How much money does a person working in Engineering make in Australia?
Average Yearly Salary
77,000 AUD
( 6,420 AUD monthly)
LOW
24,300
AUD
AVERAGE
77,000
AUD
HIGH
162,000
AUD
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
A person working in Engineering in Australia typically earns around 77,000 AUD. Salaries range from 24,300 AUD (lowest average) to 162,000 AUD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
Salary Variance
The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Engineering domain in Australia exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.
Salaries for specific jobs
Engineering | |
3D Printing Engineer | 77,300 AUD |
Acoustics Engineer | 80,600 AUD |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 66,300 AUD |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 88,200 AUD |
|
Associate Engineer | 75,300 AUD |
AutoCAD Drafter | 49,300 AUD |
Autocad Operator | 54,000 AUD |
Automation Engineer | 92,200 AUD |
Automation Engineer | 89,300 AUD |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 79,200 AUD |
Biochemical Engineer | 73,500 AUD |
BMS Engineer | 77,700 AUD |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 43,700 AUD |
Broadcast Engineer | 79,100 AUD |
CAD Design Engineer | 83,900 AUD |
CAD Designer | 51,600 AUD |
CAE Engineer | 85,100 AUD |
Ceramics Engineer | 73,100 AUD |
Chemical Engineer | 85,600 AUD |
Civil Drafter | 53,000 AUD |
Civil Engineer | 83,700 AUD |
Civil Site Engineer | 85,500 AUD |
Civil Technician | 51,100 AUD |
Cognitive Engineer | 79,300 AUD |
Commissioning Engineer | 77,400 AUD |
Communications Engineer | 88,500 AUD |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 68,100 AUD |
Contract Associate Engineer | 74,900 AUD |
Contract Engineer | 75,900 AUD |
Control Systems Engineer | 81,100 AUD |
Controls Engineer | 80,700 AUD |
Controls Software Engineer | 73,600 AUD |
Corrosion Engineer | 78,700 AUD |
Design Engineer | 84,100 AUD |
Director of Engineering | 162,000 AUD |
Drafter | 49,800 AUD |
Drafting Manager | 92,800 AUD |
Drilling Engineer | 81,000 AUD |
Drilling Foreman | 25,600 AUD |
Electrical Draughtsman | 42,900 AUD |
Electrical Engineer | 92,800 AUD |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 123,000 AUD |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 87,300 AUD |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 43,200 AUD |
Energy Engineer | 85,400 AUD |
Engine Assembler | 35,800 AUD |
Engineer | 91,500 AUD |
Engineering Account Manager | 92,400 AUD |
Engineering Chief Designer | 92,300 AUD |
Engineering Consultant | 111,000 AUD |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 121,000 AUD |
Engineering Lab Technician | 76,700 AUD |
Engineering Manager | 113,000 AUD |
Engineering Planning Manager | 117,000 AUD |
Engineering Production Manager | 147,000 AUD |
Engineering Project Analyst | 98,300 AUD |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 93,000 AUD |
Engineering Project Director | 166,000 AUD |
Engineering Project Leader | 106,000 AUD |
Engineering Project Manager | 120,000 AUD |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 128,000 AUD |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 62,900 AUD |
Engineering Sales Manager | 117,000 AUD |
Engineering Technician | 66,700 AUD |
Engineering Technologist | 64,900 AUD |
Environmental Engineer | 77,800 AUD |
Equipment Engineer | 73,400 AUD |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 107,000 AUD |
Estimator | 69,400 AUD |
Fabrication Specialist | 60,800 AUD |
Fabricator | 39,600 AUD |
Facade Engineer | 77,700 AUD |
Fiber Analyst | 47,100 AUD |
Field Engineer | 85,900 AUD |
Field Engineering Manager | 141,000 AUD |
Fire Engineer | 83,100 AUD |
Fitter and Turner | 26,900 AUD |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 101,000 AUD |
Generation Engineer | 84,000 AUD |
Genetic Engineer | 90,600 AUD |
Geological Engineer | 82,900 AUD |
Geotechnical Engineer | 90,300 AUD |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 44,100 AUD |
Highway Engineer | 85,600 AUD |
HSE Professional | 74,000 AUD |
Human Machine Interface Engineer | 75,900 AUD |
HVAC Engineer | 92,600 AUD |
HVAC Supervisor | 74,900 AUD |
Industrial Engineer | 76,800 AUD |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 80,400 AUD |
Instrument Engineer | 82,100 AUD |
Instrument Technician | 43,900 AUD |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 80,000 AUD |
