From AI startups in Sydney’s Tech Central to scale‑ups in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, Australia’s tech scene is bigger, better funded, and more geographically dispersed than ever. Compensation has kept pace—though not evenly—fuelled by global remote work, a tight talent market, and an unrelenting appetite for cloud and AI skills. Tech Salaries Across Australia in 2025: What Developers Really Earn in Sydney, Melbourne, and Beyond unpacks the numbers city‑by‑city, role‑by‑role, and level‑by‑level so you can benchmark your worth, negotiate with confidence, or decide whether to chase that interstate move.
1 | Nationwide Snapshot—Median Base Pay (AUD)
| Role | Mid‑Level (≈ 4‑6 yrs) | Senior (≈ 8‑10 yrs) | Staff / Principal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | AU $128 k | AU $165 k | AU $210 k–AU $260 k |
| Front‑End / Mobile | AU $122 k | AU $158 k | AU $200 k+ |
| DevOps / SRE | AU $135 k | AU $175 k | AU $225 k–AU $280 k |
| Data Engineer | AU $138 k | AU $180 k | AU $235 k |
| Machine‑Learning Engineer | AU $145 k | AU $195 k | AU $250 k–AU $300 k |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | AU $140 k | AU $185 k | AU $240 k |
Figures represent base salary only. Total compensation can include up to 15 % bonus and, in listed companies, restricted‑share units (RSUs) that add AU $10 k–AU $70 k each year beyond senior level.
2 | Sydney vs Melbourne vs the Rest
| City | Mid‑Level SWE Base | Senior SWE Base | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | AU $132 k | AU $170 k | Highest cost of living, but most FAANG satellite offices and fintech HQs |
| Melbourne | AU $125 k | AU $163 k | Thriving start‑up ecosystem in Cremorne and Docklands |
| Canberra | AU $122 k | AU $158 k | Government security projects, mandatory Baseline/NV1 clearance bumps pay ~10 % |
| Brisbane | AU $118 k | AU $154 k | Gaming, resources tech, lifestyle premium |
| Perth | AU $116 k | AU $150 k | Mining tech, remote‑site IoT, slightly lower base but relocation perks |
| Adelaide | AU $112 k | AU $146 k | Defence & space industry subsidies, cost of living lowest among capitals |
Sydney’s premium is shrinking: post‑pandemic hybrid policies mean many roles pay the same in Melbourne or Brisbane if you agree to fly in monthly.
3 | Cost‑of‑Living Reality Check
| Metric (Monthly) | Sydney CBD | Melbourne Inner North | Brisbane City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1‑Bed Rent | AU $3 050 | AU $2 570 | AU $2 200 |
| Childcare (per child) | AU $2 550 | AU $2 450 | AU $2 200 |
| Public Transport | AU $190 | AU $165 | AU $160 |
| Groceries (single) | AU $600 | AU $580 | AU $560 |
After tax, a mid‑level engineer in Sydney nets ~AU $7 400 per month; rent alone swallows 40 % of that. The same salary in Brisbane leaves ~AU $1 200 more disposable cash each month—useful leverage when negotiating remote‑friendly roles.
4 | Skill Premiums Aussie Employers Pay in 2025
| Hot Skill | Typical Salary Uplift |
|---|---|
| GenAI & Large‑Language‑Model Fine‑Tuning | + 15 – 20 % |
| Kubernetes + Argo CD at scale | + 12 % |
| Rust or Go for high‑throughput services | + 10 % |
| SOC2 & ISO‑27001 DevSecOps expertise | + 18 % |
| Airflow / dbt‑driven Data Engineering | + 10 % |
| Defence NV1/NV2 Clearance | + 8 – 10 % (plus Canberra loading) |
5 | Base Pay vs Total Compensation
Australian packages historically skew toward higher base pay and smaller equity slices compared to U.S. tech. That’s changing:
- ASX‑listed tech firms now grant RSUs that vest quarterly, adding AU $15–25 k for seniors.
- Global FAANG branches mirror U.S. practices: mid‑level RSU grants of US $80–100 k across four years.
- Start‑ups offer 0.25 – 1 % equity to senior ICs with 4‑year vest, 1‑year cliff. Secondary liquidity remains rare—but Atlassian‑inspired buy‑backs are spreading.
