Creative Careers in Australia: High-Paying Jobs You Can Pursue in 2025
If you're looking to enter a creative field, you're in luck, your skills are more in demand than ever before.
With automation taking over many routine tasks, creative thinking, originality, and innovation have become essential. Over the past few decades, Australia has seen a significant increase in employment within roles that require these “mechanisation-resistant” skills, which demand human insight and ingenuity.
In this article, we explore some of Australia's best-paying creative jobs and the qualifications that can help you land these exciting roles.
What Are the Highest-Paying Creative Jobs?
Here’s a breakdown of the top creative career options in Australia, their average salaries, and how you can get started in each field:
1. Video Game Designer
Salary
According to the latest data, the average video game designer in Australia earns AU$65,444 annually.
How to Become a Video Game Designer
To start your career as a video game designer, consider pursuing an Bachelor of Games Development. This qualification provides foundational skills in character design, storyboarding, and animation, all essential to the game development process.
What Do Video Game Designers Do?
Video game designers work within teams to create engaging, interactive gameplay experiences. They focus on coding elements, storyboarding concepts, and testing gameplay to ensure it's bug-free. Designers often specialise in certain areas, such as character development, environments, or AI interactions.
Job Outlook
The field of video game design in Australia is set to grow by 9.2% over the next five years, according to SEEK.
2. Social Media Marketer
Salary
On average, a social media marketer in Australia earns $95,092 annually.
How to Become a Social Media Marketer
Consider the 10904NAT - Diploma of Social Media Marketing, which will equip you with the skills to create effective online campaigns, manage brand presence, and develop content strategies across major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
What Do Social Media Marketers Do?
Social media marketers develop creative campaigns to build a brand's presence on social media. They craft content (videos, contests, posts), and engage with audiences to drive brand awareness, boost engagement, and enhance customer loyalty.
Job Outlook
The demand for social media marketers is expected to grow by 21.7% in the next five years, driven by the increasing importance of digital marketing strategies.
3. Ethical Hacker
Salary
Ethical hackers in Australia earn an average salary of $95,779 annually.
How to Become an Ethical Hacker
Pursuing an ICT50120 - Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security) will provide you with the necessary skills in cybersecurity, including encryption tactics, intrusion prevention strategies, and security system maintenance.
What Do Ethical Hackers Do?
Ethical hackers use their technical expertise to break into systems (legally) to identify vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. They perform penetration tests to strengthen a company’s security measures.
Job Outlook
Information security analysts in Australia can expect an 18.3% increase in job growth over the next five years.
4. Project Manager
Salary
The average salary for a project manager in Australia is $144,733 annually.
How to Become a Project Manager
The BSB50820 - Diploma of Project Management will help you build strong skills in project planning, budgeting, and risk management, preparing you to oversee complex projects from conception to completion.
What Do Project Managers Do?
Project managers are responsible for leading teams to achieve specific project goals. They manage timelines, budgets, and resources while ensuring that projects are completed efficiently and to the client's satisfaction.
Job Outlook
Project management roles in Australia are expected to see a 6.2% growth in the next five years.
5. Web Developer
Salary
Web developers in Australia earn an average salary of $135,075 annually.
How to Become a Web Developer
The ICT50120 - Diploma of Information Technology provides a solid foundation in web development, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, the core languages for creating dynamic, interactive websites.
What Do Web Developers Do?
Web developers design, build, and maintain websites. They may focus on back-end development (server-side) or front-end (user interface), and often work closely with clients to ensure that the website meets their needs.
Job Outlook
Web development jobs in Australia are projected to increase by 9.2% in the next five years.
6. Public Relations Officer
Salary
The average salary for a public relations officer is $84,627 annually.
How to Become a Public Relations Officer
The BSB40820 Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication can provide you with the skills needed to effectively manage a company’s public image, from media relations to campaign development.
What Do Public Relations Officers Do?
Public relations officers manage a brand’s reputation. They handle media communications, write press releases, and work on campaigns to enhance the public perception of a business.
Job Outlook
Public relations officers in Australia can expect a 14% growth in job opportunities over the next five years.
7. Software Developer
Salary
Software developers in Australia earn an average salary of $148,947 annually.
How to Become a Software Developer
Consider studying an ICT50120 - Diploma of Information Technology to develop essential skills in programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as in software product design and cloud computing.
What Do Software Developers Do?
Software developers create programs or applications to meet a client’s needs. They build, test, and maintain software to improve or enhance business processes.
Job Outlook
The software development field in Australia is set to see a massive 23.4% increase in job growth in the next five years.
8. Animator
Salary
Animators in Australia earn an average salary of $71,137 annually.
How to Become an Animator
The ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development) will help you develop technical skills in web design, along with valuable work practices in the digital media industry, an essential foundation for aspiring animators.
What Do Animators Do?
Animators create the visual elements for games, movies, advertisements, and more. They bring characters, settings, and stories to life through both 2D and 3D animation.
Job Outlook
Animators in Australia can expect 13.6% job growth in the next five years, driven by demand in gaming and film industries.
The demand for creative professionals in Australia is only set to increase, as many routine tasks become automated. If you’re passionate about pursuing a creative career, now is the perfect time to explore the opportunities available.
Upskilled offers a wide range of online courses across creative fields, including video game design, marketing, and more, to help you get started on the right path. With flexible learning options, you can gain the qualifications you need to succeed, all while studying at your own pace.
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