Data Engineer Salary in Melbourne (2026)

Last updated

Data Engineers in Melbourne earn a median salary of $160,000 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $125,000 and $225,000. That sits 68% above Melbourne's all-roles median of $95,000. Figures are based on 26 jobs advertised on Seek.com.au in Melbourne in the last 30 days.

— Moderate demand 32th percentile by listing volume in Melbourne ↓ -2 listings vs last month
💰 Data Engineer · Melbourne
ADVERTISED RANGE
$125,000 – $225,000
Median: $160,000
May $155k
Jun $160k
↑ Trending up

Based on 2-month data — short-term movement only.

Mid level $125,000 – $180,000
Senior level $160,000 – $275,000
Overall $125k–$225k Mid $125k–$180k Senior $160k–$275k $121k $153k $186k $218k $250k $283k
⚠ Low confidence 26 listings (-2 vs last month) · 05/07/2026

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from advertised employer bands on Seek.com.au. Figures represent what employers publicly advertise and may differ from actual compensation. Sample size is small — treat figures as indicative.

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Bottom 10%  $125,000 Median  $160,000 $225,000  Top 10%

Understanding the Melbourne Market

Based on 26 listings, treat the precise figures as directional. Data engineers in Melbourne sit at $160k, a 68% premium over the city's $95k all-roles median and one of the highest role-to-city gaps here. The median rose $5k on the month, and the figure is identical across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, so this is a national tech rate rather than a local one. The band splits cleanly: mid at $160k, senior at $172.5k reaching $275k at the top.

Take Home Pay (based on median $160,000)

Weekly (net)
~$2,164
Monthly (net)
~$9,378
Annual (net)
~$112,533
Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $178,400

Take-home calculated using 2025-26 ATO tax rates, no HECS debt, full Australian residency. Total package adds 11.5% superannuation to base salary. Adjust for your situation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting salary for a junior Data Engineer in Melbourne?
The mid tier floor is $125k (p10), so even a junior data engineer in Melbourne starts well into six figures. Cloud platform certification (AWS, Azure, GCP), fluency with a modern data stack (Spark, dbt, Snowflake), and production pipeline experience are what separate a $125k hire from the $160k median.
Is $160,000 a good salary in Melbourne?
Yes, emphatically. At $160k the median is 68% above Melbourne's all-roles median and nets roughly $112.5k, strong take-home even in a high-cost city. Data engineering is among the best-paid roles tracked, and the pay is consistent nationally, so there is no cheaper-city penalty for staying in Melbourne.
How much does a Senior Data Engineer make in Melbourne?
Senior data engineers sit at $172.5k, with the band reaching $275k (p90) on the strongest packages. The step from mid is architectural: owning platform design, mentoring a team, and taking responsibility for data reliability at scale rather than building individual pipelines.

Other roles in Melbourne

Data Engineer salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Melbourne
Melbourne (this page) $160,000 —
Brisbane $160,000 ~same
Sydney $160,000 ~same

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Data sourced from publicly listed job advertisements. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Seek or any third-party platforms. Salary ranges represent advertised figures and may differ from actual compensation. Updated monthly.