Software Engineer Salary in Australia (2026) — Average Pay by City

Software Engineer in Australia: read the median against a +17% outlook

The Australia national median for a software engineer is $203,000 a year. Among 5 metros with observed data, pay runs from about $120,000 in Adelaide to $151,000 in Sydney (1.3×).

Software engineers design, build, and maintain the applications and systems that power modern businesses. Common screening skills include JavaScript, Python, System design, and Git.

A modeled national band runs about $129,900–$292,300 around that midpoint. Skills lists and occupation assessments gate several of the best-paid covered roles. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +17% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every Australian city.

Sydney sits -26% vs the national median; Adelaide sits -41%. Relocating inside Australia for this title can move cash more than a small raise at the same desk. Open a city page for take-home and rent context — this national page is the map, not the offer.

Australia shows about 2.9% CPI in 2025. A software engineer raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby technology titles on this site include Frontend Developer, Backend Developer, Data Scientist, and DevOps Engineer.

How to use Software Engineer pay data in Australia

Start with the national median ($203,000), then pick the metro where you would actually work. Observed city rows below are stronger than a pay-index guess. If your city is missing, stay on this page for the country figure and check the Australia hub for other careers.

Convert gross through the salary calculator before comparing two cities — tax and rent often reorder a cash ranking. Figures are estimates for research, not employer bands.

National band vs top metro

National sketch: $129,900 (10th) → $203,000 (median) → $292,300 (90th). Sydney’s observed median is $151,000, with a local band about $100,000–$228,000. If an offer is “at the Australia median” but the job is in Sydney, you may still be under local market.

Software Engineer salary by city in Australia

Cities below have observed metro percentiles for this role. Prefer these over national-only estimates when you are relocating to a specific market.

City	Per year	Per month	vs. national
Sydney, NSW	$108,177	$9,027	-26%
Melbourne, VIC	$104,595	$8,740	-28%
Brisbane, QLD	$95,998	$8,024	-34%
Perth, WA	$95,998	$8,024	-34%
Adelaide, SA	$85,969	$7,164	-41%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a software engineer make in Australia?

The national median is about $203,000 per year. Across 5 observed cities, pay ranges from about $120,000 to $151,000.

Which Australia city pays software engineers the most?

Sydney, NSW leads observed metros at about $151,000 per year (-26% vs national).

Which Australia city pays software engineers the least?

Among observed cities, Adelaide, SA is on the lower end at about $120,000 per year.

How many Australia cities have software engineer salary data?

5 metros list observed software engineer percentiles in AUD on this site.

Is software engineer in demand in Australia?

Occupation-level employment is projected at about +17% over ten years. Local hiring still follows Australian industry mix.

Software Engineer Salary in Australia