Analyst Programmer migration to Australia: CSOL, ACS, visa 482, 189 and the PR pathway
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Yes — the Analyst Programmer (ANZSCO 261311) is eligible to migrate to Australia through several visa streams. The occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and is eligible for the subclass 482 visa (employer sponsored), subclass 189 (points-tested independent), subclass 190/491 (state nominated) and subclass 186 (employer-sponsored permanent residence).
Who is this article for? If you hold a title such as “Data Analyst”, “technical Business Analyst” or “Developer Analyst” and your work involves both writing code and analysing data or business needs, ANZSCO 261311 (Analyst Programmer) may be the most suitable mapping. Where the work leans more towards requirements analysis without coding, code 261111 (ICT Business Analyst — covered in its own article) may fit better. ACS assesses on the actual content of the work, not the job title.
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
The Analyst Programmer carries ANZSCO code 261311, sitting at Skill Level 1 within group 2613 (Software and Applications Programmers). The ANZSCO definition for 261311 covers work that both analyses business requirements and designs the technical solution and writes the code to implement it. This is the code that best reflects people working at the intersection of analysis and development — for example, a Data Analyst writing complex Python/SQL to process data, an ETL Developer, or a Business Intelligence Developer.
The difference between neighbouring codes: 261311 combines both analysis and programming; 261312 (Developer Programmer) leans towards writing code to a given specification; 261111 (ICT Business Analyst) leans towards business requirements without writing code. Many people working as a Data Analyst would genuinely be better placed under 261311 if they write code regularly.
The occupation appears on the CSOL with a status of , making it eligible to take part in SkillSelect and receive an ITA for subclass 189, 190 and 491.
Skills assessing authority: ACS
The assessing authority for the Analyst Programmer is ACS (Australian Computer Society). For a 261311 application, ACS assesses both sides: the analysis skills (identifying requirements, designing solutions) and the programming skills (writing and deploying code). An application showing only one of the two components will be weaker than one that clearly demonstrates the combination.
Anyone working as a Data Analyst should prepare concrete evidence of: the languages and tools used (Python, R, SQL, Spark), the specific analysis projects delivered, and the business outcomes. Avoid descriptions that lean too heavily on building reports or dashboards while lacking evidence of complex coding.
ACS has four pathways: General Skills, RPL, Post Australian Study, and Qualification Only. There is a fee (the current fee — check on the assessing authority’s official page); the processing time is 8–10 weeks.
Suitable visas: an overview
There are four main visa groups: subclass 482, 186, 189 and 190/491. The most common pathway is 482 → 186 TRT. Those with a high SkillSelect score can lodge a subclass 189 EOI in parallel with working on a 482.
Subclass 482 — employer sponsored
The subclass 482 Core Skills Stream allows an employer to sponsor an Analyst Programmer for up to four years. Eligibility : relevant ICT work experience in the most recent five years, salary meeting the TSMIT, and Vocational English (IELTS 5.0 in each band). The employer must complete Labour Market Testing before nominating.
Demand for Analyst Programmers in Australia is strong across finance, banking, insurance and technology — particularly as data analysis grows in importance across every organisation.
Subclass 186 — employer-sponsored permanent residence
TRT pathway: two years full time with the same employer in the past three years, under 45 years old, Competent English, and a salary no lower than the market rate . The Direct Entry stream also applies.
Subclass 189 — points-tested independent
The subclass 189 visa needs no employer or state nomination . The minimum EOI score is 65; the score actually needed to receive an ITA is usually 85–90. The Analyst Programmer (261311) is less common than the Software Engineer (261313), so the occupation ceiling is less competitive, but a high English score remains the deciding factor.
Subclass 190 and 491 — state nominated
The Analyst Programmer is nominated by many states. The subclass 190 visa adds 5 points; the subclass 491 visa adds 15 points with a pathway onwards to the 191. Check each state portal, as timing and conditions change frequently.
English requirements
Vocational English (IELTS 5.0) for the 482; Competent English (IELTS 6.0) minimum for the 189/190; Superior English (IELTS 8.0) to reach the maximum SkillSelect points; Proficient English (IELTS 7.0) for the 186 Direct Entry.
Indicative salary
The figures below are indicative reference points, not guaranteed pay. Actual pay depends on the city or region, seniority and experience, specialised technology, the type of employer, full-time versus contract status, compulsory superannuation (super), and the visa/sponsorship context.
Labour-market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (figures from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), median weekly earnings for the Software and Applications Programmers occupation group (ANZSCO 2613) are 2,537 AUD/week — roughly 10,990 AUD/month or 131,900 AUD/year on a simple 52-weeks-a-year conversion (pre-tax, a reference point only, not guaranteed pay). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult-rate, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the highest figure, and it covers the whole occupation group (which includes many programming roles).
Salary ranges from job ads (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job advertisements. At the time of this update, AustraliaHub has not been able to verify the SEEK salary range; you should look it up directly and compare it against the median benchmark above.
Legal minimum floor (legal floor): Most programming roles are professional occupations that are award-free; in that case the legal minimum floor is the National Minimum Wage together with the employment contract. Check using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Software and Applications Programmers occupation profile (ANZSCO 2613): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2613-software-and-applications-programmers
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
The pathway to permanent residence: a summary
Complete the ACS assessment under code 261311 → obtain a subclass 482 visa → work two years with the same employer → lodge the 186 TRT → obtain permanent residence. In parallel, lodge a SkillSelect EOI to track 189/190 opportunities.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong code because the boundary is unclear: Anyone working as a Data Analyst needs to be clear: if the work is mainly writing code (complex Python/SQL) → 261311; if it leans towards requirements analysis without code → 261111; if it leans towards application programming → 261312. Lodging an ACS application under the wrong code can lead to an unsuitable outcome.
- An application lacking coding evidence: ACS needs to see concrete evidence of programming, not just analysis. Describe clearly the scripts, data pipelines or systems you have written and deployed.
- Confusing Data Analyst with ICT Business Analyst: 261111 and 261311 are two different codes with different application requirements. Do not map yourself across without understanding the difference — consider consulting a migration agent experienced with ACS applications if you are unsure.
- Overlooking the ACS RPL pathway: A Data Analyst with many years of practical experience but a qualification not directly related to ICT can still lodge an ACS application through the RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) pathway.