Digital Marketing Salary for Beginners in Australia (2026)

Last updated: 4 October 2026 · Written by 20 Minute Marketing · 7 min read

If you are thinking about a move into digital marketing, the first question is usually a fair one: what does it actually pay when you are starting out? This guide uses current advertised salaries rather than guesses, explains what pushes the number up or down, and is honest about what a course can and cannot do for your pay.

What beginner digital marketing jobs pay

Very few entry roles are called "digital marketer". Beginners are usually hired as a marketing assistant, a social media coordinator or a marketing coordinator, and do digital work inside that role: social posts, email campaigns, website updates, reporting and some paid ads. Our guide to digital marketing jobs with no experience covers what each role involves and what employers ask for.

Source: SEEK salary insights, refreshed 1 October 2026, checked 4 October 2026. Averages come from full-time salary ranges employers disclose in SEEK job ads; some include superannuation and some do not. See the source list at the end.

How the pay grows as you gain skills

The same SEEK data shows what more senior digital roles are advertised at. These are not promises about how fast you will get there. They show where the skills lead once you can run work on your own and show results.

Source: SEEK salary insights, refreshed 1 October 2026, checked 4 October 2026.

The step from coordinator to specialist is usually about depth in one or two channels, such as paid search, SEO or email automation, plus the ability to report on results in numbers a manager trusts.

What changes the number

The industry you work in

For Marketing Coordinator roles, SEEK's highest average advertised salaries by industry were Education and Training ($84,948), Government and Defence ($82,391) and Real Estate and Property ($70,114). Roles listed under Marketing and Communications averaged $67,710, but that category had by far the most openings (2,137). In plain terms: there are more jobs inside marketing businesses and agencies, while some of the better paid coordinator jobs sit in schools, universities and government.

Whether super is included

Advertised salaries are not consistent. Some include superannuation and some do not. The Superannuation Guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, so "$70,000 plus super" is a package of about $78,400, while "$70,000 including super" is a base salary of about $62,500. Always check which one an ad means before you compare offers.

Full time, part time or contract

SEEK's averages are based on full-time ranges. Many first marketing roles are part time, casual or fixed-term contracts, so the annual figure on those ads will be lower or pro rata. A part-time role can still be a good first step if it gives you real work to put in your portfolio.

Where you live

Location changes pay less than people expect, because many marketing roles are hybrid or remote. SEEK lists some regional areas, such as Wollongong, Illawarra and South Coast ($87,500) and Ballarat and Central Highlands ($85,000), above the national coordinator average, but those are based on smaller numbers of ads.

Do you need a degree to earn this?

Not to get started, but be realistic about the competition. In the 2021 Census, 51.9% of people working as marketing specialists held a bachelor degree and another 18.6% held a postgraduate qualification, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. That means many people you compete with for coordinator roles will have a degree.

What closes the gap for career changers is evidence: a portfolio that shows you can plan a campaign, write the content, set up the platform and report on it. Our guide on how to become a digital marketer walks through how people get hired without one, and our comparison of a digital marketing class vs a marketing degree sets out when a degree is worth the time and cost.

How to read the salary in a job ad

• Check the title against the tasks. A "coordinator" ad that lists budget ownership and team management is a more senior job, and the pay should reflect it.
• Check super. "Package" and "inclusive" usually mean super is inside the number.
• Look at the range, not the top. Beginners are usually offered the lower half of an advertised range.
• Ask what is measured. Roles judged on clear results, such as leads or sales from campaigns, give you better evidence for your next pay rise.

Where 20 Minute Marketing fits

We will be straight about this: no course, ours included, can promise you a job or a salary. Our courses are not accredited and are not a recognised qualification. What they give you is practical skill in the channels employers hire for, a finished portfolio piece built on a fictional practice brief, and a Certificate of Completion.

If you are starting from zero, Essentials, our beginner digital marketing course, covers every main channel in over 50 lessons of about 20 minutes, for $499 paid once. If you need one skill for a role you are applying for, our short courses cost $79 to $149 each. And if you are still working out whether to make the move, start with our career change to digital marketing guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the starting salary for digital marketing in Australia?

Most entry roles are advertised at about $65,000 to $85,000 a year. SEEK's averages refreshed on 1 October 2026 were $65,000 to $75,000 for Marketing Assistant, $70,000 to $80,000 for Social Media Coordinator and $75,000 to $85,000 for Marketing Coordinator.

Can you earn $100,000 in digital marketing?

Yes, at more senior levels. SEEK's average advertised range for Digital Marketing Specialist is $85,000 to $100,000, and for Digital Marketing Manager $110,000 to $130,000. Those roles usually ask for proven results and a few years of experience.

Do these salaries include super?

Not always. SEEK notes that some disclosed salaries include superannuation and other benefits, while others do not. The Superannuation Guarantee is 12%, so check each ad.

Do I need a degree to get a digital marketing job?

No, but many people in the field have one: 51.9% of marketing specialists held a bachelor degree in the 2021 Census. A portfolio of real work, built on practice briefs or volunteer projects, is the most practical way to compete without one.

Will a digital marketing course increase my salary?

A course alone does not set your pay. Employers pay for what you can do and show. A course helps when it leaves you with practical skills and finished work you can put in front of an employer.