Salary Comparison

Network Engineer Salary:
Sydney vs Perth

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Sydney
$116,285
/ year
+15%
difference
Perth
$100,722
/ year
Bottom line: Perth offers better purchasing power despite Sydney paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Sydney
Perth
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$116,285โœ“ higher
$100,722
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$75,201โœ“ higher
$65,136
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$179,814โœ“ higher
$155,749
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$79,074โœ“ higher
$68,491
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$86,137
$91,565โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35ร—
1.10ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$114,306โœ“ higher
$99,007
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$273,317โœ“ higher
$236,738

What if you move from Sydney to Perth?

Gross salary change
$15,563
15% decrease
Take-home change
$10,583
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$5,428
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Sydney$116,285
P10: $114,306Median: $116,285P90: $273,317
Perth$100,722
P10: $99,007Median: $100,722P90: $236,738

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Network Engineer earn more in Sydney or Perth?

The median Network Engineer salary in Sydney is A$176,753/yr compared to A$153,097/yr in Perth. Sydney pays 15% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Network Engineer salary worth more in Sydney or Perth after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Sydney salary has the purchasing power of $86,137/yr in a median-cost city, vs $91,565/yr for Perth. Perth offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Network Engineer in Sydney vs Perth?

After estimated taxes, a Network Engineer in Sydney takes home approximately $79,074/yr, vs $68,491/yr in Perth. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.