Salary Survey 2026
IT & transformation salary survey 2026.
Indicative permanent salaries and contract day rates for 34 technology and transformation roles across Brisbane and Melbourne, drawn from Three's live placement data, candidate engagement and client intelligence.
Brisbane market overview
Three Recruitment is Brisbane's specialist technology and transformation recruitment partner. This Salary Survey draws on live placement data, candidate engagement and client intelligence gathered in 2026.
Candidate Volumes Are Rising
2026 has seen a notable increase in active candidates across all disciplines covered in this survey. Project completions across major Queensland government programs, sector-wide restructures in financial services, and the roll-off of large infrastructure and transformation engagements have all contributed to a broader and more active talent pool than this time last year.
More Applications — But Harder to Hire
Higher volumes have not made hiring easier. If anything, the signal-to-noise ratio has deteriorated. Hiring managers consistently report that while application numbers are up, the proportion of genuinely qualified, contextually relevant candidates remains the same or has declined. The result is longer shortlisting times and greater reliance on specialist recruiters who can pre-qualify beyond the resume.
Skill Sets and Cultural Alignment Define the Market
The defining theme of 2026 is that technical competency alone is no longer sufficient. Clients are placing significant weight on cultural alignment — the ability of a candidate to navigate complex stakeholder environments, adapt to delivery culture and demonstrate genuine situational awareness. Candidates who can articulate how they have operated across complexity and ambiguity are outperforming technically equivalent peers at every level.
Rate Stability With Pockets of Premium
Permanent salaries across most disciplines have plateaued following rapid escalation in 2021–2023. Contract rates have moderated in high-volume roles but remain elevated for niche capability including AI Engineering, Senior Delivery Leadership, Data Architecture and Enterprise Risk. Organisations should expect to pay at or above mid-range benchmarks for quality at the senior end.
Brisbane rates 2026
Low, mid and high benchmarks. Permanent figures are base salary plus super. Contract figures are daily rates paid to the contractor, excluding GST.
Transformation
Brisbane's Transformation market remains one of the most active hiring segments across Queensland. Candidate volumes have risen noticeably in 2026, driven by project completions, organisational restructures and contractor roll-offs from major government programs. Higher application volumes have not translated into easier hiring — the challenge is identifying candidates who combine genuine delivery experience with cultural agility to land well in complex stakeholder environments. Demand for senior Delivery Leaders and seasoned Change Managers continues to outpace supply at the high end, sustaining upward rate pressure for the most sought-after profiles.
| Role | Permanent (base + super) | Contract (daily, ex. GST) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Mid | High | Low | Mid | High | |
| Delivery Leadership | $155k | $194k | $244k+ | $890 | $1,160 | $1,520 |
| Project Manager | $133k | $161k | $189k+ | $890 | $1,120 | $1,225 |
| Program Manager | $155k | $200k | $222k+ | $1,120 | $1,334 | $1,556 |
| Business Analysis | $133k | $161k | $189k | $890 | $1,000 | $1,120 |
| Enterprise PMO | $144k | $200k | $250k | $1,000 | $1,223 | $1,556 |
| Change Management | $166k | $189k | $222k | $1,000 | $1,223 | $1,334 |
| QA & Testing | $89k | $122k | $144k | $778 | $889 | $1,112 |
Business Intelligence, Data & AI
The BI, Data & AI space in Brisbane is at a pivotal inflection point. AI is no longer theoretical — organisations across financial services, government and professional services are actively investing in capability uplift, but the gap between ambition and execution is wide. Most employers are grappling with how to integrate AI solutions into existing data architectures, embed governance frameworks, and build internal capability without losing momentum. Skilled AI Engineers command a significant premium, and supply remains constrained. Data Architects with hands-on cloud platform experience are in near-constant demand, and hiring managers should expect longer lead times at the senior end.
| Role | Permanent (base + super) | Contract (daily, ex. GST) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Mid | High | Low | Mid | High | |
| Data Analytics | $122k | $144k | $177k | $834 | $945 | $1,120 |
| Data Architecture & Engineering | $144k | $194k | $222k+ | $1,000 | $1,223 | $1,390 |
| Business Intelligence | $111k | $144k | $166k | $778 | $889 | $1,120 |
| AI Engineering | $133k | $177k | $233k+ | $889 | $1,120 | $1,334 |
| AI Implementation | $133k | $189k | $244k+ | $889 | $1,167 | $1,556 |
Infrastructure & Cloud
Infrastructure and Cloud hiring in Brisbane reflects the broader maturation of enterprise cloud adoption. Cloud Engineering roles — particularly AWS and Azure specialists — remain consistently in demand as organisations accelerate migrations and modernisation programs. DevOps professionals with strong automation and CI/CD pipeline experience continue to attract competitive rates. Network & Systems Engineering roles increasingly require hybrid skill sets bridging on-premise environments and cloud-native tooling. At the support end of the market, candidate supply is stronger and employers can afford to be more selective. Cultural fit and team stability are front of mind for most hiring managers in this discipline.
