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Technology Permanent Salaries for 2026 in Australia

What’s really happening in Australia’s tech market as AI reshapes demand for talent?
Get a snapshot of hiring momentum, in-demand skills, and salary direction across technology roles in Australia.

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.

Data and analytics professionals, AI engineers, and security specialists became central to enabling scalable, secure, and commercially viable adoption of technology.

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.