Instrumentation Designer | 69,300 AUD |
Instrumentation Engineer | 86,000 AUD |
Instrumentation Manager | 82,200 AUD |
Irrigation Engineer | 78,500 AUD |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 92,300 AUD |
Locomotive Engineer | 78,800 AUD |
Maintenance Engineer | 76,800 AUD |
Maintenance Fitter | 28,600 AUD |
Maintenance Manager | 84,300 AUD |
Manufacturing Engineer | 79,900 AUD |
Marine Engineer | 84,500 AUD |
Materials Engineer | 83,400 AUD |
Materials Researcher | 77,600 AUD |
Materials Technician | 60,000 AUD |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 92,100 AUD |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 88,800 AUD |
Mechanical Designer | 72,900 AUD |
Mechanical Engineer | 91,800 AUD |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 111,000 AUD |
Mechanical Inspector | 81,500 AUD |
Mechatronics Engineer | 91,200 AUD |
Mining Engineer | 80,700 AUD |
Nanotechnology Engineer | 87,800 AUD |
Natural Language Processing Engineer | 93,500 AUD |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 88,400 AUD |
Optical Engineer | 83,400 AUD |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 44,100 AUD |
PCB Assembler | 30,600 AUD |
Photonics Engineer | 89,500 AUD |
Photonics Technician | 73,900 AUD |
Pipeline Engineer | 77,500 AUD |
Piping Designer | 46,500 AUD |
Piping Engineer | 79,500 AUD |
Planning Engineer | 87,900 AUD |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 38,900 AUD |
Principal Cost Engineer | 86,000 AUD |
Principal Engineer | 84,200 AUD |
Principal Support Engineer | 85,300 AUD |
Process Engineer | 81,300 AUD |
Process Operator | 47,100 AUD |
Product Development Engineer | 86,600 AUD |
Product Development Technician | 61,600 AUD |
Product Engineer | 87,700 AUD |
Product Safety Engineer | 78,000 AUD |
Production Engineer | 86,400 AUD |
Project Engineer | 90,300 AUD |
Proposal Manager | 111,000 AUD |
Purchasing Engineer | 78,000 AUD |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 85,500 AUD |
Rail Engineer | 79,700 AUD |
Regional Field Engineer | 92,000 AUD |
Remote Sensing Engineer | 81,500 AUD |
Robotics Engineer | 93,200 AUD |
Robotics Technician | 68,300 AUD |
Safety Engineer | 80,100 AUD |
Safety Inspector | 61,900 AUD |
Safety Manager | 94,600 AUD |
Safety Officer | 43,500 AUD |
Sales Engineer | 92,700 AUD |
Scheduling Engineer | 75,600 AUD |
Security Engineer | 86,100 AUD |
Service Engineer | 84,500 AUD |
Smart Home Engineer | 86,100 AUD |
Solar Engineer | 89,800 AUD |
Staff Engineer | 81,700 AUD |
Static Equipment Engineer | 81,000 AUD |
Stationary Engineer | 77,300 AUD |
Stress Engineer | 75,400 AUD |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 80,600 AUD |
Structural Designer | 73,100 AUD |
Structural Engineer | 81,600 AUD |
Structural Technician | 54,200 AUD |
Subsea Engineer | 105,000 AUD |
Supply Chain Specialist | 79,800 AUD |
Surveyor | 59,800 AUD |
Technical Affairs Officer | 41,400 AUD |
Technical Assistant | 43,000 AUD |
Technical Engineer | 72,900 AUD |
Technical Support Engineer | 68,100 AUD |
Tender Engineer | 76,900 AUD |
Test Development Engineer | 78,500 AUD |
Test Engineer | 80,300 AUD |
Transportation Engineer | 77,100 AUD |
Urban Engineer | 84,100 AUD |
Validation Engineer | 76,800 AUD |
Verification Engineer | 75,300 AUD |
Wastewater Engineer | 85,400 AUD |
Wind Energy Engineer | 87,600 AUD |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 105,000 AUD |
Wireless Engineer | 89,700 AUD |
Work Planner | 56,900 AUD |
Engineering Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in Australia
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/australia/engineering/median-and-salary-distribution-yearly-australia-engineering.jpg Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
5% of people earn
81,000 AUD or more
10% of people earn
67,000 to 81,000 AUD
20% of people earn
36,100 AUD or less
65% of people earn
36,100 to 67,000 AUD
Minimum Salary 24,300 AUD |
Median 70,500 AUD |
Maximum 162,000 AUD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries in Engineering in Australia range from 24,300 AUD (starting average salary) to 162,000 AUD (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.
Median Salary
