Part-Time Jobs in Australia for International Students 2026: Roles and Typical Pay

Working part-time can help cover living costs while you study in Australia, but the right job needs to fit around your classes and stay inside your visa limits. This guide covers the 48-hour fortnight rule for student visa holders, common part-time jobs for students, what casual pay looks like in 2026, and how to build a schedule that keeps you compliant.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Visa rules can change, so confirm your conditions on the Department of Home Affairs website or in VEVO, and with your education provider.

Quick facts

• The limit: student visa (subclass 500) holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.
• What a fortnight is: any consecutive 14-day period starting on a Monday. You can split your hours unevenly, for example 30 one week and 18 the next, as long as any fortnight stays within 48.
• All jobs count together: the limit applies across all your employers combined.
• Breaks: there is no hour limit during official course breaks. See summer break jobs in Australia.
• Minimum pay: from 1 July 2026 the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, and casual employees on it must get at least $33.05 including the 25% loading. Most workers are covered by an award with higher rates.

What can part-time work earn?

Here is what the award-free casual minimum of $33.05 an hour comes to, before tax:

Many awards pay more, and evening, weekend and public holiday work usually earns penalty rates. Check the pay guide for your award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

What counts toward the 48 hours?

All paid work counts, on campus and off campus, and hours at every job add together. A weekend delivery job and a weekday cafe job share the same 48 hours. Keep a record of the hours you work, because you can be asked to show them.

Why staying within the limit matters

Working more than the allowed hours while your course is in session can breach your visa conditions, which can lead to visa cancellation and can affect future visa applications, including post-study work options. If you are worried that you may have gone over, speak to your education provider or a registered migration agent before you do anything else.

Part-time jobs students commonly take

1. Retail and supermarkets

Checkout, shelf stacking, online order picking and night fill roles are common. Large retailers usually post casual vacancies on their own career sites first.

2. Cafes and restaurants

Baristas, wait staff and kitchen hands are in constant demand. Some roles ask for an RSA certificate for alcohol service.

3. Warehouse and logistics

Picking, packing and loading roles are physical and shift-based. Check start times and how you will get to the site.

4. Delivery

Food and parcel delivery offers flexible hours, but check the costs you carry yourself, such as vehicle expenses and insurance.

5. Tutoring and campus jobs

Tutoring or student services roles can pay well per hour. Hours count toward the same limit.

A sample schedule that stays under the limit

Say you study full-time and want steady income with a buffer:

• Week 1: Tuesday and Thursday evenings 4 hours each, Saturday 8 hours (16 hours)
• Week 2: Tuesday and Thursday evenings 4 hours each, Sunday 8 hours (16 hours)

That is 32 hours across the fortnight, leaving 16 hours of buffer for a late finish or an extra shift request. At $33.05 an hour, 32 hours comes to $1,057.60 before tax.

How to get started

1. Check your visa conditions in VEVO.
2. Get a tax file number (TFN). Student visa holders can apply online through the Australian Taxation Office.
3. Prepare a one-page resume with your study timetable and available days.
4. Apply on employer career sites and job boards such as SEEK and Indeed, and set job alerts.
5. Visit local shops and cafes in person with a printed resume during quiet hours.
6. Ask your education provider’s career service about local employers that hire students.

Know your rights

Your visa limits your hours, but you are still entitled to the minimum wage that applies to your job. Being paid in cash or below the correct rate is not legal just because you are a student or on a visa. The Fair Work Ombudsman helps all workers regardless of visa status.

Mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting the second job. Hours at every job count together.
• Counting gig shifts as extra. They count as hours worked.
• Saying yes to extra shifts. The limit is your responsibility, not your employer’s.
• Not keeping records. Save your rosters and payslips.
• Accepting below-award pay. Check the pay guide for your award.

Watch out for fake job offers

• A real employer never asks you to pay to get a job, including for training, uniforms or checks.
• Do not share your bank details, tax file number or ID copies before you have a verified offer.
• Apply through the employer’s official careers site, and type the address yourself instead of following links in messages.
• Be wary of jobs that promise very high pay for easy work, or that move you to a private chat app.
• If you think you have been targeted, report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours can international students work in Australia?
Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and without a limit during official breaks. Some students, such as certain research degree students, have different conditions, so check your own visa.

Can I work before my course starts?
Student visa work rights do not usually begin until the course starts.

Do I need a TFN?
Yes, you generally need a tax file number.

Will the limit rise to 60 hours?
Some sites have discussed a proposal, but one source says it has not become law. Check Home Affairs for the current rule.

Related: Summer Break Jobs in Australia 2026 and Christmas Casual Jobs in Australia 2026. Confirm all rules with Home Affairs and your education provider.