Average Tech Salaries by Role
Tech salaries in Australia have grown steadily due to persistent talent shortages across software development, data engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure. The table below shows typical salary ranges for permanent (full-time) positions in 2025, excluding equity compensation and bonuses.
| Role | Salary Range (Annual) |
|---|---|
| Junior Developer | $65,000 – $80,000 |
| Mid-Level Developer | $90,000 – $120,000 |
| Senior Developer | $130,000 – $170,000 |
| Lead / Principal Engineer | $160,000 – $200,000 |
| Data Engineer | $110,000 – $150,000 |
| DevOps / SRE | $120,000 – $160,000 |
| Product Manager | $110,000 – $140,000 |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | $100,000 – $150,000 |
| QA Engineer | $80,000 – $110,000 |
| UX Designer | $85,000 – $120,000 |
These ranges represent base salary only. Total compensation at larger tech companies may include equity (RSUs or stock options) worth $10,000–$80,000+ per year, annual bonuses of 10–20%, and additional benefits like learning budgets, home office allowances, and extra leave. Visit Average Salary Australia for cross-industry comparisons.
Contractor vs Permanent
A significant proportion of Australian tech workers operate as contractors, either through an ABN (sole trader) or a Pty Ltd company. Contractor day rates are typically 30–50% higher than the equivalent permanent salary to compensate for the absence of paid leave, superannuation, and job security.
Day Rate vs Salary Comparison
| Role Level | Permanent Salary | Contractor Day Rate | Contractor Annual (230 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Level | $110,000 | $650–$800 | $149,500–$184,000 |
| Senior | $150,000 | $900–$1,100 | $207,000–$253,000 |
| Lead / Principal | $180,000 | $1,100–$1,400 | $253,000–$322,000 |
ABN vs Pty Ltd Considerations
Sole traders (ABN) are simpler to set up but pay tax at personal marginal rates on all income. Operating through a Pty Ltd company allows you to retain profits at the company tax rate of 25% (for base rate entities) and distribute income strategically. However, Pty Ltd structures involve higher compliance costs ($2,000–$5,000/year in accounting fees) and are only worthwhile above a certain income level. Use the Contractor vs Employee Calculator and the Entity Structure Comparison to model the best structure for your situation.
Tech Salary by City
Location has a meaningful impact on tech salaries in Australia, though the growth of remote work has compressed some of the historical premium that Sydney commanded.
| City | Relative to National Average | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | +10–15% | Highest demand, highest cost of living |
| Melbourne | Baseline | Strong startup and fintech ecosystem |
| Brisbane | -5–10% | Growing tech hub, lower living costs |
| Perth | Variable | Mining-tech roles pay premium, general tech lower |
| Remote | Growing parity | Many companies now pay location-agnostic salaries |
The salary gap between Sydney and other cities has narrowed since 2020, particularly for senior roles where companies compete nationally for talent. Some international tech companies (Google, Atlassian, Canva) pay globally-benchmarked salaries that exceed Australian market rates regardless of city.
Salary Packaging & Perks
Tech companies in Australia offer various forms of compensation beyond base salary that can significantly increase total remuneration.
Stock Options & RSUs
Large tech companies (Atlassian, Canva, Block, Google, Amazon) offer equity compensation in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) or Employee Stock Options (ESOs). RSUs are taxed as ordinary income when they vest, at your marginal tax rate. A senior developer at a major tech company might receive $30,000–$80,000 per year in RSUs on top of their base salary. The tax treatment depends on whether the shares are in an Employee Share Scheme (ESS) and whether you have a deferred taxing point.
Salary Sacrifice for Super
Tech workers on high salaries can benefit from salary sacrificing additional super contributions. Pre-tax contributions are taxed at 15% inside the super fund, compared to marginal rates of 30–37% for a tech worker earning $130,000–$180,000. The concessional contribution cap is $30,000 per year (including employer SG). Use the Salary Sacrifice Calculator to model the tax savings for your salary level.
Take-Home Pay on a Tech Salary
A senior developer earning $150,000 per year pays approximately $38,717 in income tax and Medicare levy for FY2025-26, leaving a take-home pay of approximately $111,283 per year ($4,280 per fortnight). Superannuation at 12% adds $18,000, bringing the total package to $168,000.
A mid-level developer earning $110,000 takes home approximately $83,283 per year ($3,203 per fortnight) after tax and Medicare. At this income level, salary sacrificing $10,000 into super saves approximately $2,000 in tax annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
How this guide works▼
Tech salary data is compiled from ABS ICT industry earnings, major job board salary data (Seek, LinkedIn), recruiter salary guides (Hays, Robert Half, Michael Page), and published company compensation data. Salary ranges represent the middle 50% of the market for each role. Contractor day rates assume 230 billable days per year. Tax calculations use ATO marginal rates for FY2025-26.
Sources & References
- 1ICT industry earnings— Australian Bureau of Statistics
- 2Seek salary data— Seek
- 3Hays salary guide— Hays
Last verified: 14 March 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Penny Ward
Verified AuthorEmployment & Workplace Rights Editor
B.Com (Hons), Cert IV Financial Planning
Penny is a financial journalist and workplace compliance specialist with over a decade of experience writing about Australian employment law, Fair Work entitlements, and payroll. She has contributed to publications covering industrial relations and personal finance, and previously advised small businesses on award interpretation and pay compliance.
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