Jobs in Canberra 2026: Top Industries, Major Employers and Salary Guide

Canberra's Employment Landscape

Canberra is unlike any other Australian city when it comes to employment. As the national capital, the Australian Public Service (APS) dominates the labour market, employing around 40,000 people directly in Canberra. Combined with defence, universities, and a growing technology and professional services sector, Canberra offers one of Australia's most stable employment environments.

Major Employment Sectors

Australian Public Service (APS) — virtually every Commonwealth government department has its headquarters in Canberra. The APS, the Australian Defence Force civilian workforce, and related agencies make up the backbone of Canberra's economy. Roles span policy, administration, ICT, law, finance, HR, and intelligence. Recruiters hire at Graduate (APS3/4), EL1, EL2, and SES levels. Most APS roles require Australian citizenship and some require security clearances.

Defence — the Department of Defence, ASIO, ASIS, and the ASD (Australian Signals Directorate) are major Canberra employers. Russell Offices, Duntroon, and the HMAS Harman precinct house military and civilian defence staff. Private sector defence contractors (Leidos, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, KPMG Defence) have grown their Canberra presence substantially.

Technology — Canberra's government ICT spend has attracted a strong private sector tech presence. Cybersecurity companies are particularly well-represented, with CrowdStrike, Splunk, and dozens of Australian cyber firms having local operations. The ACT's emerging startup ecosystem (fostered by CBRIN and the ANU Connect Ventures precinct) is producing a small but growing private tech sector.

Education and research — the Australian National University (ANU), University of Canberra (UC), and Australian Catholic University (ACU) Canberra campus collectively employ thousands. The CSIRO's Black Mountain campus and a range of government research agencies add to the knowledge economy.

Healthcare — Canberra Hospital (ACT Health), Calvary Public and Private Hospitals, Clare Holland House, and a large network of GPs and specialists. ACT Health faces consistent nursing and allied health shortages, with competitive pay to attract staff.

Typical Salaries

APS salaries follow published pay scales. APS3 starts around $75,000-85,000; APS6 earns $95,000-110,000; EL1 $115,000-135,000. Defence contractor and private sector IT roles can earn significantly more. Healthcare follows ACT Nurses Award (starting ~$73,000 for a new graduate).

Security Clearances

Many Canberra roles require Baseline, NV1, or NV2 security clearances. Clearances are sponsored by employers and take weeks to months. Hold a clearance already and you'll find a significant premium in the Canberra market.

Finding Work in Canberra

APSJobs (apsjobs.gov.au) lists all APS roles. SEEK and LinkedIn cover private sector and contractor roles. Defence contractor positions are listed on company career pages and through specialist defence recruiters. The Canberra Times career section covers local roles.

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.