| Role | Permanent (base + super) | Contract (daily, ex. GST) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Mid | High | Low | Mid | High | |
| Cloud Engineering | $133k | $155k | $189k | $778 | $945 | $1,084 |
| Network & Systems Engineering | $111k | $155k | $189k | $778 | $1,000 | $1,120 |
| DevOps | $122k | $155k | $189k | $889 | $1,000 | $1,223 |
| Release Management | $133k | $177k | $222k | $889 | $1,120 | $1,334 |
| Service Desk | $77k | $83k | $100k | $333 | $389 | $444 |
| Application & Desktop Support | $88k | $111k | $133k | $500 | $667 | $890 |
Software Engineering
Software Engineering demand in Brisbane has softened relative to the peaks of 2022–2023, reflecting broader market recalibration and the impact of AI-assisted development tools. The softening in volume has sharpened focus on quality — employers are significantly more selective, with tech stack alignment now a non-negotiable filter at the shortlist stage. React, Python, .NET and Java remain dominant. Heads of Engineering and Technical Leads with strong people leadership credentials attract strong interest — these roles are hard to fill because the combination of deep technical expertise and genuine team leadership is rare.
| Role | Permanent (base + super) | Contract (daily, ex. GST) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Mid | High | Low | Mid | High | |
| Head of Engineering | $177k | $200k | $233k+ | $1,120 | $1,278 | $1,556 |
| Technical Leads & Analysts | $133k | $166k | $189k | $889 | $1,120 | $1,278 |
| Software & Application Development | $122k | $150k | $166k | $778 | $945 | $1,120 |
| Web & Mobile Development | $133k | $161k | $194k | $778 | $1,000 | $1,195 |
| Integration Development | $122k | $151k | $189k | $890 | $1,056 | $1,278 |
Digital & Product
Digital & Product hiring remains buoyant in Brisbane, particularly within government, utilities and financial services undergoing citizen-facing digital transformation. Product Managers with genuine ownership experience — those who can define roadmaps, lead cross-functional teams and make evidence-based decisions — are in consistent demand. UX/UI practitioners who can facilitate design thinking and conduct user research are preferred over pure visual designers. Service Designers with government or regulated industry experience are particularly sought after. Cultural alignment and a collaborative mindset are the defining hiring criteria at all levels.
| Role | Permanent (base + super) | Contract (daily, ex. GST) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Mid | High | Low | Mid | High | |
| Product Management | $122k | $156k | $172k | $834 | $1,056 | $1,120 |
| Digital Strategy | $111k | $133k | $150k | $778 | $945 | $1,056 |
| UX/UI Design & Development | $105k | $127k | $144k | $778 | $890 | $1,000 |
| Service Design | $111k | $122k | $144k | $722 | $896 | $1,056 |
| CRM Development | $122k | $144k | $166k | $890 | $1,056 | $1,167 |
Governance, Risk & Compliance
GRC hiring in Brisbane has gained significant momentum across financial services, superannuation, healthcare and government. Regulatory pressure — particularly APRA CPS 230, Privacy Act reforms and ASD/ISM obligations — is driving sustained demand for Risk and Compliance professionals across both first and second lines of defence. Data Governance has emerged as a priority discipline as organisations invest in AI governance and data quality frameworks. Cyber Security professionals who can bridge technical controls with governance and risk reporting command a meaningful market premium. Boards and executive teams are increasingly involved in final hiring decisions at the senior level.
| Role | Permanent (base + super) | Contract (daily, ex. GST) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Mid | High | Low | Mid | High | |
| Enterprise Risk Management | $166k | $211k | $255k | $1,000 | $1,223 | $1,446 |
| Data Governance | $133k | $194k | $222k | $890 | $1,120 | $1,390 |
| Operational Risk Management | $144k | $200k | $244k | $890 | $1,056 | $1,334 |
| Internal Audit | $100k | $139k | $177k | $778 | $945 | $1,056 |
| Regulatory & Compliance | $122k | $177k | $233k | $890 | $1,167 | $1,279 |
| Cyber Security | $122k | $189k | $278k+ | $945 | $1,223 | $1,668 |
How to read these rates
- Permanent: base salary plus superannuation, per year.
- Contract: the daily rate paid to the contractor, excluding GST.
- Total contract cost: to estimate the full cost to your business, add about 10% for contractors you source yourself and payroll through an agency, or about 20% for agency-sourced contractors.
- A "+" on a figure means the top of the market can go higher for exceptional candidates.
- All figures are indicative benchmarks for each city's metropolitan market. Talk to us for a benchmark tailored to your role.
Is AI changing IT jobs and salaries?
Yes, but not in the way most headlines suggest.
- No broad drop in salariesAfter the post-Covid boom, salaries flattened through 2024 and 2025. That was mostly a correction from an overheated market, not AI.
- A market that has split in twoPeople with AI, data, cloud and security skills, and senior people who can lead change, command a premium. Specialist AI and data talent is still scarce.
- The bar has gone upClients want people who understand the technology and can also hold a business conversation about how it changes the organisation. Pure coders who can't do that are finding it tougher.
- Pressure at the junior endOrganisations are hiring fewer graduates and juniors as senior engineers with AI tools take on more routine work. Today's juniors are tomorrow's seniors, so this risks a skills shortage in five to seven years.
- Core systems and data still drive demandAI doesn't replace the work of modernising core systems and data platforms. It increases the need for it, because AI is only as good as the systems and data underneath it.