Australian Tech Salaries on the Rise: A 2025-26 Overview

New insights from Think and Grow’s 2025-26 Tech Salary Guide reveal that tech salaries in Australia are climbing at a remarkable pace. Data collected from 80 startups and established tech firms shows that roles, especially in AI leadership, are now commanding significantly higher compensations. For instance, director-level positions in AI can earn up to $250,000, while junior data support roles start at a competitive $90,000.

Key Salary Highlights

• AI Directors: $236,000 – $250,000
• Head of Data: $170,000 – $350,000
• Principal ML Engineers: $150,000 – $250,000
• Senior Analytics Engineers: $160,000 – $180,000
• VP of Engineering: Average $297,770, peaking at $448,729
• VP of Sales: Average $267,341, with peaks around $370,800
• VP of People & Culture: Average $211,433, up to $300,000
• VP of Marketing: Average $207,857, reaching up to $350,000
• HR & Talent Roles: Average $153,168
• Sales & Customer Relations: Average $132,040
• Junior Data Support: Median earnings of $90,000

AI Takes Center Stage

With major players like Coles Group, Carsales, and Bunnings pushing forward in their AI strategies, there is an increasing emphasis on hiring machine learning and data science professionals. While AI-related roles are on the rise, the salary figures in Australia still tend to be more reserved in comparison to the multi-million-dollar packages often seen in Silicon Valley.

Factors Influencing Compensation

Geography and company size play a significant role in determining earnings. For instance, professionals based in New South Wales enjoy roughly a 2.93% wage premium overall, with data and AI experts receiving up to a 3.59% boost. Executive roles can see an increase of up to 8.45%. Additionally, salaries vary with company scale: smaller tech firms average around $136,241, mid-sized companies offer approximately $153,610, while larger organizations report an average of $150,780 due to a higher proportion of entry-level positions.

Final Thoughts

The evolving landscape of Australian tech salaries reflects both the growing importance of AI and the continuing value of traditional roles in sales, finance, and leadership. For professionals aiming to advance their careers, focus areas like AI leadership, engineering, and data science present promising opportunities.

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