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Software Engineer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a software engineer is $131,900 per annum, before tax, up $27,900 since 2018.
Seniority moves pay more than anything else in this job, so a graduate and a staff engineer at the same company can sit a long way apart. Sector matters too, with banks, consultancies and large technology employers generally paying above smaller agencies and startups. Contract and day-rate work can look generous week to week, but it comes without paid leave or the security of ongoing employment.
Roles that pay more than software engineer
The largest typical pay rise is $40,200 a year, moving into IT Project Manager.
- IT Project Manager+$40,200/yr
- Business Analyst+$8,300/yr
- Solutions Architect+$5,900/yr
How to negotiate a higher software engineer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time software engineer salary is $131,900; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Programming and software development and Software testing and QA tend to command a premium over general software engineer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. IT Project Manager pays a typical $40,200 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."
Software Engineer salary questions
How much do software engineers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a software engineer is $131,900 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is software engineer pay rising or falling?
The median software engineer salary is up $27,900 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than software engineer?
IT Project Manager pays a typical $40,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to software engineer.