Are you considering a career in software engineering in Victoria, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 528 software engineering positions across Victoria to provide insights into the software engineer salary landscape. This article details the software engineer salaries and software engineer wage in Victoria for 2025, exploring how much software engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data.
Average Software Engineer Salary in Victoria
The median Victorian software engineer salary is AUD 109,908 per year or AUD 52.89 per hour. This figure provides insight into how much software engineers make in Victoria and serves as a benchmark for the software engineer pay in the state.
Salary Range Overview
How Software Engineers Salaries vary with
Required Educational Level and Software Engineer Qualifications
Average Salary by Education Level
The data reveals a fascinating pattern in how education impacts software engineer salaries in Victoria:
The data reveals that while a bachelor’s degree opens doors to most software engineer jobs, pursuing a master’s degree can lead to significantly higher compensation, with master’s degree holders earning approximately 65% more than bachelor’s degree holders. This highlights the substantial impact of an advanced software engineering degree on salary in Victoria.
Education Requirements Distribution
Interestingly, the Victorian market shows a strong preference for practical skills over advanced degrees, with 77% of software engineer jobs requiring only a bachelor’s degree. This suggests that while higher education can boost your software engineer pay, the focus remains on demonstrable technical competency and real-world problem-solving abilities.
Required Years of Experience and Software Engineer Wage Progression
Software Engineer Salary by Years of Experience
The data shows the most significant salary jump occurs between years 2 and 3, where software engineers see their compensation increase by over 27%. This suggests that the transition from junior to intermediate level represents a critical career milestone for software engineers in Victoria, significantly impacting how much a software engineer makes as they gain practical experience.
Experience Requirements Distribution
The Victorian software engineering market shows clear preferences for mid-level talent:
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 1.75% | 4 |
| 1 year | 5.68% | 13 |
| 2 years | 17.47% | 40 |
| 3 years | 41.92% | 96 |
| 5 years | 21.83% | 50 |
| 6 years | 5.24% | 12 |
| 8 years | 5.68% | 13 |
What’s particularly noteworthy is the steady progression after the 3-year mark, with each additional year of experience translating to meaningful salary increases. This creates a compelling argument for staying committed to skill development and seeking progressively challenging software engineer jobs.
Seniority Level and Total Pay
Average Software Engineer Salary by Seniority
The progression through seniority levels tells a powerful story about long-term earning potential:
The progression from entry-level to lead represents a 118% increase in compensation, highlighting the substantial value of experience and leadership capabilities in the software engineering field. This data provides insights into the potential for career advancement and salary growth in the profession, including roles such as full-stack developer, DevOps engineer, and technical lead.
Cities with Highest Software Engineer Salary in Victoria
| City | Average Annual Salary (AUD) | Average Hourly Rate (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bundoora | $154,000 | $74.04 |
| Richmond | $145,031 | $69.73 |
| Hawthorn | $138,600 | $66.63 |
| Ballarat | $125,009 | $60.10 |
| Melbourne | $120,289 | $57.83 |
| West Melbourne | $110,387 | $53.07 |
| Burwood | $106,995 | $51.44 |
| Parkville | $106,508 | $51.21 |
| Hoppers Crossing | $90,007 | $43.27 |
| North Geelong | $84,390 | $40.57 |
Bundoora, surprisingly, leads with the highest software engineer salaries in Victoria, offering significantly higher software engineering wages than traditional tech hubs. This may be attributed to the proximity to academic institutions and research facilities, which heavily rely on software engineering expertise for cutting-edge projects.
The data also reveals an interesting geographic pattern: while Melbourne remains competitive, several suburban locations offer premium compensation packages, often with better work-life balance and lower living costs. For instance, the software engineer salary Richmond and Hawthorn offer can provide better overall value when factoring in commute times and lifestyle benefits.
Top Paying Companies in Victoria
Here is a list of the top companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for software engineers in Victoria, representing some of the highest paying software engineering jobs in the state:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (AUD) | Average Hourly Rate (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian School Building Authority | $192,322 | $92.46 |
| Aussie Founders Club | $180,014 | $86.54 |
| Change Recruitment | $180,014 | $86.54 |
| Halcyon Knights | $158,345 | $76.13 |
| Wipro | $155,909 | $74.96 |
| Cognizant | $154,000 | $74.04 |
| Uconnex Community Services | $154,000 | $74.04 |
| Urban Rest | $149,911 | $72.07 |
| weave. Recruitment | $149,911 | $72.07 |
| E1 (AU / NZ) | $145,031 | $69.73 |
What Top Companies Pay in Victoria
The landscape of high-paying software engineering employers in Victoria presents some fascinating insights. Government organisations like the Victorian School Building Authority lead the compensation charts, reflecting the public sector’s growing recognition of technology’s critical role in service delivery.
What’s particularly interesting is the strong showing of recruitment and consulting firms, companies like Aussie Founders Club and Change Recruitment offer premium packages, likely reflecting their need to attract top talent to serve their diverse client base.
The presence of global players like Wipro and Cognizant demonstrates Victoria’s position in the international tech ecosystem, while local firms like Urban Rest and Weave. Recruitment shows that competitive compensation isn’t limited to multinational corporations.
These organisations span diverse industry sectors, including government technology, recruitment services, consulting, and specialised technical services, indicating strong demand for software engineering expertise across multiple industries.
Explore our article on the software engineering skills required in 2025
How to Maximise Your Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimise your software engineer salary in Victoria:
- Pursue Advanced Education Strategically – While a bachelor’s degree opens doors, a master’s degree can boost your earning potential by 65%
- Focus on the 2-3 Year Experience Mark – The most significant salary increase occurs at this career stage, representing a critical progression point
- Develop Leadership Skills – Progression to senior and lead roles offers the highest compensation potential, with over 100% increases
Key Skills to Develop:
- Technical Competencies: Modern frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Emerging Technologies: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain development, cybersecurity
- Software Skills: Python, JavaScript, Java, C#, database technologies (SQL, NoSQL)
- Specialised Areas: DevOps practices, microservices architecture, API development, mobile development
Explore our article on the Required Software Engineering Skills in 2025
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 528 publicly available software engineering salaries in Victoria. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analysed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The data analysis was completed in June 2025, providing the most up-to-date information on how much software engineers make in Victoria and the current landscape of software engineer jobs.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers strong earning potential across Victoria, with the median software engineer salary reaching $109,908 AUD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialization significantly influence salary levels. Location choices and industry selection have equally important impacts on total compensation.
For software engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, continuous learning, and leadership capabilities is essential. Understanding salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively.
The data shows clear pathways for growth – from the critical 3-year experience milestone to the substantial benefits of advanced education and leadership roles. Victoria’s diverse tech ecosystem, spanning government, startups, and multinational corporations, provides ample opportunities for career advancement and competitive compensation in software engineer jobs.
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