Navigate the IT contracting market with confidence

The IT contractor market is evolving, and whether you’re hiring or contracting, staying informed is critical.

The Hays IT Contractor Rates Guide FY25/26 provides the average daily rates for over 80 IT contractor roles, along with essential insights into the trends, demand hotspots, and evolving priorities shaping the IT contracting landscape across Australia and New Zealand.

This year’s edition reveals how stabilising rates, evolving contract models, and the acceleration of AI and digital transformation are shaping the market. With competition for specialist skills remaining high, it’s the insight you need to make confident career or workforce decisions.

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What's driving the Hays IT contracting market in the year ahead?

The Hays IT Contractor Rates Guide FY25/26 highlights a market that’s stabilising after years of volatility, yet still defined by competition for specialised skills and rapid digital change.

Key findings for employers:
 

  • High demand for premium skills: Cybersecurity, AI, and cloud expertise continue to command top rates.
  • ​​​​Shift to outcome-based work: Shorter contracts with defined deliverables are replacing longer-term engagements.
  • Workforce planning is critical: Budget pressures and skill shortages mean employers must plan ahead to secure the right talent.
  • Retention beyond pay: Contractors value flexible work and positive environments as much as competitive rates.

Key findings for contractors:
 

  • Pay pressures: 38% of contractors expect their rates to remain flat, yet 62% anticipate increases, especially those reskilling in AI and data.
  • Satisfaction gap: While most contractors report satisfaction, nearly 40% feel underpaid or undervalued, threatening retention.
  • Future-proofing careers: Upskilling in AI and digital transformation tools is key to staying competitive.