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Cybersecurity2026 dataSalary by location

Security Consultant Salary in Australia 2026: A$131K Median & Range

+11.3% YoYMarket research summary
  • Calibrated to Morgan McKinley 2026 Australia Technology Salary Guide Sydney role-family benchmarks
  • Permanent salaries are base annual AUD and exclude super.
  • Indicative YoY: Security, identity and governance demand remains firm as AI expands the attack and compliance surface.
  • City factor is a transparent planning adjustment to the published Sydney benchmark (100%)
  • Validate live offers locally.
  • Advising On Security Strategy
  • High demand in consulting and professional services

What does a Security Consultant earn in Australia?

The median Security Consultant salary in Australia is A$131K in 2026, with a typical range from A$123K to A$138K. Pay has moved +11.3% year-on-year. Sydney currently leads city pay at A$145K. This is base salary for permanent employees.

What does A Security Consultant do?

A Security Consultant is responsible for providing expert advisory services across information security strategy, risk assessment, DORA and ISO 27001 compliance, and penetration testing to help clients improve security posture and meet regulatory obligations.

Day-to-day responsibilities

  • Conducting information security risk assessments and gap analyses
  • Delivering penetration testing engagements and reporting findings
  • Assessing GDPR
  • ISO 27001
  • NIS2
  • DORA compliance
Medium demand+20% penetration testing+16% ISO 27001 consulting+14% GDPR compliance

National Median Salary

A$131K

per year

Australia annual benchmark • 2026

Salary Range (P25 – P75)

A$131K
A$116KA$160K

Data quality & confidence

Confidence Score

100%

YoY Momentum

+11.3%

Permanent Salary Benchmark for Security Consultant

Permanent salary benchmarks for Security Consultant in Australia, from the low end to the top of the range, based on published market compensation data.

A$131K
A$116KA$160K

Low

A$116K

P25

A$123K

Median

A$131K

P75

A$138K

High

A$160K

Security Consultant Take-Home Pay in Australia (2026-27)

After Income Tax & Medicare Levy · single, standard payroll deductions

Entry

Take-home/year

$93,120

Effective rate

24.3%

Median

Take-home/year

$98,560

Effective rate

24.8%

Senior

Take-home/year

$103,110

Effective rate

25.3%

See the full band-by-band breakdown for Security Consultant

Adjust for your actual salary, see each Income Tax and Medicare Levy band, and get monthly and weekly figures.

Is a Security Consultant hybrid salary worth the commute?

3-day/week office schedule · typical Australian commute assumptions

Break-even remote salary

$110,900

minimum to match A$131K hybrid

Annual commute impact

−$13,702

costs + time value lost

Hours commuting/year

138 hrs

at 60 min/day, 3 days/wk

See the full break-even analysis for Security Consultant

Adjust commute costs, compare any two salaries, and find the exact remote salary you need.

Remote vs hybrid analysis

Security Consultant market demand in Australia

Hiring outlook · remote rate · top employers

Hiring outlook

Growing

Remote / hybrid

52%

of roles offer remote or hybrid

Salary growth (YoY)

+11.3%

market is paying more

Full market demand breakdown for Security Consultant

Hiring drivers, remote rate detail, full employer list, and demand FAQs for Australia.

Market demand guide

Contract day rates available for this role

Median A$1012/day, see full breakdown, city rates, and take-home calculator

View Security Consultant day rates →
  • Calibrated to Morgan McKinley 2026 Australia Technology Salary Guide Sydney role-family benchmarks
  • Permanent salaries are base annual AUD and exclude super.
  • Indicative YoY: Security, identity and governance demand remains firm as AI expands the attack and compliance surface.
  • City factor is a transparent planning adjustment to the published Sydney benchmark (100%)
  • Validate live offers locally.
  • Advising On Security Strategy
  • High demand in consulting and professional services

Contract break-even

What day rate beats a $131K Security Consultant salary after tax?

Break-even day rate

$595/day

to match $131K permanent net

Permanent net take-home

$98,560/yr

$131K gross, 2026-27 rates

Sole trader, 220 days, no super. Net figures are estimates; use the calculators for exact results.

Contractor day rate

What day rate matches a $131,000 Security Consultant salary?

Indicative day rate (excl. super)

$775/day

Sole trader, 30% loading, 220 billable days

Plus-super equivalent

$865/day

Includes 12% Super Guarantee on the package

Converts permanent base salary to a contractor day rate with unpaid-leave loading, super, and optional GST. Adjust structure and billable days in the full calculator.

Open day rate calculator

Market Demand & Outlook

Hiring demand, top locations, and career outlook for Security Consultant

High Confidence

Demand level

Medium

Based on hiring signals relative to similar roles in this market.

Top hiring locations

SydneyMelbourneBrisbanePerth

Career outlook

Strong upward salary momentum

Security Consultant salaries are showing strong movement, with latest benchmark growth at +11.3%.

Security Consultant Salary by Seniority Level

Seniority is the biggest single driver of Security Consultant pay in Australia. Entry-level roles start at A$95K, rising 133% to A$221K at lead or principal level.

Junior

A$95K

A$95K-A$95K middle band

Mid-level

A$138K

A$138K-A$138K middle band

Senior

A$181K

A$181K-A$181K middle band

Principal/Lead

A$221K

A$221K-A$221K middle band

Skills That Command a Premium for Security Consultants

Certain technical skills push Security Consultant salaries in Australia significantly above the A$131K median. These are the most impactful skills to develop or highlight when negotiating.

penetration testing

+20%

salary premium vs median

ISO 27001 consulting

+16%

salary premium vs median

GDPR compliance

+14%

salary premium vs median

security risk assessment

+18%

salary premium vs median

DORA compliance consulting

+22%

salary premium vs median

CREST certification

+20%

salary premium vs median

Security Consultant Salary in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth

How much does a Security Consultant earn by city in Australia?

