Wondering whether 85 points is competitive for Software Engineer (also known as Software Developer, Developer, Software Dev)? Below is where a 85-point score actually sits in the live SkillSelect pool for Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313) as at July 2026: how many submitted EOIs rank ahead of you, how many are tied, and what that means for each visa pathway.
Where 85 Points Puts You for Software Engineer
| Pathway | Your ranking score | Submitted EOIs ranked ahead | Tied at your score | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) | 85 | 2,045 | 1,272 | Top 25% |
| Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) | 90 | 2,703 | 2,498 | Top 25% |
| Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) | 100 | 1,640 | 1,866 | Top 10% |
Source: SkillSelect submitted-EOI points data for Software Engineer (national pool), as at July 2026. Counts are rounded by the Department of Home Affairs; small buckets sit at a suppression floor. Higher scores are invited first, and ties are separated by EOI date.
Reading the Numbers
At 85 points, your ranking score for the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) is 85. In the Software Engineer pool, roughly 2,045 submitted EOIs rank ahead of you and about 1,272 are tied at your exact score, which puts you in the top quarter of the pool, a competitive position.
State nomination changes the maths: a 190 nomination lifts your ranking score to 90 (+5); a 491 nomination lifts your ranking score to 100 (+15). At the higher score, fewer EOIs rank ahead of you, which is why the state-nominated pathways can be faster than the 189 for the same base points. The table above shows where each score sits in the Software Engineer pool.
These figures are the national Software Engineer pool as at July 2026. They move every month as EOIs are submitted, invited or expire, and this page is rebuilt from the live data on every update, so the numbers stay current.
See Your Real, Personalised Position
This page uses the national pool for Software Engineer. For your exact queue position, factoring in your occupation, your state options and the live round history, run your own numbers:
- Check Your Real Chances — where your score sits in the live EOI queue.
- Points Calculator — confirm your score, then see the queue for it.
Software Engineer at Other Points Scores
See how the competition changes at other scores for Software Engineer: 65 points · 70 points · 75 points · 80 points · 85 points · 90 points · 95 points.
Related Pages
- Full Software Engineer pathway guide (visas, fees, assessing body, all-state EOI table)
- All invitation rounds
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