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Data scientist salary Australia: How it compares to the national full-time average

The ABS does not publish a specific data scientist salary, but the role typically falls under Professionals, whose average hourly earnings are $64.50. Compare to the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Data scientist salary Australia: Where does it sit against the national full-time average?

If you are a data scientist in Australia, or considering the career, you probably want to know how your pay compares to the typical full-time worker. The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week. That works out to about $108,352 per year before tax. This is the figure this site uses as the line.

The ABS does not publish a specific average salary for data scientists. However, data scientists are part of the Professionals occupation group. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 reports that non-managerial Professionals had average hourly total cash earnings of $64.50. On a 38-hour week, that is roughly $2,451 per week, or $127,452 per year — well above the national full-time average.

But averages can be misleading. The median full-time weekly earnings for all employees is $1,887 (about $98,124 per year), and the median for all employees (including part-time) is $1,436 ($74,672 per year). Data scientists typically earn above these medians, but entry-level roles or positions in lower-paying industries may fall below the national full-time average.

What would move a data scientist's pay above or below the line?

Several factors determine whether a data scientist's salary sits above or below the national average of $108,352:

  • Industry: The ABS Average Weekly Earnings data shows that the Mining industry has the highest average hourly earnings for non-managerial employees at $74.10. Data scientists in mining, finance, or information technology often command higher pay. In contrast, those in education or government may earn closer to the national average.
  • Experience: Senior data scientists with several years of experience can earn well above the line. Junior or graduate roles may start below it.
  • Location: State and territory averages vary significantly. The full-time average in the Australian Capital Territory is $2,290.20 per week ($119,090 per year), while in Tasmania it is $1,846.30 ($96,008 per year). A data scientist in Sydney or Melbourne may earn more than one in Hobart or Adelaide.
  • Employer type: The public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 per week ($117,681 per year), higher than the private sector average of $2,034.10 ($105,773 per year). However, many data scientists work in the private sector, where individual arrangements are common and can push pay above the public sector.

How the national average is set

The national full-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, released twice a year (May and November). The May 2026 figure of $2,083.70 is a seasonally adjusted estimate for full-time adult ordinary time earnings. It is not a median or a minimum — it is an average of all full-time adult workers' ordinary time earnings. The site uses this as the line to compare any salary against.

For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on 38 hours (about $52,255 per year). Data scientists earn well above this, but the minimum wage is a floor for all employees.

Tax and take-home pay

If you earn a data scientist salary above the national average, your marginal tax rate in 2026–27 will likely be 30% or 37%, plus the 2% Medicare levy. The tax-free threshold is $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. A salary of $127,452 would fall in the 30% bracket, with an average tax rate lower than the marginal rate.

Where to go next

You can place a salary on the line to see how your data scientist pay compares to the national full-time average, week by week and hour by hour. You can also explore states and territories to see how location affects the average.

Summary

While the ABS does not publish a specific data scientist salary, the role typically pays above the national full-time average of $108,352 per year. The average for Professionals is higher, but individual salaries depend on industry, experience, and location. Use the tools on this site to see where your pay sits on the line.

Questions

What is the average salary for a data scientist in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a specific average salary for data scientists. However, data scientists are classified under the Professionals occupation group. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025, the average hourly total cash earnings for non-managerial Professionals was $64.50. On a standard 38-hour week, that equates to about $2,451 per week, or roughly $127,452 per year. This is above the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 ($108,352 per year). Actual data scientist salaries vary widely by industry, experience, and location.

How does a data scientist salary compare to the national average?

A data scientist's pay can be above or below the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week depending on several factors. Entry-level roles may pay less, while senior positions in high-paying industries like mining or IT can exceed the average. The median full-time earnings for all employees is about $1,887 per week ($98,124 per year), and the all-employees median is $1,436 per week ($74,672 per year). Data scientists typically earn above these medians due to specialised skills. Location also matters: the full-time average in the Australian Capital Territory is $2,290.20 per week, while in Tasmania it is $1,846.30.

What factors affect a data scientist's pay in Australia?

Key factors include industry (mining, finance, and tech tend to pay more), years of experience, level of education, and location. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings data shows that the Mining industry has the highest average hourly earnings at $74.10 for non-managerial employees. Data scientists in Western Australia or the ACT may earn more than those in Tasmania or South Australia. Additionally, the method of setting pay matters: individual arrangements (common for data scientists) often yield higher pay than collective agreements. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but data scientists almost always earn well above that.

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