Security Consultant salary varies meaningfully by location. Sydney pays the most at A$145K (11% above the national benchmark), while Adelaide sits at A$116K (11% below the national benchmark). Location is worth factoring into any offer negotiation.

Compare this role

Put the Security Consultant benchmark in context

Compare adjacent roles, employer estimates, published agency guides, and an offer against the market before you make a decision.

Why Security Consultant Salaries Are at This Level

Security Consultants in Australia earn a median salary of A$131K in 2026, with a typical range from A$123K at the 25th percentile to A$138K at the 75th percentile. This benchmark reflects published market compensation data for annual pay across the Australia market.

Sydney currently leads city pay at A$145K, which is 11% above the national benchmark. City coverage for this role includes Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, helping you compare local pay differences without needing separate city-role pages.

At experience level, entry roles start around A$95K, senior roles sit near A$181K, and lead-level roles reach about A$221K. Demand is currently moderate for this role based on recent coverage and salary momentum signals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Consultant Salary in Australia

1

What is the median Security Consultant salary in Australia?

The median Security Consultant salary in Australia is A$131K in 2026. The typical range runs from A$123K at the 25th percentile to A$138K at the 75th percentile, based on published market compensation data.

2

Is Security Consultant salary increasing in Australia?

Security Consultant salaries have moved +11.3% year-on-year in Australia.

3

How does Security Consultant salary vary by city in Australia?

Security Consultant salaries vary across Australia. Sydney leads at A$145K (+11% vs the national benchmark), while Adelaide sits at A$116K. Use the city breakdown above to compare all locations.

4

What does a Security Consultant take home after tax in Australia?

A Security Consultant earning the median A$131K gross in Australia will take home a net amount after income tax and other deductions. Use the PayMetric Labs take-home calculator on this page for an exact breakdown by tax band.

5

What experience level earns the most as a Security Consultant in Australia?

Principal/Lead-level Security Consultants in Australia earn the most, with a median of A$221K, compared to A$95K at entry level. Seniority is the strongest single driver of pay in this role.

6

Is a A$131K Security Consultant hybrid role worth the commute in Australia?

On a 3-day hybrid schedule with a typical Australian commute ($12/day travel, 60-minute round trip, daily meal premium, annual wardrobe costs), your true net income at A$131K is approximately $84,858 per year, compared to $98,560 net without any commute. The commute costs $13,702 per year in direct expenses and lost time. A fully remote role paying $110,900 would leave you equally well off.

7

What remote salary is equivalent to a A$131K hybrid Security Consultant salary in Australia?

Assuming a 3-day hybrid schedule with typical commute costs, you would need a remote salary of at least $110,900 to match the true net value of a A$131K hybrid Security Consultant role in Australia. For a 5-day fully in-office role, the break-even remote salary rises to $98,100, as the higher office frequency increases travel, meal, and time costs significantly.

8

How many hours per year does a Security Consultant in Australia spend commuting?

On a 3-day hybrid schedule with a 60-minute round trip, a Security Consultant in Australia spends approximately 138 hours commuting per year, equivalent to 17 full working days. Valued at the implied hourly rate for a A$131K salary ($75/hr), that time is worth $10,342 annually.

9

How does the 2026 Return to Office trend affect Security Consultant compensation in Australia?

As more employers in Australia reintroduce hybrid or full in-office mandates in 2026, the true value of a Security Consultant salary depends increasingly on the number of required office days. At A$131K, each additional day in the office costs roughly $4,367 per year in direct and time costs (moving from 3 to 5 days). Candidates evaluating offers should compare true net income rather than gross salary alone.

10

What contractor day rate matches a Security Consultant salary of A$131K in Australia?

As a sole trader with a 30% contractor loading over 220 billable days, a A$131K permanent Security Consultant base salary converts to roughly A$775/day (excl. super). Agency/PAYG engagements usually need a lower loading because the agency covers payroll tax, workers' compensation, and Super Guarantee administration. Use the Australia day rate calculator at /au/calculators/au-day-rate-calculator to adjust structure, billable days, super, and GST.

11

How do you convert a Security Consultant permanent salary to a day rate in Australia?

Multiply the permanent base salary by a contractor loading factor (typically 15%–20% for PAYG/agency or 25%–35% for sole traders), then divide by realistic billable days for the year (commonly 220). That loading covers unpaid leave, public holidays, and the self-funded costs permanent employees do not carry. Always confirm whether a quoted rate is plus-super or inclusive of the Super Guarantee before comparing offers.

12

How reliable is this Security Consultant salary benchmark?

This benchmark is derived from verified market compensation data and is rated High Confidence. High Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only.

13

Is Security Consultant pay increasing?

An indicative year-over-year signal of +11.3% is available from the latest market research for this role. This figure is directional market research rather than a matched prior-year observation in our own dataset.

14

What should employers and candidates take from this benchmark?

Candidates should compare offers against the A$123K-A$138K middle-market band, while employers should treat A$131K as the current market midpoint for this role.

Compare Security Consultant pay in another market

The same role has published benchmarks in these markets. Open each local page for its salary range, tax context, and city detail.

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