Sydney is one of Australia's major technology and business centres, with employment opportunities across software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data, infrastructure, IT support, artificial intelligence and technology management.
IT salaries in Sydney vary substantially according to experience, technical specialisation, industry, employer, qualifications and the responsibilities of the position. Current 2026 salary benchmarks show particularly wide differences between entry-level technology positions and specialised engineering, cloud, cybersecurity and management roles.
For 2026, Robert Half's Sydney salary benchmarks put Software Developer starting salaries at approximately A$92,650–A$130,800, while specialised roles such as DevOps Engineer, Cloud Engineer and Cyber-Security Specialist have higher benchmark ranges. These figures are gross annual starting salaries and exclude bonuses, benefits and superannuation.
There is no single "average IT salary" that accurately represents the whole technology sector. A junior IT support employee, software developer, cloud engineer and cybersecurity specialist can have very different compensation levels.
For example, Indeed's September 2026 Sydney data reports an average base salary of approximately A$119,405 per year for Software Engineers, based on 522 reported salaries. Indeed also reports a typical Sydney Software Engineer range of approximately A$83,280 to A$171,199, illustrating how experience and employer can affect compensation.
Robert Half's 2026 Salary Guide provides another useful benchmark because it separates salaries into 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles based on experience and skills. Its figures represent gross yearly starting salaries and do not include bonuses, benefits or superannuation.
The following figures use current 2026 Sydney salary benchmarks from Robert Half where Sydney-specific data is available. The 25th percentile generally represents candidates who are new to the role, the 50th percentile represents candidates with moderate experience, and the 75th percentile represents experienced candidates with advanced skills or specialised qualifications.
| IT Job | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | A$92,650 | A$109,000 | A$130,800 |
| Front-End Developer | A$98,100 | A$125,350 | A$141,700 |
| JavaScript Developer | A$98,100 | A$125,350 | A$141,700 |
| Senior JavaScript Developer | A$152,600 | A$168,950 | A$185,300 |
| Python Developer | A$92,650 | A$109,000 | A$130,800 |
| Senior Python Developer | A$147,150 | A$168,950 | A$185,300 |
| Full Stack JavaScript Developer | A$98,100 | A$125,350 | A$141,700 |
| Senior Full Stack JavaScript Developer | A$152,600 | A$163,500 | A$174,400 |
| Data Analyst | A$125,350 | A$141,700 | A$158,050 |
| Data Engineer | A$136,250 | A$158,050 | A$174,400 |
| DevOps Engineer | A$141,700 | A$168,950 | A$190,750 |
| Cloud Engineer | A$136,250 | A$168,950 | A$185,300 |
| Cyber-Security Specialist | A$147,150 | A$163,500 | A$196,200 |
| Cyber-Security Manager | A$174,400 | A$196,200 | A$223,450 |
| Software Development Manager | A$185,300 | A$218,000 | A$261,600 |
| AI Engineer | A$163,500 | A$185,300 | A$212,550 |
| ML Engineer | A$163,500 | A$185,300 | A$212,550 |
Salary source: Robert Half Australia 2026 Salary Guide and Sydney role-specific salary pages. Figures are gross yearly starting salaries and exclude bonuses, benefits and superannuation. Actual offers can differ depending on experience, skills, employer, industry and employment arrangement.
Software engineering is one of the most visible technology career paths in Sydney. Salaries vary considerably according to programming experience, technical specialisation, seniority and employer.
Indeed's current Sydney salary data reports an average base salary of approximately A$119,405 per year for Software Engineers, based on 522 reported salaries as of September 7, 2026. The same source reports a Sydney range of approximately A$83,280 to A$171,199.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmarks for Software Developers range from A$92,650 at the 25th percentile to A$130,800 at the 75th percentile. Its related benchmarks also show higher figures for senior .NET, Java, Python, JavaScript and full-stack development roles.
Cloud infrastructure and DevOps roles involve software delivery, automation, infrastructure, monitoring, security and cloud platforms.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmark for a DevOps Engineer is A$141,700–A$190,750, with A$168,950 at the 50th percentile. For Cloud Engineers, the corresponding benchmark is A$136,250–A$185,300, with A$168,950 at the 50th percentile.
Relevant technologies include AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible, CI/CD systems and infrastructure-as-code. Robert Half's 2026 technology guide identifies cloud technologies, DevOps, automation and related infrastructure skills among the skills being sought by Australian technology employers.
Cybersecurity covers areas including security operations, identity and access management, governance, risk, compliance, network security and cloud security.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmark for a Cyber-Security Specialist is A$147,150–A$196,200, with A$163,500 at the 50th percentile. Its Sydney benchmark for a Cyber-Security Manager is A$174,400–A$223,450.
Senior cybersecurity positions can have substantially higher compensation. Robert Half lists a Sydney benchmark of A$239,800–A$332,450 for a Chief Information Security Officer.
Sydney's technology market also includes data analysts, data engineers, database specialists, business intelligence professionals and machine-learning roles.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmark for a Data Analyst is A$125,350–A$158,050. For Data Engineers, the Sydney-related benchmark is approximately A$136,250–A$174,400.
Data engineering typically involves data pipelines, ETL/ELT, databases, data warehouses, cloud data platforms and data quality. These skills increasingly overlap with cloud and AI infrastructure.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly integrated into software engineering, data, cybersecurity and business applications.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney salary benchmarks list both AI Engineer and ML Engineer roles at approximately A$163,500–A$212,550, depending on experience and skills.
