What is the average cybersecurity salary in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate figure for cybersecurity roles. However, the broad Professional occupation category had median hourly earnings of $64.50 in August 2025 (ABS Employee Earnings and Hours). For a full-time professional working 38 hours, that equates to about $2,451 per week, or roughly $127,452 per year. This is above the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year). Actual cybersecurity salaries vary widely by experience, industry, and location.

How does the national minimum wage affect cybersecurity pay?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week (about $52,255 per year). Cybersecurity roles are almost always paid well above this level. Most cybersecurity professionals are covered by individual arrangements or enterprise agreements, not modern awards. Even the highest award rates are far below typical cybersecurity salaries.

Which states pay cybersecurity professionals the most?

According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, the highest full-time adult ordinary time earnings are in the Australian Capital Territory ($2,290.20 per week, about $119,090 per year) and Western Australia ($2,227.40 per week, about $115,825 per year). These states tend to have higher average pay across all professions, including cybersecurity. New South Wales ($2,108.80 per week, about $109,658 per year) and Victoria ($2,041.10 per week, about $106,137 per year) also offer above‑national averages.

Cybersecurity salary in Australia: How location and pay setting affect your pay

Cybersecurity salary in Australia: Where does it sit?

If you work in cybersecurity, your pay is likely to sit above the national full‑time average – but by how much depends on where you live, how your pay is set, and the industry you work in. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate figure for cybersecurity roles, so we need to look at related data to get a picture.

The national full‑time average as a benchmark

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts the national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses as its reference point. For comparison, the median full‑time employee earns about $90,532 per year, and the median for all employees (including part‑time) is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). Cybersecurity professionals, who are typically in skilled professional roles, would be expected to earn above the median and likely above the average.

How your state affects your pay

State averages vary significantly, and cybersecurity salaries tend to follow these patterns. The ABS reports full‑time adult ordinary time earnings by state for May 2026:

Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 per week (~$119,090 per year)
Western Australia: $2,227.40 per week (~$115,825 per year)
New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week (~$109,658 per year)
Victoria: $2,041.10 per week (~$106,137 per year)
Queensland: $2,039.70 per week (~$106,064 per year)
Northern Territory: $1,984.10 per week (~$103,173 per year)
South Australia: $1,970.20 per week (~$102,450 per year)
Tasmania: $1,846.30 per week (~$96,008 per year)

If you work in Canberra or Perth, your cybersecurity salary is likely to be higher than the national average, reflecting the overall higher wage levels in those states. The ACT’s concentration of government and defence‑related cybersecurity roles also pushes pay up. For a detailed breakdown of averages by state, see States and territories.

The role of awards and enterprise agreements

Most cybersecurity professionals are not covered by modern awards. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) shows that only 22.7% of all employees have their pay set by an award, and award‑only employees earn a median of $922 per week – far below typical cybersecurity pay. Instead, cybersecurity roles are usually covered by individual arrangements (38.5% of all employees) or collective agreements (34.6%). The average weekly total cash earnings for employees on individual arrangements is $1,876.50, and for collective agreements it is $1,746.10. For full‑time professionals, these figures are higher. The method of setting pay can move your salary off the national line, especially if you are in a sector with strong enterprise bargaining, such as banking or government.

Minimum wage and award rates

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week (about $52,255 per year). Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date, but they apply to very few cybersecurity roles. Even the highest award classifications – such as those in the Professional Employees Award – are unlikely to match market rates for cybersecurity specialists. The minimum wage serves as a floor, not a target, for this profession.

Tax considerations

For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy adds 2% (before any reductions). A cybersecurity professional earning $120,000 would fall in the 30% bracket plus Medicare, giving a marginal rate of 32%. Understanding your tax position is important when comparing gross salary figures.

Putting it together

Cybersecurity salaries in Australia are not published as a single figure by the ABS, but the available data shows they sit well above the national full‑time average. Your actual pay will be influenced by your state, your employer’s pay‑setting method, and the industry you work in. For more on how these figures are compiled, see How the figures are set. If you want to see how your own salary compares, you can Place a salary on the line and see where it sits against the national average, medians, and minimum wage.