Software Engineer Salary Australia: Gross Pay, Super, and Tax in 2026

What is a software engineer salary in Australia?

When you search for "software engineer salary Australia", you're likely after a reliable figure to compare against your own pay or a job offer. The short answer is that no single official median exists for this occupation. Jobs and Skills Australia, the government agency that tracks occupational data, reports that median weekly earnings for Software Engineers (ANZSCO 261313) are not available. That doesn't mean we can't estimate where a software engineer's pay sits – we just need to use broader benchmarks from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and understand how the Salary Index works.

Using the salary index to compare

The Salary Index sets 100 as the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) is $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352. Any gross annual salary divided by $108,352 and multiplied by 100 gives the index. For example, a $120,000 salary gives an index of 111 – meaning 11% above the national line.

For software engineers, we can look at two relevant ABS benchmarks from the May 2025 Employee Earnings and Hours survey:

• Professionals (the broad occupation group): average weekly total cash earnings $2,049.60, annualised ~$106,579, index 98.3.
• Information Media and Telecommunications (a common industry for software roles): average weekly total cash earnings $2,304.80, annualised ~$119,850, index 110.6.
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (another key industry): average weekly total cash earnings $2,072.40, annualised ~$107,765, index 99.5.

These are averages, not medians, and they include all levels of experience. A junior software engineer might earn below these figures, while a senior engineer could be well above. The index range of 98–111 gives a rough guide: many software engineers earn close to or above the national line.

Gross pay, super, and tax

Let's take a concrete example. Suppose a software engineer in Sydney earns a gross salary of $120,000 per year. Here's how the components break down:

• Gross ordinary-time earnings: $120,000 (index 111).
• Super guarantee: From 1 July 2026, the employer must contribute 12% on top, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. That's $14,400 into super, making total remuneration $134,400.
• Tax (2026–27 resident rates):
• Nil on first $18,200
• 15% on next $26,800 ($4,020)
• 30% on next $75,000 (from $45,001 to $120,000) = $22,500
• Total income tax: $26,520
• Plus Medicare levy 2%: $2,400
• Total tax: $28,920
• Take-home pay: $91,080

If the same engineer earned $100,000 (index 92.3), tax would be about $22,467 plus $2,000 Medicare, take-home $75,533. At $140,000 (index 129), tax jumps to $35,467 plus $2,800 Medicare, take-home $101,733.

State and industry comparisons

Where you work also matters. The states page shows that New South Wales has an index of 101.2 (annualised $109,658), while Western Australia is 106.9 ($115,825) and the ACT is 109.9 ($119,090). A software engineer in Perth or Canberra might see higher average pay than in Tasmania (index 88.6).

Industry also plays a role. The industries page shows that Mining has an index of 154.7, while Professional, Scientific and Technical Services sits at 114.7. Software engineers in mining tech roles could earn significantly more than those in retail or accommodation.

Awards and minimums

Most software engineers are not covered by a modern award – they are usually employed under individual contracts or enterprise agreements. However, if an award does apply, the minimum rates from the Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database would set a floor. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, index 48.2). Entry-level award rates can be lower, but professional software roles typically pay well above minimums.

Where to find more

For a deeper dive into how the index is calculated, see how the index works. You can also explore pay guides for other occupations, or browse topics for related salary discussions.

The bottom line

While a precise "software engineer salary Australia" figure is not officially published, the combination of ABS industry and occupation averages, plus the Salary Index, gives you a reliable framework. Most software engineers earn a gross salary between $100,000 and $130,000, placing them around or above the national line. Use the index to compare any offer, and remember to factor in super and tax to understand your real take-home pay.