The median income in the field of Engineering is 70,500 AUD, implying that half of the workforce in Australia earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Engineering in Australia earn less than 52,800 AUD, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 87,200 AUD, while 25% earn more than that.
Pay Scale Structure
Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Engineering in Australia. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 36,100 AUD to 67,000 AUD. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 36,100 AUD mark, while 10% ranged from 67,000 AUD to 81,000 AUD. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 81,000 AUD or higher.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-by-experience.jpg The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees in Engineering in Australia having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
“ On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark. ”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-comparison-by-education.jpg Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?
We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Engineering in Australia, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Australia costs anywhere from 38,000 AUD to 114,000 AUD and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Engineering / Australia
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/australia/engineering/salary-comparison-by-gender-yearly-australia-engineering.jpg Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Engineering in Australia, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.
Male | | 79,100 AUD |
Female | -5% | 75,400 AUD |
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Salary Comparison By Gender in Australia for all Careers
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/australia/salary-comparison-by-gender-yearly-australia.jpg
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Engineering / Australia
How much are annual salary increments in Australia for individuals working in Engineering? How often do employees get salary raises?
Professionals working in Engineering in Australia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 15 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/australia/engineering/annual-salary-increment-rate-australia-engineering.jpg The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.
Australia / All Professions
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/australia/annual-salary-increment-rate-australia.jpg The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
“The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Australia is 6%.”
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-increment-world.jpg Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Engineering / Australia
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/australia/engineering/annual-salary-bonus-rate-australia-engineering.jpg
44% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 56% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | | 56% |
No Bonus | | 44% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company. | Example: A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital. |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
“Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.”
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Hourly Average Wage / Engineering / Australia
37 AUD
per hour The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Engineering in Australia is 37 AUD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Engineering in Australia is 12 AUD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary Comparison By City
Adelaide | 84,900 AUD |
Brisbane | 88,100 AUD |
Canberra-Queanbeyan | 81,800 AUD |
Gold Coast-Tweed | 83,300 AUD |
Gosford | 75,400 AUD |
Melbourne | 89,700 AUD |
Newcastle | 80,100 AUD |
Perth | 86,500 AUD |
Sunshine Coast | 78,600 AUD |
Sydney | 91,200 AUD |
Wollongong | 76,900 AUD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Australia is 5% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | | 89,000 AUD |
Public Sector | +5% | 93,400 AUD |
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Engineering in Australia?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 70,500 AUD and 87,200 AUD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for jobs in Engineering in Australia ranges from 24,300 AUD to 52,800 AUD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary