10 highest paying part-time jobs in Melbourne for international students

Melbourne is one of the most expensive cities in Australia. International students studying at a prestigious Melbourne university can balance their studies and finances with a high-paying part-time job. 

Fortunately, there are many options for part-time jobs in Melbourne, ranging across different sectors. This blog educates you on 10 highest-paying part-time jobs in Melbourne to help you decide about your professional and financial future. 

Quick Overview

Highest paying part-time jobs: Elderly care worker, Bookkeeper, Pick packer, Supermarket assistant, Coffee waiter, Data entry clerk, Delivery driver, Personal tutor, Receptionist & Office Coordinator.

Average Melbourne part-time job salary for students: AUD 18 to AUD 22/hour

Top companies offering part-time jobs

• Australian Universities
• Accenture
• Google
• IBM
• Oracle
• Mercedes
• Quacquarelli Symonds
• Amazon
• Uber Eats

Best online sites for searching part-time jobs

LinkedIn, Glassdoor, SEEK, Gumtree, Indeed Australia, PeopleScout Australia, Workforce Australia, Adzuna

Getting a part-time job in Melbourne as an international student

International students have many options when it comes to working part-time in Melbourne. You can go for popular fields like customer service, hospitality, and retail or go for apprenticeships and internships suited to your career goals. 

The Fair Work Commission altered the National Minimum Wage to AUD 24.10 per hour or AUD 915.90 per week as of July 1, 2024. Students can start working once the session begins, but they must adhere to the work-hour limits, depending on the course they pursue. 

Part-time job rules

1. You can start your part-time job in Melbourne only after the academic session begins. This rule doesn’t apply to students pursuing a course that demands regular coursework.
2. You must possess a Subclass 500 student visa to work part-time in Melbourne. 
3. During the semester, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. During holidays and term breaks, you can work unlimited hours. 
4. You must fulfil all attendance requirements and achieve satisfactory academic results. 
5. PhD students or those from the postgraduate research sector can work unlimited hours after the thesis work begins. 
6. You need to open an Australian bank account to receive your payments. 
7. A Tax File Number (TFN) is also required. When you spend more than six months in Australia, you become a resident for tax purposes and are liable to pay income tax. 
8. A police check is mandatory for some jobs. You can avail it online through the Australian Federal Police (AFP). 

10 highest paying part-time jobs in Melbourne for international students

Source: SEEK

Bookkeeper (Average salary: AUD 37.5/hour)

Job Details: You must maintain a business’ key accounting records, including ledgers. You must also record transactions like income and outgoings and post them to various accounts. 

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 35 to AUD 40 per hour, depending on the company, experience, and designation 

Eligibility: 

• Pursuing study program in Accounting
• Relevant prior educational qualifications

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals

Elderly Care Worker (Average salary: AUD 35/hour)

Job Details: As an aged care worker, you work in a care home, supporting people with learning disabilities and the elderly. You assist them in daily activities like cleaning, tidying, eating, showering, and dressing. 

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 30 to AUD 40 per hour, depending on the size of the caretaking home, your experience and qualifications.

Eligibility: 

• Basic knowledge about individual and ageing support
• Excellent communication skills
• Specialist training, if dealing with elderly or specially-abled patients

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals or at local care homes

Office Coordinator (Average salary:  AUD 35/hour)

Job Details: The role involves overseeing general office operations, providing administrative support, and being the first point of contact for phone inquiries, office visitors, and correspondence.  

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 30 to AUD 40 per hour, depending on establishment and experience

Eligibility: 

• Strong organisational and multitasking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals, personal networking, office visits

Pick Packer (Average salary:  AUD 32.5/hour)

Job Details: As a pick packer, you will receive stock, select and prepare goods for dispatch, and load and unload trucks. You may also need to conduct general warehousing responsibilities like administration, machine operation, and cleaning.

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 30 to AUD 35, depending on company, role, and experience

Eligibility: 

• Good communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently with strong attention to detail
• Previous experience working in a warehouse environment is preferred

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals and local warehouses

Coffee Waiter (Average salary:  AUD 32.5/hour)

Job Details: Your job is to take orders and serve coffee to the customers visiting the cafe. You must connect with guests with a warm and friendly attitude and provide order suggestions. 

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 30 to AUD 35 per hour, depending on location, coffee shop, experience

Eligibility: 

• Strong customer service skills
• Proficient in English
• A genuine passion for coffee and hospitality
• Skills to prepare coffee is preferred

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals and local cafes

Receptionist (Average salary:  AUD 30/hour)

Job Details: Your duties depend on the organisation you work for but mostly include office or administrative support roles. You must answer, screen, forward telephone calls and file and maintain documents and records.

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 25 to AUD 35, depending on experience and establishment

Eligibility: 

• Ability to maintain and develop internal and external relationships
• Excellent phone etiquette
• Efficient in multitasking

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals, hotels, restaurants, university/college boards, personal networking

Supermarket Assistant (Average salary: AUD 27.5/hour)

Job Details: In this role, students greet customers at the supermarket and assist them in locating products, aiming to create an informative and engaging shopping experience.

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 25 to AUD 30, depending on the establishment, workload, role, and experience 

Eligibility: 

• Proven experience in a retail customer-facing environment
• Comfortable in lifting and arranging tasks
• Flexible availability to work on weekends

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals, local supermarkets, minimarket chains, university/college boards

Data Entry Clerk (Average salary:  AUD 18.5/hour)

Job Details: Your responsibilities include performing routine clerical tasks such as entering and updating data in the computer system. It is your role to ensure the organization’s database remains accurate, organized, and up-to-date.

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 15 to AUD 22 per hour, depending on location, company, and experience

Eligibility: 

• Familiar with Microsoft Office
• Data administration and invoicing skills

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals, personal networking, social media platforms

Personal Tutor (Average salary:  AUD 16.5/hour)

Job Details: You will need to support students to excel academically. You must be familiar with the Australian curriculum.

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 13 to AUD 20 per hour, depending on subject, grade, location, school, and experience

Eligibility: 

• Good academic results in chosen field of study
• Competence in curriculum planning, presentation, and assessment
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals, local schools, university/college boards

Delivery Driver (Average salary:  AUD 14/hour)

Job Details: The role involves delivering goods on time and in proper condition, manually loading/unloading products, professional driving, adhering to traffic laws, and completing multi-drop deliveries and pick-ups. 

Expected Salary Bracket: AUD 13 to AUD 15 per hour, depending on company, role, location, and experience

Eligibility: 

• Ability to follow instructions and complete orders
• Possess a valid driving license
• Health insurance covered
• Familiar with routes and location apps

How To Apply/Find: Online job portals

Part-time jobs for students in Melbourne compared to other Australian cities

Benefits of part-time jobs in Melbourne

1. Reduce financial worries by meeting expenses like groceries, rent, utilities, and other activities with your part-time job salary in Melbourne. 
2. Gain valuable work experience, which is a preference of many employers. 
3. Learn transferable skills like time management, teamwork, and communication, which help to build a successful career.
4. Interact with new people and build a network with local connections and professionals to easily find full-time employment after graduation.

Types of part-time jobs

• Hospitality and customer service: Roles include waiter/waitress, bartender, receptionist, kitchen staff, retail assistant, and barista.

• Tutoring and education: You can work as a language tutor, academic tutor, and after-school assistant. 

• Administrative and office support: Part-time roles include social media assistant, data entry clerk, customer service representative, office administration, office assistant, and receptionist.

• Creative and freelance: Roles include social media management, content writing, web development, virtual assistance, transcription, photography, data entry, tutoring, graphic design, transcription, video editing, voiceover, marketing consultant, mobile app development, and illustration, among others. 

• Retail: The options are cashier, stock clerk, sales assistant, and customer service representative.

How to find part-time jobs in Melbourne for international students

• Online job portals: Online job-listing portals are the easiest way to find available positions in Melbourne. You can filter job searches by location, type, and hourly wage on these portals. 

• University career services: Students can find part-time work through career services in Melbourne universities. These services include employer networking events, resume assistance, career counselling, and job boards.

• Visit local businesses: Generally, small businesses prefer direct hiring. You can find good part-time jobs in Melbourne for students by walking into local restaurants, cafes, or stores. A pro tip – carry your resume and directly ask if they are hiring.

• Social media and networking: Many Melbourne companies post job openings on social media platforms and communities like Facebook job groups, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Watch out for these spaces to find suitable opportunities. 

Also read: Cost of living in Melbourne – single, family & student

Why use Instarem for international transfers?

International students often want to send money to their loved ones back home, especially from their part-time job in Melbourne for students’ salary. Instarem is the ideal international money transfer service to fulfil your requirements. It is fast*, secure, and hassle-free. You can send money globally with the benefits of competitive exchange rates, transparent fees, fast* processing times, and affordable rates@. 

The platform’s currency converter gives you real-time exchange rates, so you know the amount you’re transferring and what the recipient will receive. 

FAQs

Q. Can students work part-time in Melbourne?

Yes. Students can work part-time in Melbourne if they adhere to the job rules. The working hour limit is 48 hours per fortnight during the school term and unlimited hours during specific breaks. 

Q. How much do part-time jobs pay in Melbourne?

The part-time job salary in Melbourne varies depending on the job type, hours worked, industry, and experience. It can range between AUD 18 and AUD 22 per hour.

Q. Which part-time jobs pay the most in Melbourne?

The best part-time jobs for students in Melbourne, which pay the most, include roles in hospitality and customer services, including barista, waiter/waitress, retail assistant, etc. 

Q. What is the minimum salary in Melbourne?

The minimum salary for students in Melbourne is between AUD 75 and AUD 125 per week. 

Q. Is it easy to get a part-time job in Melbourne?

Finding a part-time job in Melbourne is easy for international students if they adopt the right approach. Since the competition is high, you must start searching and applying for jobs early on. The industries to tap include tutoring, retail, and hospitality. 

Q. Can I work 50 hours a week in Melbourne?

No. The work hour limit in Melbourne is 48 hours over 14 days while the course is in session and unlimited hours during breaks. 

Q. How much is the per-hour job in Melbourne?

The minimum per-hour salary in Melbourne for students is AUD 24.10 as of July 1, 2024. 

Q. How much is rent in Melbourne?

The average monthly rent in Melbourne is between AUD 750 and AUD 1,500, depending on house size, location, and lifestyle.

Other related blogs:

Australia: Part-time jobs for students in Australia

USA: Part-time jobs for students in USA

UK: Part-time jobs for students in UK

Singapore: Part-time jobs for students in Singapore

Germany: Part-time jobs for students in Germany

Ireland: Part-time jobs for students in Ireland

France: Part-time jobs for students in France

Switzerland: Part-time jobs for students in Switzerland

New Zealand: Part-time jobs for students in New Zealand

Japan: Part-time jobs for students in Japan

Disclaimers:

This article is intended for informational purposes only. All details are accurate at the time of publishing. Instarem has no affiliation or relationship with the products or vendors mentioned.

*Quick meaning 75% of our transactions are completed in 15 minutes. Depending on the funding method.

@ When it comes to affordable exchange rates and fees, it’s worth noting that the cost will vary depending on how you choose to fund your transactions. Credit card funding and bank transfer fees can differ significantly. 

Note: Salary and cost of living are taken from different websites on 18th December 2024 and are subject to change.