Data Engineer Salary in Australia: Take-Home Pay After Tax 2026-27

Data Engineer Salary in Australia: What You Take Home

If you're a data engineer in Australia, you're likely earning well above the national average. This guide breaks down the data engineer salary for 2026-27, showing exactly how much reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. We also compare your pay against the national minimum wage and full-time ordinary time earnings.

Median Data Engineer Salary

According to employer-disclosed salary ranges on SEEK, the median data engineer salary for mid-level roles is $141,000 per year. This figure is based on full-time roles advertised on the platform. provides these insights from job ads, ensuring they reflect current market trends.

Take-Home Pay After Tax and Medicare

Using the 2026-27 Australian resident tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy, a $141,000 salary results in take-home pay of $104,940 per year. That's $8,745 per month or $4,036 per fortnight. The effective tax rate (income tax plus Medicare) is 25.6%. provides a detailed breakdown of these calculations.

Here's how the deductions work:

• Income Tax: $33,240 (calculated using the progressive brackets)
• Medicare Levy: $2,820 (2% of taxable income above the low-income threshold)
• Total deductions: $36,060
• Net take-home: $104,940

How Your Salary Compares to Benchmarks

Your data engineer salary sits well above key Australian benchmarks:

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year (from 1 July 2026, Fair Work Ombudsman). Your salary is nearly three times that.
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week or $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Your salary is about 30% higher.

This comparison shows that data engineering is a high-value profession in Australia. For more context, see our Benchmarks page.

Understanding Your Tax and Medicare

The 2026-27 tax rates for residents are:

Taxable income	Tax on this income
$0 – $18,200	Nil
$18,201 – $45,000	15c for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000	$4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000	$31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001+	$51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

On $141,000, you fall into the 37% bracket for the portion above $135,000. The Medicare levy is a flat 2% on taxable income, but low-income earners are protected. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. Full-time salaries like yours pay the full 2%. For more details, see our Tax and Medicare guide.

Superannuation: Extra on Top

Your employer must pay superannuation at 12% of your ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). This is an additional $16,920 per year paid into your super fund. It is not deducted from your take-home pay – it's on top of your $141,000 salary. Learn more about Super.

Take-Home Pay by Experience Level

Data engineer salaries vary by experience. Based on the same source, here are typical gross and net figures for 2026-27:

• Junior: $103,000 gross → $79,520 take-home (22.8% effective rate)
• Mid-level (median): $141,000 gross → $104,940 take-home (25.6% effective rate)
• Senior: $180,000 gross → $128,730 take-home (28.5% effective rate)
• Lead/Principal: $228,000 gross → $154,970 take-home (32.0% effective rate)

These figures assume no HECS-HELP debt or other deductions. Your actual take-home may differ slightly due to payroll rounding or salary packaging. Use our Take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.

Important Notes

• This estimate uses 2026-27 resident tax rates and the standard Medicare levy. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary sacrifice arrangements.
• The ATO updates withholding tables annually. For 2026-27, the Treasury Laws Amendment (More Cost of Living Relief) Act 2025 introduced tax cuts that affect all schedules. provides the official tax tables.
• Job advertisements often state salary excluding super. Always check whether the figure is 'plus super' or 'including super'. The median here is before super.