Expert Verified Analysis
Cybersecurity Engineer Salary in Australia (2026)
Overview
Cybersecurity engineers are in high demand across Australia as organizations prioritize protection against evolving cyber threats. This report provides salary benchmarks based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data.
Average Salary
The average annual salary for cybersecurity engineers in Australia is AUD $140,000 (2024 data). For 2026, this is projected to increase to AUD $145,320, reflecting a 3.8% growth driven by increasing cyber threat complexity and regulatory requirements.
Experience Levels
| Level | Salary Range (AUD) | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (EN) | $110,000 - $125,000 | 50 |
| Mid (MI) | $125,000 - $150,000 | 100 |
| Senior (SE) | $150,000 - $180,000 | 70 |
| Executive (EX) | $180,000+ | 30 |
Regional Variations
- Canberra: 15-20% above national average (government & defense demand)
- Sydney: 10-15% above national average (financial services)
- Melbourne: 7-12% above national average (enterprise security)
- Brisbane/Perth: 5-10% above national average (resources sector)
Industry Demand
Highest demand sectors:
- Government & Defense
- Financial Services & Banking
- Healthcare & Critical Infrastructure
- Energy & Resources
- Professional Services & Consulting
Methodology
This data comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Employee Earnings and Hours survey, supplemented with job market analysis from Seek.com.au. The 2026 forecast applies a 3.8% annual growth rate based on ABS wage price index trends.
Key Skills in Demand
- Threat detection & incident response
- Cloud security architecture
- Penetration testing & ethical hacking
- Compliance & regulatory frameworks (ISO 27001, ASD Essential 8)
- Security automation & DevSecOps
Related Roles
- Security Architect Salary in Australia (coming soon)
- DevOps Engineer Salary in Australia (coming soon)
- Software Engineer Salary in Australia
