Salary Comparison

Product Designer Salary:
Melbourne vs Sydney

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

Melbourne
$132,901
/ year
-5%
difference
Sydney
$140,296
/ year
Bottom line: Melbourne offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Melbourne
Sydney
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$132,901
$140,296โœ“ higher
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$85,946
$90,729โœ“ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$205,508
$216,943โœ“ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$90,373
$95,401โœ“ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$106,321โœ“ higher
$103,923
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.25ร—โœ“ lower
1.35ร—
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$130,638
$137,908โœ“ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$312,372
$329,753โœ“ higher

What if you move from Melbourne to Sydney?

Gross salary change
+$7,395
5% increase
Take-home change
+$5,028
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,398
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

Melbourne$132,901
P10: $130,638Median: $132,901P90: $312,372
Sydney$140,296
P10: $137,908Median: $140,296P90: $329,753

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Product Designer earn more in Melbourne or Sydney?

The median Product Designer salary in Melbourne is A$202,010/yr compared to A$213,250/yr in Sydney. Sydney pays 5% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Product Designer salary worth more in Melbourne or Sydney after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Melbourne salary has the purchasing power of $106,321/yr in a median-cost city, vs $103,923/yr for Sydney. Melbourne offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Product Designer in Melbourne vs Sydney?

After estimated taxes, a Product Designer in Melbourne takes home approximately $90,373/yr, vs $95,401/yr in Sydney. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.