Software Engineer
Shortage Now
JSA currently reports no national or state/territory shortage signal for this occupation.
Snapshot
Median salary
Not available
People employed
9,000
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Designs, develops, modifies, documents, tests and maintains software applications and systems using programming languages and development tools.
Alternative titles
Analyst Programmer · Developer Programmer · Software Developer
Specialisations
Scope note: Cyber Security Engineers and Digital Game Developers are excluded from this occupation. Cyber Security Engineers are included in Occupation 271135 Cyber Security Engineer. Digital Game Developers are included in Occupation 273131 Digital Game Developer.
Read official OSCA descriptionSkills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Designs and implements software architectures to solve complex technical issues in alignment with specified requirements
- Writes, tests and debugs code to ensure functionality, efficiency and adherence to quality accredited standards
- Performs code reviews and optimises algorithms to ensure software quality, maintainability and adherence to best practices
- Implements and manages software development processes and tools
- Identifies, assesses and mitigates potential risks throughout software development
- Collaborates with cross-functional teams to integrate software solutions within broader system infrastructures
- Documents software designs, workflows and user manuals to guide stakeholders and end-users
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
22%
Female rate
20%
Median age
35
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+16%
2,139 projected jobs
to 2035
+27%
3,619 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Official VET pathways
Advanced Diploma of Information Technology
Progression pathway
Diploma of Computer Systems Engineering
Progression pathway
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
13
ACT · May 2026
3
VIC · May 2026
24
NT · May 2026
0
SA · May 2026
3
NSW · May 2026
27
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Software Engineer.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - Inner
1,053 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - Inner
1,053 employed
VIC
+4.57%
year on year
- 2
Melbourne - South East
675 employed
VIC
-20.31%
year on year
- 3
Sydney - Inner South West
611 employed
NSW
-6.29%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - West
548 employed
VIC
+9.6%
year on year
- 5
Sydney - City and Inner South
532 employed
NSW
-4.83%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
5,805
Moved in from another occupation
700
Moved to another occupation
615
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
5
points
- 2
4
points
- 3
4
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 273333
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · Department of Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List matched via ABS OSCA 2024 v1.0 correspondence Table 2
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: official-profile-and-csol.