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IT salary in Australia: How it compares to the national full-time average

The ABS does not publish a single IT salary figure; IT professionals fall under the Professionals category, which had average hourly earnings of $64.50 in May 2025, but actual pay varies widely by state, experience, and award coverage.

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

Where does IT salary sit against the national line?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Average line uses to show where any salary stands.

For IT professionals, there is no single published figure. The ABS groups them under the Professionals occupation. In the latest Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025), Professionals had average hourly total cash earnings of $64.50. On a standard 38-hour week, that is roughly $2,451 a week – about $127,452 a year. That is comfortably above the national full-time average. But this is an average across all professionals, including lawyers, engineers, and accountants. IT roles can pay more or less depending on specialisation, seniority, and location.

The role of state and territory

Where you work matters. The ABS publishes full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings by state (original, May 2026). These are averages across all industries, not just IT, but they show the broad pay landscape:

  • Australian Capital Territory: $119,090 a year – highest, reflecting a large public-sector IT workforce.
  • Western Australia: $115,825 – resources sector lifts all wages.
  • New South Wales: $109,658 – strong finance and tech hub.
  • Victoria: $106,137 – competitive but slightly below NSW.
  • Queensland: $106,064 – similar to Victoria.
  • Northern Territory: $103,173 – remote work premiums.
  • South Australia: $102,450 – lower cost of living.
  • Tasmania: $96,008 – lowest among states.

IT salaries in each state tend to follow these patterns, but with a premium for specialised skills. For example, a senior software engineer in Sydney (NSW) may earn well above the state average, while a help-desk role in Hobart (Tasmania) may be closer to the state average. See States and territories for more detail.

How pay is set: award, agreement, or individual arrangement

The method of setting pay can shift an IT salary significantly. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) breaks down average weekly total cash earnings by method:

  • Award only: $922.20 per week (about $47,954 a year) – mostly lower-paid roles.
  • Collective agreement: $1,746.10 per week ($90,797 a year) – common in public sector and large enterprises.
  • Individual arrangement: $1,876.50 per week ($97,578 a year) – typical for many IT contractors and senior staff.
  • Owner manager of incorporated enterprise: $1,800.90 per week ($93,647 a year).

Most IT professionals are on individual arrangements or collective agreements, which push earnings above the award minimum. The Professional Employees Award 2020 sets minimum rates for many IT classifications, but actual market rates are often higher. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%, but the national minimum wage itself is $26.44 an hour ($52,255 a year on 38 hours). IT roles rarely pay at the minimum wage.

Medians vs averages

It is important to distinguish between averages and medians. The national full-time average is $108,352, but the full-time median (from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, August 2025) is about $90,532 a year. The all-employees median is about $74,100. The median is often more representative of a typical worker, as averages are pulled up by high earners.

For IT professionals, the median is likely higher than the all-employees median but may be below the Professionals average of $127,452, because the average includes very high earners. The ABS does not publish a specific IT median, but you can explore Job medians for related categories.

What this means for your IT salary

If you are comparing an IT salary to the national line, consider:

  • Your state or territory: Use the state averages as a starting point, then adjust for your role and experience.
  • Your pay-setting method: Individual arrangements tend to pay more than awards or collective agreements.
  • Your occupation group: IT professionals are part of the Professionals category, which has above-average earnings.
  • The difference between average and median: The national average is $108,352, but many IT roles exceed that. However, not all do – entry-level or support roles may fall below.

The Industry medians page provides more granular data for information media and telecommunications, which includes many IT roles. And the Guides section has articles on negotiating IT salaries and understanding award classifications.

The bottom line

IT salaries in Australia are generally above the national full-time average, but the exact figure depends on where you work, how your pay is set, and your specific role. The ABS does not publish a single 'IT salary' number, so the best approach is to use the available averages and medians as benchmarks, and adjust for your circumstances. The national line of $108,352 is a useful reference point – if your IT salary is above that, you are earning more than the average full-time worker. If it is below, you may be in a junior or support role, or in a lower-paying state.

For more on how the figures are calculated, see How the figures are set. And remember: the national average is updated twice a year (May and November) by the ABS. The next release is November 2026, due February 2027.

Questions

What is the average IT salary in Australia?

The ABS does not report a separate 'IT salary' figure. IT professionals are classified under the broader 'Professionals' occupation group. In the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025), Professionals had average hourly total cash earnings of $64.50. For a full-time worker on a 38-hour week, that works out to about $2,451 a week, or roughly $127,452 a year – above the national full-time average of $108,352. However, this is an average across all professionals, not just IT, and actual IT salaries can be higher or lower depending on role, seniority, and location.

How does an award or enterprise agreement affect an IT salary?

Many IT roles are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020 or by enterprise agreements. The award sets minimum rates that are higher than the national minimum wage. For example, from 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%. However, most IT professionals are paid above award through individual arrangements or collective agreements. According to the ABS, employees under individual arrangements earned an average of $1,876.50 per week in May 2025, while those on collective agreements earned $1,746.10. Award-only workers averaged $922.20. IT professionals are more likely to be on individual arrangements, which tends to push earnings higher.

Which state or territory pays the highest IT salary?

State-level averages for all full-time adults give a clue, but IT salaries can vary more. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at $119,090, driven by public-sector IT roles. Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658) also sit above the national average. Tasmania ($96,008) and South Australia ($102,450) are lower. Within each state, IT salaries are often higher in capital cities and for specialised roles like cybersecurity or data science. The ABS does not publish state-level IT-specific figures, but the state averages reflect broad labour market conditions.

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