Software developer salary in Australia
There is no single official salary figure for software developers published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) or Fair Work. The ABS’s Average Weekly Earnings survey reports earnings by industry and sector, not by occupation. However, you can use the national benchmarks to gauge where a software developer salary typically sits.
National full-time average as a benchmark
The most recent ABS Average Weekly Earnings data (May 2026) shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is the line used on this site. Men’s full-time average is about $113,412 per year; women’s is about $100,594 per year. These figures come from the ABS.
A software developer salary is often above this average, especially for experienced developers in major cities. But entry-level or junior roles may fall closer to the full-time median.
Medians give a more typical picture
The ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025) gives median figures that better reflect what a typical worker earns. The full-time median is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 per year. Software developers tend to earn above both medians, but the range is wide.
Minimum wage as a floor
From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week, which works out to about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week (Fair Work ). Award minimums for some tech roles may be higher, but most software developers are covered by enterprise agreements or individual contracts that pay well above the minimum.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour
If you have a yearly salary offer, you can convert it to a weekly figure by dividing by 52, and to an hourly figure by dividing by 38 (the standard full-time week). For example, a $100,000 salary is about $1,923 per week and $50.61 per hour. This site’s tool does that conversion automatically and shows how your salary compares to the national full-time average line.
State variations
Full-time average earnings vary by state and territory. The on-site notes give these annual figures:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Software developer salaries tend to be highest in NSW, Victoria, and the ACT, reflecting the concentration of tech companies and government roles. See the States and territories page for more detail.
How to use this information
When evaluating a software developer salary offer, compare it to the national full-time average and median. If the offer is above $108,352, it is above the average. If it is below $90,532, it may be below the typical full-time median. Remember that these are broad benchmarks; your specific role, experience, and location matter.
You can also Place a salary on the line to see where it sits against the national average and how it converts to weekly and hourly figures.
Where the figures come from
The national average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, conducted twice a year (May and November). The medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, conducted every two years (most recently August 2025). The minimum wage is set by Fair Work’s Annual Wage Review, effective from 1 July 2026. For more on how these figures are set, see How the figures are set.
Tax considerations
Resident tax rates for 2026–27: tax-free threshold up to $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Medicare levy of 2% applies before reductions. A $108,352 salary would be in the 30% bracket. After tax and Medicare, take-home pay is roughly $80,000–85,000 depending on deductions.
Final note
While no official software developer salary is published by the ABS or Fair Work, the benchmarks above give a solid framework for understanding where a typical salary. Use the site’s tools to compare your own offer.