What Is a Typical Data Science Salary in Australia? Reading Job Ads and Comparing Offers
Learn how to interpret data science salary figures in Australian job ads using the Salary Index. Compare offers against national benchmarks, industry averages, and state variations
Data science salaries typically fall within the Professionals occupation group, with average weekly earnings around $2,050, placing the index near 98, but actual offers vary widely by experience and industry.
What is a data science salary?
When you search for "data science salary" in Australia, you won’t find a single official figure. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) doesn’t list "data scientist" as a separate occupation. Instead, data scientists sit within the Professionals group, alongside engineers, accountants, and software developers. That means any salary figure you see in a job ad needs to be read with context.
This article explains how to use the Salary Index to compare data science offers against national benchmarks, industry averages, and state variations. The index works like this: take the annual gross salary, divide it by the national line of $108,352 (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings as of May 2026), and multiply by 100. An index of 100 means the pay matches the national average. Above 100 means above average; below means below.
Where data science salaries sit on the index
According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025), the average weekly total cash earnings for Professionals was $2,049.60. That annualises to about $106,579, giving an index of roughly 98—just below the national line. But data scientists often work in higher-paying industries. The Information media and telecommunications industry averaged $2,304.80 per week (index 111), and Professional, scientific and technical services averaged $2,072.40 (index 99).
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that median weekly full-time earnings across all occupations is $1,852, but they don’t break out data science. However, they note that Construction Managers earn a median of $3,751 per week—a reminder that occupation matters more than industry in some cases.
Reading a job ad: what to look for
A typical data science job ad might say "$110,000 – $130,000 plus super". Here’s how to assess it:
- Annualise the base: If the ad says $120,000, divide by $108,352 → index 111. That’s above the national line.
- Check the industry: If the role is in a tech company (Information media), the industry index is 111, so the offer is in line. If it’s in retail (index 75.9), the offer is well above that industry average.
- State matters: A $120,000 offer in Western Australia (state index 106.9) is closer to the state average than the same offer in Tasmania (state index 88.6).
- Superannuation: From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%. A $120,000 salary plus $14,400 super gives total remuneration of $134,400. The index on total package would be 124.
Awards and data science
Most data scientists are not covered by a modern award. Their pay is set by individual arrangement—the most common method of setting pay in Australia (38.5% of employees, per ABS). That means there’s no award minimum to fall back on, only the National Minimum Wage ($26.44 per hour from July 2026, index 48.2). In practice, data science salaries are far above that floor.
If you’re comparing offers, remember that junior rates don’t apply to professional roles unless you’re under 21 and employed under an award. The national minimum wage for a 20-year-old is $25.83 per hour, but a graduate data scientist would typically earn more.
Tax and take-home pay
A $120,000 salary (index 111) attracts tax under 2026–27 rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, and 37% on the remainder. Plus 2% Medicare levy. Estimated take-home is about $86,500 per year, or $1,663 per week. That’s still above the national median weekly earnings of $1,436 (ABS May 2025).
How to use the index when negotiating
If you receive two offers:
- Offer A: $115,000 in Sydney (NSW index 101.2) → index 106
- Offer B: $125,000 in Melbourne (VIC index 98) → index 115
Offer B has a higher index, but also a higher cost of living? The index doesn’t account for that—it’s purely a wage benchmark. You can use states to see how each state compares to the national line.
The bottom line
There is no single "data science salary" in Australia. The best approach is to use the Salary Index to normalise any offer against the national line, then compare it to your industry and state benchmarks. The ABS data shows that Professionals earn around the national average, but data scientists in tech or finance often earn above it. Always read the fine print: base salary, super, bonuses, and whether the role is full-time or contract.
For more context, see our pay guides for related roles, or explore industries to see how different sectors compare.
Questions people ask
What is the average data science salary in Australia?
There is no official average for 'data scientist' as a separate occupation. However, data scientists are classified under Professionals, who earned an average of $2,049.60 per week (May 2025 ABS). Using the Salary Index where 100 equals $2,083.70 per week (May 2026), that gives an index of about 98. Many data scientists work in Information media and telecommunications (average $2,304.80, index 111) or Professional services ($2,072.40, index 99). Actual offers vary, so always compare against the national line and your industry.
How do I compare a data science job offer using the Salary Index?
Take the annual gross salary in the offer and divide it by the national line of $108,352 (index 100). Multiply by 100 to get the index number. For example, a $120,000 offer gives an index of 111. Then compare that to the index for your state (e.g., NSW 101.2) or industry (e.g., Professional services 114.7). Also consider superannuation (12% from July 2026) and whether the role is covered by a modern award—most data science roles are not award-covered, so pay is set by individual arrangement.
Are data scientists covered by an award or the National Minimum Wage?
Data scientists are typically professional employees and are not covered by a specific modern award. Their pay is usually set by individual arrangement or enterprise agreement. The National Minimum Wage ($26.44 per hour from July 2026) is the legal floor, but professional salaries are far above that. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for awards, but data science roles generally fall outside award coverage. Always check your employment contract for terms.