Cloud engineer salary: how it compares across states and industries

What is a cloud engineer salary in Australia?

A cloud engineer salary is the annual gross pay for someone who designs, builds, and maintains cloud infrastructure. Unlike trades or retail roles, cloud engineers are not covered by a modern award. That means there is no official minimum rate set by the Fair Work Commission for this job title. Instead, pay is set by the market, enterprise agreements, or individual contracts.

Because no single authoritative figure exists, the best way to understand a cloud engineer salary is to compare it against the national line. The national line is $108,352 per year (index 100), which is the full-time adult ordinary-time earnings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Any salary above that line has an index above 100; below it, below 100.

State differences for cloud engineer salaries

Where you work matters. The on-site reference gives state indices based on ABS data. For example:

• ACT index 109.9 – average earnings about $119,090
• Western Australia index 106.9 – about $115,825
• New South Wales index 101.2 – about $109,658
• Victoria index 98 – about $106,137
• Queensland index 97.9 – about $106,064
• South Australia index 94.6 – about $102,450
• Northern Territory index 95.2 – about $103,173
• Tasmania index 88.6 – about $96,008

A cloud engineer salary in Canberra or Perth is likely to be higher than one in Hobart or Adelaide, reflecting the overall cost of labour and demand for tech skills. The states page breaks down these differences further.

Industry differences for cloud engineer salaries

Cloud engineers typically work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry. That industry has an index of 114.7, meaning average earnings are about 14.7% above the national line – roughly $124,300 per year. Other industries where cloud engineers might work include:

• Mining index 154.7 – but cloud engineers in mining are rare; more common are IT contractors servicing mining firms.
• Financial and Insurance Services index 114.7 – similar to professional services.
• Information Media and Telecommunications index 90.5 – lower than professional services.
• Public Administration and Safety index 106.1 – government cloud roles may pay around $115,000.

The industries page shows the full list.

How the salary index works for cloud engineers

The salary index is your yearly gross pay divided by the national line ($108,352), multiplied by 100. For example, if a cloud engineer earns $130,000, the index is (130,000 / 108,352) × 100 = 120. That means they earn 20% above the national average. If they earn $95,000, the index is 87.7.

You can read more about how the index works.

What the data says about cloud engineer pay

The ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025) shows that the median weekly earnings for Professionals is $1,900 ($98,800 annualised). But that includes all professionals – teachers, nurses, accountants – not just cloud engineers. The 75th percentile for all employees is $2,127 per week ($110,604 annualised), and the 90th percentile is $3,000 ($156,000). Cloud engineers, being a specialised and in-demand role, likely sit between the 75th and 90th percentiles.

The Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry median weekly earnings are $1,897 ($98,644 annualised). Again, that is an average across all roles in that industry, from junior admin to senior partners. A cloud engineer salary would typically be above that median.

Awards, super, and tax considerations

Cloud engineers are not covered by a modern award, but the national minimum wage still applies as a floor: $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026. That works out to $1,004.90 per week or $52,255 per year (index 48.2). Any cloud engineer earning less than that would be underpaid, but it is extremely unlikely.

Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, on top of gross salary. For a $130,000 salary, that is an extra $15,600 into super. The maximum contribution base is $270,830, so the 12% applies to the full amount for most cloud engineers.

Tax on a cloud engineer salary in 2026–27 (resident, excluding Medicare) is:

• Nil up to $18,200
• 15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000)
• 30% on the next $90,000 (up to $135,000)
• 37% on the next $55,000 (up to $190,000)
• 45% above $190,000

Plus a 2% Medicare levy. For a $130,000 salary, the estimated take-home (including Medicare) is about $96,000. That is a rough guide; it ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge.

Where to find more information

For award-covered roles, the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman list minimum rates. For cloud engineers, the best sources are job ads, industry surveys, and the ABS data linked above. The topics page has more comparisons.

Summary

A cloud engineer salary in Australia is not set by any award, so it varies by state, industry, experience, and employer. Using the national line of $108,352 (index 100), a typical cloud engineer salary likely falls between $110,000 and $140,000, giving an index of 101 to 129. State and industry indices provide a useful benchmark: expect more in the ACT and WA, and less in Tasmania and SA. The Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry index of 114.7 suggests a salary around $124,300 is a reasonable midpoint.