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Data Scientist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a data scientist is $124,800 per annum, before tax, up $25,900 since 2018.
Pay in this field splits sharply by sector, with banks, insurers and trading firms generally paying above the median and government, education and not-for-profit employers paying less for similar work. Seniority and whether the role leans toward engineering, production systems or analysis also move the figure, and contract and consulting rates sit outside the full-time median altogether.
Roles that pay more than data scientist
The largest typical pay rise is $23,400 a year, moving into Quantitative Analyst.
- Quantitative Analyst+$23,400/yr
- Quantitative Trader+$23,400/yr
- Machine Learning Engineer+$2,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher data scientist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time data scientist salary is $124,800; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Data Scientists are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Machine learning and Statistical modelling tend to command a premium over general data scientist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Quantitative Analyst pays a typical $23,400 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Data Scientist salary questions
How much do data scientists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a data scientist is $124,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is data scientist pay rising or falling?
The median data scientist salary is up $25,900 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than data scientist?
Quantitative Analyst pays a typical $23,400 a year more and draws on similar skills to data scientist.