Software Engineer Salary in Melbourne (2026)

Last updated 02/08/2026

Software Engineers in Melbourne earn a median salary of $155,000 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $111,000 and $225,000. That sits 72% above Melbourne's all-roles median of $90,000. Figures are based on 35 jobs advertised in Melbourne in the last 30 days.

● Moderate demand 52th percentile by listing volume in Melbourne ↑ +3 listings vs last month

ADVERTISED RANGE

$111,000 – $225,000

Median: $155,000

Jun $155k

Jul $155k

→ Stable

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

Mid level	$101,000 – $155,000
Senior level	$130,000 – $275,000

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 35 job listings for this role and city, all sourced from Seek.com.au. Of those, 20.5% stated a salary directly. The remaining 79.5% 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% $111,000 Median $155,000 $225,000 Top 10%

Understanding the Melbourne Market

Software engineers earn $155,000 in Melbourne against $160,000 in Sydney, with the median unchanged and listings flat at 35. The senior band runs $130,000 to $275,000 on 21 listings against a mid band of $101,000 to $155,000 on 13, so most volume is at the senior end and the tiering is genuine. Only 21% of listings stated a salary, so precision is limited. Within Melbourne tech it sits below data engineering at $160,000 and above network engineering at $142,000.

Take Home Pay (based on median $155,000)

Weekly (net)

~$2,105

Monthly (net)

~$9,124

Annual (net)

~$109,483

Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $172,825

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 Software Engineer in Melbourne?

The $111,000 floor assumes production experience, and graduate roles generally sit below this range under different titles. Mid-level listings run $101,000 to $155,000 with a median of $125,000 across 13 listings. Cloud platforms, a primary language stack and CI/CD exposure are what listings name most often at the lower end.

Is $155,000 a good salary in Melbourne?

Yes. At $155,000 a software engineer earns 72.2% above Melbourne's all-roles median of $90,000, with take-home near $2,105 a week, which comfortably absorbs the city's living costs. Sydney pays $5,000 more, a difference housing costs reverse. Data engineering in Melbourne at $160,000 is the better-paid adjacent specialisation.

How much does a Senior Software Engineer make in Melbourne?

Senior listings run $130,000 to $275,000 with a median of $160,000, from 21 listings. Technical leadership, architecture and platform ownership are what reach the upper end. The $35,000 step from mid to senior median is one of the clearer progressions in the Melbourne data.

Other roles in Melbourne

Software Engineer salaries in other cities

City	Median salary	vs Melbourne
Melbourne (this page)	$155,000	0%
Sydney	$160,000	+3%

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