Where does an IT salary in Melbourne sit against the national average?
If you are searching for an "IT salary guide Melbourne", you are likely trying to benchmark a tech role against the market. The most reliable official figure is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026: $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the line that the site uses. But how does a Melbourne IT salary compare?
The ABS does not publish a dedicated salary guide for the IT industry in Melbourne. Instead, the best official benchmarks are the state averages and industry medians. For Victoria, the full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,041.10 a week, or about $106,137 a year – slightly below the national figure. However, the information technology industry typically pays above the all-industries average. The ABS publishes industry-level earnings in its Employee Earnings and Hours release (most recently August 2025), which shows a full-time median for the Information Media and Telecommunications sector (which includes many IT roles) of around $90,532 a year – but that is a median, not an average, and it covers all of Australia, not just Melbourne.
What the official data tells us
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey measures average earnings across all industries and occupations. For May 2026, the national full-time average was $2,083.70 per week. Men averaged $2,181.00 (about $113,412 a year) and women $1,934.50 (about $100,594 a year). The public sector paid higher average ordinary-time earnings ($2,263.10) than the private sector ($2,034.10).
For Victoria, the state average was $2,041.10 – about $6,200 a year below the national average. This does not mean IT roles in Melbourne pay less; it reflects the mix of industries in Victoria. The IT sector in Melbourne is strong, with many roles in software development, cybersecurity, and data science that command salaries well above the state average.
To get a more precise picture, you can look at the Industry medians page, which draws on the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours release. That data shows medians by industry, not averages, and is updated every two years (the latest is August 2025). For Information Media and Telecommunications, the full-time median was about $90,532. For Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (which includes many IT consultancies), the full-time median was higher, around $100,000. These are national medians, not Melbourne-specific.
What moves an IT salary above or below the average?
Several factors can push a Melbourne IT salary above or below the national full-time average:
- Experience and seniority: Entry-level helpdesk roles may start near the minimum wage or award rate, while senior architects and engineering managers can earn well over $150,000.
- Specialisation: Cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and AI/ML roles tend to pay above the average; general IT support may pay below.
- Employer type: Large tech companies, banks, and consulting firms often pay above the average; smaller businesses and non-profits may pay less.
- Award coverage: Many IT professionals are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020, which sets minimum rates. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%. The Fair Work Modern Awards Pay Database contains the latest classification rates. For example, a Level 1 IT professional under that award might earn around $1,200 per week (about $62,400 a year), well below the average. Higher-level classifications (Level 3 or 4) can approach or exceed the average.
- Contract vs permanent: Contractors often earn higher hourly rates but miss out on leave and superannuation. The site's tool is designed for permanent salaries before tax.
Using the site to benchmark your Melbourne IT salary
The most direct way to see where your pay sits is to Place a salary on the line. Enter your yearly salary before tax, and the tool will show your weekly and hourly figures on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the national full-time average. For example, a Melbourne IT salary of $120,000 a year would be about $2,307.69 per week, which is $224 above the national average. A salary of $90,000 would be about $1,730.77 per week, about $353 below the line.
You can also compare by state using the States and territories page, which lists the full-time averages for each jurisdiction. The ACT has the highest average ($119,090), followed by Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658). Victoria sits in the middle.
The minimum wage and tax context
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Most IT roles pay well above this. Award-covered roles have higher minimums. For tax purposes, the 2026–27 resident rates apply: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus the 2% Medicare levy. A Melbourne IT salary of $108,352 would fall in the 30% bracket (plus Medicare), meaning an average tax rate of about 24% after the tax-free threshold.
Where to find more detailed IT salary data
While the ABS and Fair Work provide official averages and minimums, they do not produce a single "IT salary guide Melbourne". Private recruitment firms such as Hays, Robert Half, and Talent International publish annual guides with salary ranges for specific roles and experience levels. These are not official statistics but are widely used in the industry. The Guides page on this site discusses how to interpret such guides alongside official data.
For a deeper understanding of how the figures are set, see How the figures are set. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings is published twice a year (May and November), while the Employee Earnings and Hours medians are released every two years. The Fair Work Annual Wage Review updates award rates each July.
Summary
A Melbourne IT salary that matches the national full-time average of $108,352 is a solid benchmark. Many IT roles exceed it, especially in specialised fields and at senior levels. Use the site's line tool to see exactly where your pay sits, and remember that official averages are just one reference point. For role-specific guidance, consult industry salary guides and your award or employment contract.