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Web developer salary: how it compares to the national average

The median full-time web developer salary of $2,476 per week is well above the national full-time adult average of $2,083.70, but individual pay can vary significantly.

This sits $11,248 over the Australian full-time average, about 10.4% above the line. The closest full-time state average is Australian Capital Territory.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,300 a week · $60.53 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $90,808 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

Web developer salary vs the national average

If you are a web developer in Australia, your pay is likely above the national full-time average. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for multimedia specialists and web developers (ANZSCO 2612) is $2,476. That works out to about $128,752 a year before tax. For context, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 is $2,083.70 a week, or $108,352 a year. The median for all full-time employees is lower still, at about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

But averages and medians only tell part of the story. Your actual web developer salary depends on where you work, your experience, the industry, and whether you are covered by an award or an enterprise agreement. This article looks at what would move your pay above or below the national average.

Where the figures come from

The national full-time average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which measures average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults. It is published twice a year, for May and November. The median for web developers comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, customised for Jobs and Skills Australia. That survey uses data from May 2025 and covers full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. The minimum wage is set by Fair Work and from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% in the 2026 Annual Wage Review.

What would move your pay above the average?

Web developers already earn above the national average on a median basis. But some factors push pay even higher:

  • Experience and seniority: The median age for web developers is 37, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. More experienced developers, especially those in lead or architect roles, can earn well above the median. The median figure excludes managers, so senior individual contributors and team leads may earn more.
  • Specialist skills: Developers with expertise in high-demand areas such as cybersecurity, machine learning, or cloud infrastructure often command premium rates. The tech sector is broad, and niche skills are scarce.
  • Location: State averages vary significantly. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. Working in these states can boost your pay. New South Wales ($109,658) and Victoria ($106,137) are also above the national average. Place a salary on the line to see how your location compares.
  • Public sector: While most web developers work in the private sector, public sector full-time average earnings are higher overall ($2,263.10 a week, or about $117,681 a year). Government roles often offer higher base pay and better conditions.
  • Enterprise agreements: Some large tech companies and government agencies have enterprise agreements that set pay above award rates. These can include annual increases and performance bonuses.

What would move your pay below the average?

Despite the strong median, not all web developers earn above the national average. Here are factors that can pull pay down:

  • Entry-level and junior roles: New graduates and junior developers typically earn less. The median figure is for all full-time non-managerial employees, so early-career pay is lower. Some junior roles may be close to the national minimum wage or award rates.
  • Part-time or casual work: About 11% of web developers work part-time, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Part-time and casual employees earn less per week, and casual loading may not fully offset reduced hours.
  • Location in lower-paying states: Tasmania has the lowest full-time average at $96,008, followed by South Australia at $102,450. If you work in these states, your pay is likely below the national average. The Northern Territory ($103,173) and Queensland ($106,064) are also below the national figure.
  • Industry: Web developers work across many industries. Those in lower-paying sectors such as retail or hospitality may earn less than those in professional services or IT. The ABS does not publish industry-level medians for this occupation, but industry averages vary widely.
  • Award coverage: Some web developers are covered by the Professional Employees Award or the Clerks Award. Award minimum rates are lower than the median. For example, a Level 1 employee under the Professional Employees Award might earn around $1,200 a week, well below the national average. Fair Work’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the exact rates.

How the tax system affects take-home pay

Your web developer salary is taxed at marginal rates. For 2026–27, the tax brackets 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 of 2% applies before any reductions. A developer earning the median of $128,752 would be in the 30% bracket plus Medicare, so the marginal rate is 32%. After tax, the take-home pay is roughly $93,000, depending on deductions and offsets.

What about the minimum wage and awards?

The national minimum wage is a floor. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week on a 38-hour week. That is about $52,255 a year. Award minimums are higher for some classifications. For example, the Professional Employees Award has minimum rates for different levels. But the median web developer salary is more than double the minimum wage, so most developers are well above it.

How to see where your salary sits

You can compare your own pay against the national average using the tool on this site. Place a salary on the line to see how your weekly and hourly earnings compare to the ABS average. You can also explore States and territories to see how location affects the average. For a broader view of how different occupations compare, see Job medians.

Summary

The typical web developer salary in Australia is above the national full-time average, thanks to strong demand for tech skills and relatively high pay in the sector. But individual outcomes vary. Experience, location, industry, and employment type all play a role. If you are a web developer, your pay is likely above average, but it pays to know where you stand.

Note: All figures are before tax. The national full-time average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. The web developer median is from Jobs and Skills Australia, based on ABS Employee Earnings data for May 2025. The minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026.

Questions

How does the web developer salary compare to the national average?

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for multimedia specialists and web developers is $2,476. That is about $128,752 a year, which is above the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. However, the median is a different measure from the average, and individual pay depends on experience, location, and employer.

What factors could cause a web developer salary to fall below the national average?

Entry-level roles, part-time or casual work, and employment in lower-paying states such as Tasmania (full-time average $96,008) or South Australia ($102,450) can pull pay below the national average. Working in industries that pay less than the tech sector, or for small businesses without enterprise agreements, may also result in lower earnings. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour ($52,255 a year on 38 hours), which is a floor for award-covered employees.

What could push a web developer salary above the median?

Senior roles, management responsibilities, specialised skills in high-demand areas like cybersecurity or cloud architecture, and employment in high-paying states such as the Australian Capital Territory (full-time average $119,090) or Western Australia ($115,825) can lift earnings above the median. Public sector roles often pay more on average, though most web developers are in the private sector. Experience and a strong portfolio also command higher rates.

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