The Melbourne tech market
What we know about Melbourne
Melbourne's tech scene in 2026 is concentrated in fintech (around Collins Street and the CBD), healthtech (increasingly in Cremorne and Fitzroy), SaaS (distributed across the inner suburbs), and a growing cohort of climate tech and developer tooling companies. The talent market is tighter than Sydney's raw numbers suggest - there are fewer senior engineers per open role, and competition for candidates with AWS/Kubernetes depth or Go experience is fierce. Melbourne-based engineers are generally more open to in-person arrangements than their Sydney counterparts, which means hybrid roles are easier to fill here than remote-first roles that pay Sydney rates. Salary expectations have tracked upward across every senior category. A senior backend engineer in Melbourne with five-plus years in Go now expects $185k to $220k base. Engineers who have previously worked at a well-regarded Melbourne company - Canva (Sydney but Melbourne-adjacent network), Afterpay, Seek, REA Group - command a premium and are frequently poached. The Cremorne tech precinct is Melbourne's most active hiring market. Companies in the Cremorne cluster benefit from dense talent density and a strong community of senior engineers who know each other, recommend roles, and are open to conversations with people they respect.
How we work
Working with Melbourne clients
Most of our clients are based in Melbourne. We conduct intake calls in person where the timing works, which means we understand the team, the culture, and the engineering problems at a level that remote-only recruiters do not. For Melbourne placements, we prioritise candidates within 30 minutes of the office or who are genuinely open to the hybrid arrangement on offer - not candidates who say yes and reverse their position after they start.
Book an intake callRecent placements
Senior Full Stack Developer | Melbourne SaaS
A growing Melbourne SaaS business needed an experienced full stack developer who could contribute immediately while helping mentor junior engineers. Shortlist of three candidates presented, role filled within four weeks. Salary $145,000 plus super.
More placement examples across all locations:
See our track recordCommon questions
Melbourne FAQ
Do you only work with Melbourne companies?
No. Melbourne is our home base but we work with clients across Sydney, Brisbane, and remote-first Australian teams. Our candidate network is national.
Which Melbourne tech precincts do you recruit in?
Most of our Melbourne clients are based in Cremorne, Richmond, Collingwood, the CBD (around Collins Street and Bourke Street), and South Yarra. We are familiar with the commute reality for each of these locations, which matters when we assess candidate fit.
What are Melbourne tech salary rates in 2026?
Senior backend engineers: $170k-$220k. Senior frontend engineers: $160k-$200k. Platform/SRE engineers: $180k-$230k. Engineering managers: $200k-$250k. These are base salaries excluding super.
Are Melbourne companies open to remote candidates?
Many are, but it varies by company stage and team structure. Early-stage Series A companies often want in-office presence for the first six months. Series B and C companies tend to be more flexible on hybrid arrangements for senior candidates.
Start a search in Melbourne
Book a 30-minute call to discuss your role, your team, and whether we are the right fit.
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