New research shows AI skills help Aussie IT talent attract a bigger salary
There is a growing expectation of IT leaders to have AI skills, and if they do, they are financially rewarded.
AI is becoming a bargaining chip in an Australian IT leader’s salary, with those who have the skills to implement the technology could receive a bigger pay cheque than their counterparts.
According to recent Hays salary data, there will be an outperformance in salaries for those in cybersecurity leadership; AI, data, and cloud architecture roles; CTO/CDO roles tied directly to growth or transformation.
Adam Shapley, managing director of technology and technical, ANZ executive at Hays told CRN Australia AI is reshaping IT salaries, but not evenly across the market.
“We are seeing a clear premium for professionals who can apply AI in a practical, commercial way, particularly across data, cloud, cybersecurity and governance,” he explained.
“As organisations move from experimentation to execution, the strongest salary growth is in roles that enable AI to be deployed securely and at scale.”
Shapley noted that increasingly, at a senior level, the premium is not just for technical expertise, but for the ability to lead enterprise-wide change, setting AI strategy, identifying where it can create value, and driving adoption across the business.
“In contrast, salary growth is more measured in traditional IT roles. It is now depth of capability and business impact, rather than job title, that determines pay.”
The well-documented skills gap is also impacting salaries and organisations, with Shapley at Hays noting companies are balancing rising salary expectations with budget constraints.
“This is leading to more deliberate workforce strategies, including increased use of contractors, targeted upskilling, and hybrid team models,” he said.
Phillip Yee, associate director, tech and transformation at Robert Walters told CRN he is also seeing an increase in people applying for AI-based roles.
"We’re seeing a noticeable influx of candidates transitioning from adjacent disciplines and undertaking targeted courses or training to align with in‑demand skills such as cyber security, data and AI,” he explained.
“These areas are not going away, and increased public attention on issues like data breaches and poorly implemented technology has only reinforced their importance for organisations.”
Additional research from recruitment giant Robert Walters shows also shows that AI-based roles are attracting more money.
Cyber security, cloud architecture, AI and data roles have seen continued upward pressure, typically rising $10k–$20k year‑on‑year, the firm noted.
Impact of skills shortage on IT salaries in Australia
The IT sector is one of the highest paid in Australia, with Hays research noticing a sharp increase since 2022 due to acute skills shortages.
IT leaders should expect a growth of salaries, but at a slower, targeted pace, except for those in the security, cloud, data, and architecture leadership roles.
Hays research shows salaries across IT and technology rose between 9-10 percent year-on-year at their peak, placing tech among the fastest growing sectors in Australia.
Shapley is seeing an increase in applications, particularly for roles linked to transformation, AI and major technology change.
However, he said employers remain selective, and salary growth has not resolved skills shortages in specialist areas.
“The result is a split market. There is strong competition at the mid-level, while experienced, high impact talent remains in short supply,” he added.
Robert Walters research indicates that employers want more bang for their buck. Employers are paying more for accountability, delivery and retention - not just technical depth.
From its 2026 Salary Guide, 48 percent of employers want more technical digital skills and 51 percent of organisations are lacking industry specific expertise.
Average salaries for the Aussie IT sector
According to the Hays Salary Guide FY25/26, the technology sector is still one of the highest paid sectors in the country.
Those with the CIO badge have the highest income with average salaries coming in between $280,000 and $375,000, according to Hays figures.
Australian CTOs and CISOs have a similar average with CTOs earning between $270,000 and $370,000, and CISOs earning between $250,000 and $360,000.
An enterprise/business architect brings in between $200,000 and $280,000, while an IT director and head of technology earn $220,000 to $300,000 plus per year.
Hays noted that leadership salary premiums are strongest in NSW and Victoria, particularly in regulated, enterprise-scale environments such as financial services, critical infrastructure, and large ASX-listed organisations
IT salaries forecast
While IT leaders have the highest salaries in the country, they shouldn’t expect an increase to their hip pocket for the next year.
According to Hays for the next 12 months IT leaders should expect low-to-mid single digit increases. There will be flat or tightly controlled salaries in traditional IT management roles unless scope expands.
Hays research added that “transformational pay increases” of 20 percent or more above the average are now being used selectively to secure hard-to-find leaders, rather than annual inflationary rises.
Shapley explained he expects salary growth to remain positive, but targeted.
“The strongest increases will continue in specialist, transformation led roles, particularly across AI, data, cloud, cybersecurity, and architecture,” he said.
“In these areas, we are seeing mid-single digit growth, and higher where skills are genuinely scarce.”
For more traditional or commoditised roles, Shapley highlighted that growth is likely to moderate as organisations remain cost conscious and look to drive productivity through AI and automation.
“Overall, we are seeing a more disciplined market, where salary growth is closely tied to skills depth, experience, and the ability to deliver commercial outcomes,” he ended.