Chief Information Officer ANZSCO 135111

In case you are in the tech industry and you are considering moving to Australia, the Chief Information Officer position could be just the thing you should explore. This job has its own ANZSCO code: 135111. The Australian government has labelled this occupation as such under skilled Migration purposes.

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IT Strategy

Digital Leadership

System Governance

Technology Planning

A Chief Information Officer or CIO is merely the most senior person who oversees all the technology systems in a company. Their main job is to plan, organise, direct, and control all ICT (Information and Communication Technology) operations. The aim is to ensure that the tech setup of the company is in line to facilitate its daily operations.

Sometimes this role is also called a Chief Technology Officer (CTO). That is the only alternative title listed under ANZSCO 135111.

Consider it in the following way: a company is a car; the CIO is someone who ensures that the engine (the tech) keeps operating so that the car can get where it has to go.

Chief Information Officer ANZSCO 135111

What Does a CIO Actually Do?

Here are the key tasks a CIO is expected to handle on the job:

Task

What It Means

Analyse information needs

Figure out what data and tech the company needs

Set ICT strategies

Make plans for how tech will be used across the whole company

Direct ICT resources

Choose and install the right tools and software

Set priorities

Decide which tech projects get done first

Oversee system security

Make sure the company’s digital systems are safe

It is not simply about knowing computers. A CIO also has to be a good leader who understands business goals.

Skill Level and Classification

This occupation lies on Skill Level 1 of the ANZSCO system. This is the maximum level of skill of the system. It usually means you need a bachelor’s degree or higher to do the job.

Category

Details

Major Group

1 – Managers

Sub-Major Group

13 – Specialist Managers

Minor Group

135 – ICT Managers

Unit Group

1351 – ICT Managers

ANZSCO Code

135111

Skill Level

1 (Highest)

 Other jobs in the same unit group include:

  •       135112 – ICT Project Manager
  •       135199 – ICT Managers (not elsewhere classified)

Skills Assessment: Who Assesses CIOs?

Before you can apply for a skilled visa using this occupation, you need a skills assessment. For ANZSCO 135111, the assessing body is the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

The ACS has four pathways depending on your background:

Pathway A – Temporary Graduate

For people who have finished an Australian bachelor’s degree or higher. This is only for the subclass 485 visa. No work experience needed, but your degree must be ICT-focused.

Pathway B – Post Australian Study

For Australian graduates who want a general skills assessment. You need an ICT bachelor’s degree plus either one year of work experience after graduation, OR you must have completed an ACS Professional Year Program.

Pathway C – Skills (Most Common)

This is for people who studied overseas or have a mix of qualifications and experience. The options here are:

  •       Bachelor’s degree or higher with an ICT major + 2 years of experience in the last 10 years
  •       Bachelor’s degree or higher with an ICT minor + 5 years of experience
  •       Diploma or vendor certification + 5 years of experience

Pathway D – Recognition of Prior Learning

For people who do not have a proper ICT qualification. You will need:

  •       A non-ICT diploma or higher + 6 years of relevant work experience, OR
  •       No tertiary qualification at all + 8 years of relevant work experience

Looking to migrate as an Industrial Engineer? Get expert guidance for the Industrial Engineer ANZSCO 233511 skills assessment, documentation, and visa pathways for Australia.

Visa Options for Chief Information Officers

This occupation opens up several visa pathways. The following is a brief description:

Visa

Type

Available?

Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)

Points-based PR

No

Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)

State-nominated PR

No

Subclass 485 (Graduate Temporary)

Temporary

Yes

Subclass 491 (Skilled Regional)

Regional temporary

No

Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination)

Permanent

Yes

Subclass 407 (Training)

Short-stay training

Yes

Subclass 494 (Regional Employer Sponsored)

Regional temporary

Yes

Subclass 482 SID (Skills in Demand)

Employer sponsored

Yes

Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent)

This is a permanent visa. Your employer must sponsor you. Key requirements:

  • At least 3 years of full-time work experience in the role
  • Competent English (IELTS 6.0 overall or equivalent)
  • Must be under 45 years old (unless exempt)
  • Positive ACS skills assessment
  • Must pass health and character checks

Subclass 482 SID – Skills In Demand (Core Skills Pathway)

This is a temporary visa that lets you live and work in Australia for up to 4 years. It can lead to permanent residency through the 186 transition stream.

  • At least 1 year of relevant work experience
  • IELTS 5.0 overall (no band below 5.0)
  • No age limit
  • Must be sponsored by an Australian employer

Subclass 494 – Regional Employer Sponsored

This one is for working in regional parts of Australia. You need:

  • 3 years of work experience
  • Competent English (IELTS 6.0)
  • Must be under 45
  • A regional employer to sponsor you

English Requirements

Most visa applications for this occupation require at least Competent English. The following is how that would appear when tested in various tests:

Test

Minimum Score

IELTS

Overall 6.0 (some visas need 7 in speaking)

PTE Academic

50 overall (65 in speaking for some)

TOEFL iBT

Overall 93 (L:12, R:13, W:21, S:23)

OET

Minimum Grade B in all sections

 Citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland are usually exempt from English testing.

How Much Do CIOs Earn in Australia?

Based on the job data, CIOs in Australia make approximately $2,766 per week. That amounts to approximately $143,800 annually.  Most people in this role work full-time, averaging about 49 hours per week. Around 97% of CIOs work full-time hours.

Metric

Data

Weekly Earnings

$2,766

Approximate Annual Salary

$143,800

Average Full-time Hours

49 hours/week

Full-time Workers

97%

Female Workforce Share

10%

Job Growth (next 5 years)

Strong

Only about 10% of people in this occupation are female, which shows there is still a big gender gap in tech leadership roles. Job growth for this occupation is expected to be strong over the next five years.

How to Become a CIO in Australia

If you are planning this career path from scratch, you will most likely need a Bachelor of Information Technology or Bachelor of Computer Science. An average bachelor of IT 3-year course is approximately 3 years and costs approximately 99,100 AUD in total tuition.

The entry requirements typically include:

  •       Completion of Year 12 (or equivalent)
  •       Prior studies in Mathematics
  •       English proficiency (IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 6.0 for student visas)

Similar learning opportunities are available as a Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Information Technology and Business and Master of Information Technology.

Is There a Shortage of CIOs in Australia?

Based on the 2025 Occupation Shortage List, ANZSCO 135111 is currently listed as No Shortage (NS) across all states and territories in Australia. This suggests that there is no urgent demand for CIOs in the labour market at present.

State/Territory

Shortage Status

National (Australia)

No Shortage

New South Wales (NSW)

No Shortage

Victoria (VIC)

No Shortage

Queensland (QLD)

No Shortage

South Australia (SA)

No Shortage

Western Australia (WA)

No Shortage

Tasmania (TAS)

No Shortage

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

No Shortage

Northern Territory (NT)

No Shortage

This does not imply you are not allowed to migrate. It simply implies that you will probably have to take an employer-sponsored path, instead of receiving a state nomination on an independent points-based visa.

Conclusion

The Chief Information Officer role (ANZSCO 135111) is one of the top-level IT management jobs recognised by Australia’s skilled migration system. It is a Skill Level 1 occupation, which is tested by the ACS, and it has a variety of visa routes, primarily through employer sponsorship.

This is a way into Australia and, should you already possess good ICT experience and leadership skills, it is quite possible. All you have to do is to ensure that your skills evaluation is arranged, your English is up to the standards and that you find an employer that will be willing to sponsor you.

It is also an occupation where your tech leadership experience can actually pave the way to a new Australian life.

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