AI-related work can include machine learning engineering, generative AI applications, model deployment, data engineering, software development and AI-enabled business systems.
IT support is another major part of Sydney's technology employment market. IT support professionals may work with Microsoft 365, Windows, hardware, networks, user accounts, devices and service-management systems.
Salary varies significantly according to whether the position is junior help desk support, desktop support, systems support or a more senior infrastructure role. Current Sydney job advertisements also show substantial variation between junior, senior and contract positions.
For candidates entering IT, support roles can provide experience that later leads toward systems administration, networking, cloud engineering, cybersecurity or infrastructure engineering.
Salary depends on the individual role rather than simply the job title, but current 2026 Sydney benchmarks show relatively high compensation ranges for several specialised technology positions.
For example, Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmarks place the 75th percentile at A$196,200 for Cyber-Security Specialists, A$190,750 for DevOps Engineers, A$185,300 for Cloud Engineers and A$212,550 for AI and ML Engineers.
The technology skills requested by employers change over time. Robert Half's 2026 Australia Technology Salary Guide identifies several areas currently appearing in technology recruitment, including cloud technologies, DevOps, cybersecurity, data engineering, AI tools, automation and modern workplace technologies.
The Australian labour market continues to have substantial online recruitment activity, although demand varies considerably between occupations and periods.
Jobs and Skills Australia's Internet Vacancy Index recorded 212,200 online job advertisements in July 2026, an increase of 2.7% from June. Jobs and Skills Australia notes that the IVI is a measure of online job advertisements and should be interpreted as an indicator of recruitment activity rather than a direct count of all available jobs.
The Australian technology market is also changing. Jobs and Skills Australia's 2025 Occupation Shortage List found that some ICT occupations moved from shortage to no shortage between 2024 and 2025. This means that applicants should not assume that every IT occupation is experiencing a shortage simply because technology remains an important part of the economy.
Jobs and Skills Australia also publishes occupation and regional labour-market data that can be used to track employment and vacancy trends over time.
Sydney attracts technology professionals from Australia and overseas. International applicants can find roles in software development, data, cloud, cybersecurity, infrastructure, IT support and technology management.
However, eligibility to work in Australia is an important consideration. Employers can specify Australian citizenship, permanent residency or particular work rights depending on the role. Some positions may offer employer sponsorship, while others require applicants to already have appropriate Australian working rights.
International applicants should therefore check the visa and work-right requirements of each individual vacancy rather than assuming that all Sydney IT jobs are open to overseas applicants.
👉 Learn more: Jobs in Sydney for Foreigners
Sydney's IT employment market extends across technology companies as well as financial services, professional services, telecommunications, retail, healthcare, education, government and other industries.
Technology professionals can therefore find IT roles in companies whose primary business is technology as well as in organisations where technology supports the wider business.
Common employers and technology environments in Sydney include:
It depends on the role and employer. Software engineering, data science, cybersecurity and other professional technology positions commonly ask for relevant qualifications or equivalent experience, while some technical support and junior technology positions can have different entry requirements.
Practical experience can also be important. A portfolio containing real software projects, GitHub repositories, cloud projects, automation work or cybersecurity labs can help demonstrate technical ability alongside formal education.
One important difference for people moving to Australia from overseas is the treatment of superannuation.
Some Australian job advertisements quote a salary plus super, while others may present a package that includes superannuation. Always check the wording of the job advertisement before comparing two salary offers.
The Robert Half salary figures used on this page are gross annual starting salaries and specifically exclude bonuses, benefits and superannuation.
There is no single salary that represents all IT jobs. Software engineering, cybersecurity, cloud, data, IT support and management roles have different salary levels. For example, Indeed currently reports an average Sydney Software Engineer base salary of about A$119,405 per year.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmark for Software Developers is A$92,650 at the 25th percentile, A$109,000 at the 50th percentile and A$130,800 at the 75th percentile.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmark for DevOps Engineers is A$141,700–A$190,750, with A$168,950 at the 50th percentile.
The 2026 Robert Half Sydney benchmark for Cloud Engineers is A$136,250–A$185,300, with A$168,950 at the 50th percentile.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmark for Cyber-Security Specialists is A$147,150–A$196,200, with A$163,500 at the 50th percentile.
Robert Half's 2026 Sydney benchmark for Data Analysts is A$125,350–A$158,050, with A$141,700 at the 50th percentile.
Technology salaries vary substantially by occupation and experience. Current 2026 salary benchmarks show that specialised roles such as cybersecurity, DevOps, cloud engineering and AI engineering can have higher salary ranges than entry-level IT support and software development positions.
International applicants can apply for Sydney technology positions, but eligibility depends on the applicant's Australian work rights and the requirements of the employer. Some vacancies specifically require Australian citizenship or permanent residency, while others may have different eligibility conditions.
Not necessarily. Requirements vary by employer and position. Technical experience, relevant qualifications, communication skills and evidence of practical ability can all be considered. Some regulated, government or security-sensitive positions can have specific citizenship or residency requirements.
Not always. Some advertised salaries are quoted plus superannuation, while others can be presented as a package. Always check the salary description. The Robert Half figures on this page exclude superannuation.