Compare what you'll earn over 5 years at an MSP vs corporate vs government. See the real cost of staying.
$85,000
$50K$200K
5
1 yr30 yrs
MSP (5yr total)
$442,000
0% average annual raise
Corporate (5yr total)
$510,000
3% annual raise
Government (5yr total)
$552,500
3.5% annual + step increments
$110,500 more over 5 years working outside an MSP
That's $22,100 per year β a 26% pay gap
Year-by-Year Projection
| Year | MSP | Corporate | Government | Gap vs Corporate | Gap vs Government |
|---|
Methodology: Based on industry research showing MSPs average 0-1% annual raises vs 2-4% in corporate and 2-5% in government with structured pay scales. Government includes regular step increments based on years of service. Does not factor in bonuses, overtime, or non-salary benefits (superannuation is similar across all three sectors). The MSP "loyalty tax" is well-documented β switching employers every 2-3 years is often the only way to get a meaningful raise in the MSP sector. Learn more in our Salary Black Hole deep dive and 2026 MSP Salary Guide.
Most people don't know this. Share this article with someone who's stuck at an MSP β it might change their career.
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β οΈ The Cost of Waiting
Australian MSP workers who negotiated using our salary data earned an average of $8,200 more per year. Every month you wait is ~$683 left on the table.
π° Check if you're underpaid βπ Free Resource: Red Flag Checklist
12 contract clauses every Australian MSP worker should flag before signing. Includes non-compete traps, sham contracting indicators, and on-call gotchas.
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Used by 2,400+ workers
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