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What the Rules Allow
Under Australia’s student visa (subclass 500) rules, international students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during semester periods (i.e., when classes are running) unless they are PhD or master’s by research students (for whom there is no hours limit). During official breaks (“holiday periods”), there is no limit on hours.

Also, students must be paid at least the national minimum wage, receive pay slips, and have the same workplace protections as Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Violation of the work-hours limit is taken seriously by authorities and may lead to visa cancellation or refusal.

What Students Actually Earn
Because of the 48-hour fortnight limit, many students work part-time roles.
Current minimum wage in Australia (as of 2025) is AUD 23.23 per hour (before tax).

To illustrate:

• If a student works the full allowed 48 hours every fortnight at the minimum wage, that’s roughly AUD 1,115 per fortnight, or about AUD 557 per week.
• Over a year (assuming some holiday work too), some estimates say international students might earn around AUD 53,300 in total from work.
• But that is an estimate; many students earn less, due to inconsistent hours, part-year work, or underemployment.

Another concern is wage theft: many international students report being paid below legal rates. One survey found that 26% of international students earn half the legal casual wage or less.

So the “best case” earnings are higher, but realistic earnings are often well below the ideal.

Factors That Influence Your Earnings

Here are some of the key variables:

What’s Reasonable to Expect
Given all this, a more “realistic” ballpark for many students (not pushing to the maximum every fortnight, missing shifts, periods with no work) might be  AUD 15,000 to AUD 25,000 per year from part-time work. Some students using holiday breaks fully might push that higher.

The work earnings often help with living costs (rent, food, transport) but are rarely enough to cover tuition fully.

Summary
Yes, international students in Australia can legally work and earn income, but the caps on working hours limit what they can realistically make. While optimistic estimates suggest up to ~AUD 53,000/year, many students earn less due to inconsistent work, underemployment, or wage underpayment. Always ensure you understand your rights, keep within visa conditions, and track wages properly.