Data Engineer Salary in Sydney (2026)

Last updated

Data Engineers in Sydney earn a median salary of $160,000 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $125,000 and $234,000. That sits 68% above Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000. Figures are based on 31 jobs advertised in Sydney in the last 30 days.

● Moderate demand 45th percentile by listing volume in Sydney
💰 Data Engineer · Sydney
ADVERTISED RANGE
$125,000 – $234,000
Median: $160,000
Jun $160k
Jul $160k
→ Stable

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

Mid level $125,000 – $226,200
Senior level $152,059 – $213,600
Overall $125k–$234k Mid $125k–$226k Senior $152k–$213k $121k $145k $169k $193k $217k $241k
Moderate confidence 31 listings · 02/08/2026

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 31 job listings for this role and city, 97.0% sourced from Seek.com.au and the rest from government job boards and employer career sites. Of those, 24.2% stated a salary directly. The remaining 75.8% carried a range estimated from the listing, so this median blends advertised and estimated pay. Figures represent what employers advertise and may differ from actual compensation. Fewer than a quarter of these listings stated a salary, so the median leans heavily on estimates.

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Bottom 10%  $125,000 Median  $160,000 $234,000  Top 10%

Understanding the Sydney Market

Data engineers earn $160,000 in Sydney and Melbourne alike, with the median and listing count both completely unchanged across the month at 31. The senior band runs $152,000 to $213,000 on 17 listings against a mid band of $125,000 to $226,000 on 13, so the tiers overlap heavily. Only 24% of listings stated a salary, though the exact match with Melbourne supports the rate. Within Sydney tech it sits level with software engineering at $160,000.

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 Sydney?
The $125,000 floor assumes production data pipeline experience, so this is not a graduate title. Software engineering at $160,000 and data analysis at $130,000 are the two common routes in. Cloud platform experience, particularly AWS, Azure and Snowflake, plus orchestration tooling, are what listings name most often.
Is $160,000 a good salary in Sydney?
Yes. At $160,000 a data engineer earns 68.4% above Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000, with take-home near $2,164 a week, which absorbs the city's living costs. Melbourne pays exactly the same at a lower cost base. Network engineering in Sydney at $152,000 and data analysis at $130,000 are the adjacent bands.
How much does a Senior Data Engineer make in Sydney?
Senior listings run $152,000 to $213,000 with a median of $180,000, from 17 listings. Platform ownership, streaming architecture and leading a data function are what support the upper end. The $20,000 step from mid to senior median is modest for a technical specialisation.

Other roles in Sydney

Data Engineer salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Sydney
Sydney (this page) $160,000 0%
Melbourne $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.