Are you considering a career in software engineering in Queensland, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of software engineer jobs across Queensland to provide insights into the software engineer salary landscape. This article details the software engineer salaries and software engineer wage in Queensland 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 Queensland
The median Queensland software engineer salary is $140,210 AUD per year or $67.41 AUD per hour. This figure provides insight into how much software engineers make in Queensland and serves as a benchmark for tech professionals in the state.
Salary Range Overview
How Software Engineers Salaries vary with
Seniority Level and Total Pay
The progression from entry-level to senior level represents a remarkable 189% increase in compensation, highlighting the tremendous value of experience and leadership capabilities in the Queensland software engineering field. This data provides insights into the potential for career advancement and salary growth in the profession.
What’s particularly noteworthy is the substantial jump from mid-level to lead positions – a 55% salary increase that reflects the premium Queensland companies place on technical leadership skills. This isn’t just about coding anymore; it’s about your ability to guide teams, make architectural decisions, and translate business requirements into technical solutions.
The senior level represents the pinnacle of individual contributor roles, where your deep technical expertise and ability to solve the most complex problems command premium compensation. These are the professionals who can walk into any Queensland tech company and immediately add value through their breadth of experience and technical judgment.
Required Educational Level and Software Engineer Qualifications
Software engineering positions in Queensland predominantly require a bachelor’s degree, with over 77% of software engineer jobs listing this as the minimum requirement. The data shows that a bachelor’s degree provides a solid foundation for entering the field, with graduates earning competitive salaries that reflect the high demand for technical skills in Queensland’s growing tech sector.
What’s particularly encouraging for prospective software engineers is that unlike some fields where advanced degrees significantly boost earning potential, software engineering rewards practical skills and experience over academic credentials. The bachelor’s degree serves as your entry ticket, but your coding abilities, problem-solving skills, and technical expertise will ultimately determine your trajectory in the software engineering job market.
Required Years of Experience and Software Engineer Wage Progression
Software Engineer Salary by Years of Experience
The data reveals a compelling story about career progression in Queensland’s software engineering market. Here’s what really stands out: the most significant salary jump occurs between years 1 and 3, where software engineers see their compensation increase by over 32%. But the real golden period is the transition from 3 to 5 years of experience, where salaries jump by an impressive 41%.
This suggests that the 3-5 year mark represents a critical career milestone for software engineers in Queensland. During this period, you’re transitioning from a junior developer who follows instructions to an intermediate developer who can architect solutions, mentor others, and take ownership of complex projects. It’s when you stop being someone who just writes code and become someone who solves business problems through technology.
Experience Requirements Distribution
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 1.64% | 2 |
| 1 year | 4.10% | 5 |
| 2 years | 9.84% | 12 |
| 3 years | 39.34% | 48 |
| 5 years | 32.79% | 40 |
| 6 years | 9.84% | 12 |
| 8 years | 2.46% | 3 |
What’s particularly interesting is that nearly 40% of software engineer jobs target the 3-year experience level, indicating this is where most hiring happens. Companies seem to view this as the sweet spot – experienced enough to be productive immediately, but not so senior that they command premium salaries.
Cities with Highest Software Engineer Salary in Queensland
| City | Average Annual Salary (AUD) | Average Hourly Rate (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Milton | $217,000 | $104.33 |
| Brisbane | $189,828 | $91.27 |
| Paddington | $140,920 | $67.75 |
| Sunshine Coast | $136,085 | $65.42 |
| Burleigh Heads | $127,875 | $61.48 |
| Buderim | $123,684 | $59.46 |
| Springwood | $72,976 | $35.09 |
| Beenleigh | $64,118 | $30.82 |
Milton leads with the highest software engineer salaries in Queensland, offering significantly higher software engineering wages than other locations. This premium likely reflects Milton’s proximity to Brisbane’s central business district and its concentration of high-growth tech companies and financial services firms that compete aggressively for top talent.
Brisbane, as Queensland’s tech capital, offers competitive software engineer pay at $189,828 AUD annually, reflecting the city’s growing reputation as Australia’s emerging tech hub. The salary differential between Brisbane and regional centres like Sunshine Coast and Burleigh Heads demonstrates the geographic premium that major metropolitan areas command.
Interestingly, some coastal areas like Sunshine Coast and Burleigh Heads offer surprisingly competitive salaries, suggesting that Queensland’s tech industry is successfully distributed beyond just Brisbane. This could be attributed to the growing trend of remote and hybrid work, allowing companies to tap into talent pools outside major cities while offering lifestyle benefits.
Top Paying Companies in Queensland
Here is a list of the top companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for software engineers in Queensland, representing some of the highest paying software engineering jobs in the state:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (AUD) | Average Hourly Rate (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Peoplebank | $274,265 | $131.86 |
| Davidson | $233,869 | $112.44 |
| Jumbo Interactive | $217,000 | $104.33 |
| Nucleus Security | $201,314 | $96.79 |
| Hyre | $191,248 | $91.18 |
| Aussie Founders Club | $181,183 | $87.11 |
| Dabble | $181,183 | $87.11 |
| Tech & Data People | $181,183 | $87.11 |
| Sign Blast | $139,500 | $67.07 |
| Xestro Pty | $136,085 | $65.42 |
Peoplebank stands out as the top payer, offering exceptional compensation that’s nearly double the state median. This premium reflects the company’s position in the competitive talent acquisition and consulting space, where attracting and retaining top technical talent is crucial to their business model.
Gaming and fintech companies like Jumbo Interactive and Dabble feature prominently in the top-paying list, demonstrating how high-margin digital businesses can afford to pay premium salaries for software engineering talent. These companies understand that exceptional software engineers directly impact their bottom line through improved user experiences, system performance, and feature development.
Security-focused companies like Nucleus Security also command premium salaries, reflecting the critical importance and specialised skills required in cybersecurity. As data breaches become increasingly costly, Queensland companies are willing to pay top dollar for engineers who can protect their digital assets.
For a general insight on software engineering salaries, you can checkout 2025 Software Engineer Salary.
How to Maximize Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, here are strategic recommendations to optimize your software engineer salary in Queensland:
- Target the 3-5 Year Sweet Spot – This is where the most significant salary increases occur. Focus on building substantial project experience and technical depth during this critical period.
- Consider Geographic Opportunities – Milton and central Brisbane offer premium compensation packages, but don’t overlook emerging tech hubs on the Sunshine Coast for lifestyle-salary balance.
- Develop Leadership Skills – The jump from mid-level to lead positions offers a 55% salary increase. Start mentoring junior developers and taking on technical leadership responsibilities early.
Core Technical Competencies:
- Modern web frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js)
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- DevOps and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Database technologies (SQL, NoSQL)
Explore our detailed article on the software engineering skills required in 2025
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 288 publicly available software engineer jobs in Queensland. 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 Queensland.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers excellent earning potential across Queensland, with the median software engineer salary reaching $140,210 AUD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialisation significantly influence software engineer pay levels. Location choices and company selection have equally important impacts on total compensation.
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