6 | Remote‑Work Pay Tiers
Some multinationals use Australian geo‑bands:
- Tier 1 – Greater Sydney/Melbourne.
- Tier 2 – Brisbane, Canberra, Perth. Pay is 5 % lower.
- Tier 3 – Regional hubs (Wollongong, Hobart, Townsville). Base salary ~10 % lower, but optional 5 % “regional‑connect allowance” to subsidise quarterly travel.
Remote salaries are rarely cut if you move but often capped at top of Tier 2 bands for new hires.
7 | AI Boom vs GPU Crunch: Impact on Pay
AI start‑ups flush with investor cash jostle local talent, especially those who can run efficient training on mid‑range hardware or optimise model inference for edge devices. Senior ML engineers with end‑to‑end experience (data pipelines, model orchestration on Vertex AI or SageMaker, and prompt‑engineering best practice) routinely field offers north of AU $250 k base in Sydney—even ahead of equity.
8 | Negotiation Power Plays in the Australian Market
- Anchor with Transparent Data — Seek.com salary bands and Pay Transparency requirements in NSW/ VIC mean ranges are published. Open with the top of the band.
- Push for Super on Top — Most tech firms quote total package inclusive of superannuation (11 %). Negotiate base plus super to avoid optical compression.
- Relocation vs Remote Allowances — If you’re moving interstate, request a one‑off relocation grant (AU $8–15 k) plus two months temp accommodation.
- Annual Pay‑Review Clause — Inflation sits above 3 %; lock a minimum 4 % annual review.
- Training Budget & Conference Flights — Aussie DevOps and AI talent gains from AU $2 – 5 k yearly learning budgets; add to offer letter.
- Sign‑On Bonuses Are Back — Post‑layoff hiring caution means some employers prefer a one‑off AU $20 k sign‑on to big RSU packages. Ask for it if equity seems thin.
9 | Graduate & Internship Pay
- Graduate Dev / New Grad: AU $78 k–AU $100 k base depending on discipline and city.
- Internships: AU $35 – AU $42 per hour, 12‑week programs, pro‑rated super.
- Fast‑track programs: Atlassian Grad SWE 2025 intake whispers AU $110 k base with onboarding RSUs—a market‑upending signal.
10 | Career Growth & Leveling
| Level | Typical Years Exp | Common Titles | Base Pay Range (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | 0‑2 | Graduate Developer | $78 k–$100 k |
| L2 | 2‑4 | Software Engineer | $100 k–$128 k |
| L3 | 4‑6 | Senior Software Engineer | $128 k–$165 k |
| L4 | 7‑10 | Lead / Staff Engineer | $165 k–$210 k |
| L5 | 10 + | Principal Engineer / Engineering Mgr | $210 k–$300 k |
Transition from L3 to L4 often demands system design ownership or cross‑team leadership. Many companies align levels with ASFIA or SFIA frameworks for clearer promotion criteria.
Key Takeaways
- Sydney still pays best, but the premium is shrinking as Melbourne and Brisbane catch up through remote‑first policies.
- Cost of living erodes headline salary quickly; base plus super below AU $120 k in Sydney can feel tight for families.
- AI, DevOps, and Security roles command 15–25 % premiums; NV1 clearance in Canberra adds another 10 %.
- Stock and bonuses are rising components but still smaller than U.S. norms—negotiate sign‑ons and rapid vesting schedules.
- Data is public thanks to pay‑range laws; use top‑band figures as your negotiation anchor, then push for perks.
FAQ
Do master’s degrees lift pay?
A Master of Computer Science can add 5–10 % to graduate offers but has limited impact after three years of experience.
Are remote salaries adjusted if I move from Sydney to Adelaide?
Existing employees usually keep salary; new hires get the lower Tier 2 or Tier 3 rate unless they negotiate.
How often do Australian companies issue RSUs?
FAANG subsidiaries grant RSUs on U.S. schedules. Most local scale‑ups still preference options but RSUs are creeping in for retention.
What’s the typical bonus?
5–10 % of base for mid‑level roles, 10–20 % for senior/staff. Performance‑based.
Does contractor day‑rate beat permanent salary?
For niche skills (cloud migration, security audit) yes—AU $1 100–AU $1 400/day, but no super, leave, or equity. Choose based on stability needs.
