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Software Developer Salary in Australia: Where It Sits on the National Pay Index
Find out how the typical software developer salary compares to the national line. We use ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia data to show the index figure.
The typical full-time software developer earns around $2,496 per week, placing the role well above the national line at an estimated index of 120.
What is a software developer salary?
When people search for "software developer salary" in Australia, they usually want to know what a typical programmer, coder or engineer takes home. The term covers a range of roles – from junior developers writing their first lines of code to senior engineers architecting complex systems. In official classifications, these jobs fall under Software and Applications Programmers (ANZSCO 2613), which includes analyst programmers, developer programmers, software engineers and software testers.
This guide uses the Salary Index to show where a software developer’s pay sits against the national line. The index sets 100 as full-time adult ordinary-time earnings – $108,352 a year based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026. If your salary is above that, your index is above 100; if below, it’s under 100.
Where the data comes from
The most authoritative source for software developer earnings is Jobs and Skills Australia (we cite the organisation, not the URL). Their profile for Software and Applications Programmers shows a median full-time weekly earnings figure of $2,496. That’s based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023. The median hourly rate is $64. These are before-tax figures for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides a broader picture. In August 2025, the median weekly earnings for all employees in their main job was $1,425. For full-time employees it was $1,741. Professionals as a group had median weekly earnings of $1,900. Software developers earn significantly more than the professional average.
How the index works for software developers
To calculate the index for a software developer, take the annualised median: $2,496 per week × 52 weeks = $129,792. Divide that by the national line of $108,352 and multiply by 100. That gives an index of about 120. In plain English, the typical software developer earns 20% more than the average full-time worker.
Compare that to other benchmarks:
- National minimum wage (from 1 July 2026): $26.44 per hour, $52,255 annualised – index 48.2
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry: index 114.7
- Mining industry: index 154.7
- Retail trade: index 75.9
Software developers sit comfortably above the national line and above the broader professional services industry. They are not as high as mining roles, but they are in the top quartile of earners.
State and territory differences
Where you live affects your salary index. The states page shows the index for each state based on average earnings. For example:
- New South Wales: index 101.2
- Victoria: index 98.0
- Queensland: index 97.9
- Western Australia: index 106.9
- Australian Capital Territory: index 109.9
A software developer in WA or the ACT might earn more than the national median, while someone in Tasmania (index 88.6) might earn less. The $2,496 figure is a national median, so local averages will vary.
What about awards and minimums?
Software developers are often covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database sets minimum rates for classifications under that award. For 2026, award minima rose by 4.75% from 1 July. The entry-level award rate is around $25.74 per hour, but most developers earn well above that. The award provides a safety net, not a market rate.
Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, on top of your salary. The maximum contribution base is $270,830. Most software developers will have the full 12% paid.
Tax on a $129,792 salary for 2026–27 (resident, with tax-free threshold, excluding Medicare levy) would be roughly:
- $0 on first $18,200
- 15% on $18,201 to $45,000 = $4,020
- 30% on $45,001 to $135,000 = $27,000 (but only up to $129,792, so $25,437)
- Total tax about $29,457, plus Medicare levy 2% ($2,596) = $32,053
- Take-home about $97,739 per year, or $1,880 per week.
Why the index matters
The Salary Index helps you compare any pay figure to the national benchmark. Whether you’re negotiating a job offer or checking if your raise keeps pace, the index gives context. A software developer index of 120 means you’re earning 20% above the typical full-time worker. That’s a strong position, but it’s not the top – mining workers index 155, and managers index around 120 as well.
What the search didn’t find
We didn’t find a single official “software developer salary” figure from the Fair Work Ombudsman or the ATO. The best data comes from the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia. Individual salaries vary by experience, company size, and specialisation – a senior engineer in Sydney could earn $180,000 or more, while a junior in Hobart might start at $65,000. The median is a useful midpoint.
Questions people ask
What is the average software developer salary in Australia?
The most reliable figure comes from Jobs and Skills Australia, which reports median full-time weekly earnings of $2,496 for Software and Applications Programmers. That works out to about $129,792 a year before tax. Keep in mind this is the median for full-time non-managerial employees, so half earn more and half earn less. The figure is from May 2023, so current pay may be higher.
How does a software developer salary compare to the national average?
The national line for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings is $108,352 a year (index 100). A software developer earning the median of $129,792 sits at an index of about 120 – that is, 20% above the typical full-time worker. For context, the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry index is 114.7, so software developers tend to earn above even that industry average.
Are software developers covered by an award?
Yes, many software developers are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020, which sets minimum wages and conditions. However, the award minimums are much lower than market rates – for example, the entry-level award rate is around $25.74 per hour. Most software developers are paid above award, and the median hourly rate from the survey data is $64. The award does provide a safety net, but actual salaries are determined by the market.