A detailed snapshot of cybersecurity employment demand in Australia in 2025 — based on recent forecasts, salary data, and industry needs:
Overall Demand: High and Growing
- Australia faces a shortfall of up to ~30,000 cyber professionals by 2026, driven by digital transformation, escalating threats like ransomware and AI based attacks, and tight regulations.
- Government and private sectors are responding. The $9.9b REDSPICE program is actively expanding Australia’s cyber workforce with plans to hire up to 1,900 new ASD staff, boosting demand further.
Job Market Outlook for 2025
- The cybersecurity job market is rebounding after 2024's slowdown. Hiring activity and investment are picking up again in Q1 2025, with many postponed projects resuming.
- Cyber security is among the top 5 most in-demand IT roles in Australia; businesses across all sectors are prioritizing cyber resilience.
In-Demand Roles & Skills
Highly sought-after roles and competencies include:
- Security Analysts, Penetration Testers, Security Architects, GRC/Risk Consultants, and CISOs.
- Emerging specialties: Cloud/DevSecOps security, Zero Trust architecture, AI driven threat detection, and identity/access management.
- Certifications prized by employers: CISSP, CEH, CISA, CompTIA Security+.
Salaries & Compensation
Cybersecurity professionals in Australia can expect strong earnings:
- Security Analysts: AUD 85,000–110,000
- Pen Testers: AUD 100,000–130,000
- Consultants: AUD 120,000–160,000
- Security Architects/Managers: AUD 150,000–190,000
- CISOs and executive-level roles: often exceed AUD 200,000
- Security Architects and managers specifically are reported earning ~AUD 200,000, with top cloud and enterprise tech roles nearing AUD 220k–230k.
Regional Trends
- Canberra leads in pay due to concentration of government and defence cyber roles.
- Sydney, Melbourne: strong demand in finance, legal, healthcare, and tech sectors.
- Brisbane, Perth: growing hubs, especially in tech and mining industries.
- Remote/hybrid roles enable talent across Australia to access metro-level opportunities.
Workforce Landscape: Challenges & Realities
- While there’s clearly high demand, competition is fierce—especially for early-career roles. Reddit users report high application volumes (900–1600 applicants per mid-tier job), with many applicants under qualified or outside local eligibility.
- Entry-level technical positions are scarce, and most organisations expect prior IT or tech background rather than pure graduate-level cyber skills.
Why the Demand is Rising
- Escalating Cybercrime & AI powered threats: Scam losses in Australia rose from $851M in 2020 to $3.1B in 2022, driven in part by AI enhanced phishing and deepfakes.
- Regulatory pressure: New laws, third-party risk scrutiny, compliance mandates (e.g., SOCI Act), and government services modernization are accelerating the hiring of qualified professionals.
- Investment in digital infrastructure: With IT spend forecast to hit ~AUD 147B in 2025, cybersecurity investment is a core driver of that growth.
Summary Table
| Category | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Supply vs Demand | Shortage up to ~30,000 roles by 2026 |
| Hiring Outlook | Strong in 2025, especially from Q1 onward |
| Roles Most in Demand | Analysts, Pentesters, Architects, GRC, AI/Cloud Security |
| Salary Range | Entry AUD 85K–110K → Exec AUD 200K+ |
| Top Locations | Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, emerging hubs Brisbane/Perth |
| Challenges | High competition, limited entry openings, need for credentials/experience |
Advice If You're Considering or Seeking a Cyber Role
- Upskill with certifications: CISSP, CEH, Security+, cloud credentials.
- Gain practical experience: internships, capture the flag, open source contributions, or CyberCX/AustCyber academies.
- Consider contract or interim roles, especially in SMEs — these firms increasingly offer short-term mandates to access specialist expertise.
- Leverage professional networks such as AISA for job leads, skill-building, and mentorship.
Final Take
Yes — demand for cybersecurity professionals in Australia in 2025 is robust and accelerating. The combination of acute skills shortages, regulatory pressure, and rising threats has created a seller’s market. That said, stiff competition, especially at junior levels, means qualifications, demonstrable skills, and strong networking are critical to succeed.