1Industry Overview
Australia's technology sector contributes over $167 billion to the economy and employs approximately 860,000 workers. The sector has grown 50% faster than the rest of the economy over the past five years. Major tech hubs are centred in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, with emerging clusters in Adelaide and Canberra. Government initiatives like the National Digital Economy Strategy aim to make Australia a top 10 digital economy by 2030.
2Skills in Critical Shortage
Cybersecurity professionals, cloud architects, data engineers, full-stack developers, and DevOps engineers are among the most sought-after roles. The Australian Computer Society estimates a shortfall of 100,000+ tech workers by 2027. AI and machine learning specialists are seeing 200%+ growth in demand year-on-year, driven by enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence across all industries.
3Salary Landscape
Tech salaries in Australia are among the highest across all industries. Graduate developers start at $65,000–$80,000, while senior developers earn $130,000–$180,000+. Cloud architects and cybersecurity leads can command $200,000+. Contractors and freelancers in tech earn even more, with day rates of $800–$1,500 common for in-demand specialisations.
4Future Trends
Remote and hybrid work has expanded the talent pool beyond traditional tech hubs. Companies can now hire talent from regional areas across Australia. The rise of AI, Web3, and quantum computing is creating entirely new categories of tech jobs. Government investment in STEM education and the tech visa pathway (subclass 858) are helping to address long-term skills gaps.