starting out
• Job satisfaction scores reflect current workers' experiences, not those of people just starting out
• Tech roles appear across multiple industry categories. Searching a specific job title (e.g. 'Cybersecurity Analyst') gives more accurate results than browsing by industry alone

How to use this resource

• Search for a role you're curious about to see its typical salary range, job satisfaction rating, and whether the field is growing or declining
• Browse by industry to compare earning potential across sectors, and explore the Information & Communication Technology section to see how varied tech salaries can be – 303 roles listed, from Helpdesk Technician to Chief Technology Officer
• Use the 'highest paying careers' and 'highest job satisfaction' lists as conversation starters if you're not sure where to start

• Pair salary figures with job growth indicators to weigh up both earning potential and long-term opportunities for a role you're considering

What to know

• Reviews reflect individual employees' personal experiences. One negative review doesn't define a company, and one glowing review isn't a guarantee
• Smaller companies and startups may have very few reviews, making it harder to draw conclusions. This is especially true in tech, where many employers are young or fast-growing
• Culture can vary between teams, offices, and managers. Reviews give a useful overview but not the full picture
• Some profiles include information provided by the employer themselves. Cross-reference with other sources for a balanced view
• Curious about tech workplaces specifically? Use the Information & Communication Technology industry filter on the page to find employers across software development, cybersecurity, data, cloud, and digital roles

How to use this resource

• Search for a specific company you're interested in to read employee reviews and see ratings across culture, management, and benefits
• Browse by industry to discover top-rated employers in a sector you're curious about. If you're interested in tech, filter by Information & Communication Technology to explore employers like Atlassian, Canva, Telstra, and others across software, cloud, and digital roles
• Read a mix of positive and critical reviews to get a balanced picture. Look for patterns across multiple reviews rather than fixating on one
• Check the 'perks and benefits' section to understand what a company offers beyond base salary
• Use company profiles as interview prep: knowing what employees say about a workplace helps you ask more informed questions