Software Developer salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Software and Applications Programmers
Last reviewed July 2026
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) · 2025 data. Annual figure derived from median weekly earnings × 52.
See your take-home pay on $132,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 203,200
- Annual employment growth
- +13,700/yr
- 5-yr projected growth
- +15.7%
- Skills shortage rating
- No national shortage
- Main industry
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- Works full-time
- 94%
- Avg full-time hours
- 41 hrs/wk
- Works part-time
- 6%
- Female share
- 21%
- Median age
- 38 yrs
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025)
What does a software developer do?
Software and Applications Programmers design, develop, test, maintain and document program code in accordance with user requirements, and system and technical specifications.
- Researching, consulting, analysing and evaluating system program needs
- Identifying technology limitations and deficiencies in existing systems and associated processes, procedures and methods
- Testing, debugging, diagnosing and correcting errors and faults in an applications programming language within established testing protocols, guidelines and quality standards to ensure programs and applications perform to specification
- Writing and maintaining program code to meet system requirements, system designs and technical specifications in accordance with quality accredited standards
- Writing, updating and maintaining technical program, end user documentation and operational procedures
- Providing advice, guidance and expertise in developing proposals and strategies for software design activities such as financial evaluation and costings for recommending software purchases and upgrades
How to become a software developer
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Courses to get started
Where software developers are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Software Developer jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Jobs that pay similar to a software developer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer earn in Australia?
The median software developer earns $131,924 per year ($2,537 per week, or about $67/hour), based on Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025).
What qualifications do you need to be a software developer?
Most software developers hold a bachelor degree (56.3% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is software developer a job in demand in Australia?
Around 203,200 software developers are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about +13,700 workers per year.
Earnings, employment and education data: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Employment projections: Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Skills shortage ratings: Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
The ABS median refers to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate; individual pay varies. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Figures are estimates for guidance only.