Hiring for Technology in Australia
Australia’s technology market showed early signs of recovery in 2025, but hiring remained cautious. While activity picked up, many organisations continued to operate with reduced budgets and a selective approach to new headcount.
The defining trend was the ‘AI effect’: Broad-based hiring slowed as organisations assessed how best to invest, but demand accelerated for specialists tied to AI implementation, data, cloud, and cybersecurity.
Recruitment processes lengthened as employers focused on candidates who could demonstrate business impact, not just technical depth. Contract hiring remained important for urgent or niche projects, while permanent roles were reserved for skills aligned to long-term capability.
In-Demand Technology Roles in Australia
- Cybersecurity Specialists (Analysts, Security Architects, GRC Professionals)
- Data & AI Professionals (Data Scientists, Machine Learning [ML] Engineers, AI Engineers)
- Cloud & DevOps Engineers
In-Demand Technology Skills in Australia
- Generative AI and machine learning, with practical application skills commanding a premium
- Cybersecurity and data protection, particularly aligned with AI-driven risks
- Commercial acumen, enabling candidates to connect technical expertise with tangible business outcomes
- Cloud optimisation and automation, supporting scalable, efficient infrastructure
Up, Down, or Flat? Technology Salary Trends in Australia
Technology salaries largely plateaued in 2025 following several years of rapid growth. While permanent salaries stabilised, premiums persisted for niche expertise and immediate availability. Contract rates remained variable, reflecting project urgency and skill scarcity.
Technology Salaries in Australia
| Job Title |
Search job title
|
Sub Sector | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title | Sector | Sub Sector | Location | Low | Median | High |
.Net Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Android Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Automation Tester Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Backend Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
C# Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
C++ Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Front End Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Full Stack Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
iOS Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Java Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
JavaScript Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
PHP Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Product Designer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Python Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
ReactJs Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Ruby on Rails Developer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $140,000 | $198,000 | |
Software Development Manager Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $156,000 | $187,000 | $229,000 | |
Software Development Team Lead Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $135,000 | $166,000 | $203,000 | |
Technical Team Lead Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $135,000 | $171,000 | $203,000 | |
Test Analyst Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $124,000 | $156,000 | |
Automation Test Engineer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $104,000 | $124,000 | $156,000 | |
Test Manager Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $145,000 | $156,000 | $166,000 | |
UI Designer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $124,000 | $161,000 | |
UX Designer Annual rate |
Development & Testing | Sydney | $93,000 | $124,000 | $161,000 | |
Chief Information Officer Annual rate |
Senior Management Roles | Sydney | $210,000 | $250,000 | $400,000 | |
Chief Technological Officer Annual rate |
Senior Management Roles | Sydney | $210,000 | $250,000 | $400,000 | |
Cyber Security Engineer Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $130,000 | $170,000 | $220,000 | |
Network Security Engineer Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $135,000 | $165,000 | $200,000 | |
DevOps Engineer Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $130,000 | $160,000 | $210,000 | |
Cloud Platform Engineer Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $140,000 | $170,000 | $220,000 | |
Systems Administrator Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $110,000 | $130,000 | $160,000 | |
FIrst Line Support / Service Desk Analyst Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $85,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 | |
Second Line Support Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $100,000 | $125,000 | $155,000 | |
Network Engineer Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $130,000 | $155,000 | $190,000 | |
IT Manager / Infrastructure Manager Annual rate |
Infrastructure | Sydney | $160,000 | $190,000 | $240,000 | |
Cloud Architect Annual rate |
Architecture | Sydney | $170,000 | $195,000 | $230,000 | |
Enterprise Architect Annual rate |
Architecture | Sydney | $175,000 | $200,000 | $240,000 | |
Infrastructure Architect Annual rate |
Architecture | Sydney | $160,000 | $185,000 | $210,000 | |
IT Director Annual rate |
Architecture | Sydney | $170,000 | $210,000 | $260,000 | |
Network Architect Annual rate |
Architecture | Sydney | $165,000 | $190,000 | $220,000 | |
Solutions Architect Annual rate |
Architecture | Sydney | $165,000 | $190,000 | $220,000 | |
Data Architect Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $160,000 | $200,000 | $220,000 | |
Business Intelligence Manager Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $135,000 | $155,000 | $170,000 | |
Data Scientist Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $110,000 | $150,000 | $190,000 | |
Data Engineer Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $110,000 | $150,000 | $190,000 | |
Analytics Manager Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $140,000 | $155,000 | $180,000 | |
Campaigns Analyst Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $95,000 | $110,000 | $140,000 | |
Data Governance Specialist Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $130,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 | |
Head of Data Governance Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $200,000 | $230,000 | $250,000 | |
Insight Analyst Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $110,000 | $135,000 | $145,000 | |
Head of Data Science Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $200,000 | $230,000 | $260,000 | |
Head of Analytics Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $180,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | |
BI Analyst Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $90,000 | $110,000 | $130,000 | |
BI Developer Annual rate |
Analytics | Sydney | $100,000 | $130,000 | $160,000 |
Download Your 2026 Technology Salary Guide for Australia.
Permanent, temporary and contract salary data for a range of Technology roles, as well as insights and advice to guide your talent strategies.