Aerospace engineer salary in Australia
If you are looking for a precise aerospace engineer salary published by a government authority, you will not find one. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not break out earnings for this specific occupation. The closest match, aeronautical engineer (ANZSCO 233911), also has no median weekly earnings published by the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia. That does not mean the role is poorly paid – far from it. This article uses the national full-time average as a reference point and sketches what a resident aerospace engineer might take home.
The national full-time average as a benchmark
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts full-time adult ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70 a week. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 a year. This is the figure this site uses as the line. It is an average across all industries and occupations, not a median. For comparison, the full-time median (from ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week.
Aerospace engineers are professionals. The ABS Employee Earnings survey for May 2025 shows that professionals earned an average of $2,049.60 a week, or about $106,579 a year. That is slightly below the national full-time average, but the professional category includes many lower-paid roles such as some community and personal service workers. Within engineering, salaries tend to be higher. The ABS does not publish a separate figure for engineering professionals, but the broader category suggests aerospace engineers are likely above the national average.
State-by-state averages
Where you work affects your pay. The on-site notes provide state full-time averages based on ABS data:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Aerospace engineers are concentrated in defence, manufacturing, and research hubs – often in Victoria (Melbourne) and the ACT (Canberra). The ACT average is the highest, which may reflect the presence of defence and government aerospace roles. Western Australia also pays well, driven by resources and mining-related aviation.
Take-home pay sketch for a resident
Suppose an aerospace engineer earns exactly the national full-time average of $108,352. Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy:
- Tax-free threshold: $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000): $4,020
- 30% on the next $90,000 (up to $135,000): $19,005.60 (on $63,352 of that bracket)
- Total tax: $23,025.60
- Medicare levy (2% of $108,352): $2,167.04
- Total deductions: $25,192.64
- Take-home: about $83,159 a year, or $1,599 a week.
If the engineer earns more – say $130,000 – the tax on the portion above $135,000 would be 37%, and the take-home would be lower proportionally. The Medicare levy surcharge may also apply if no private hospital cover is held.
This is a rough calculation. Actual take-home depends on deductions, HELP repayments, and other factors. You can Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares to the national average and get a personalised take-home estimate.
Where to find more specific data
Because the ABS does not publish a separate aerospace engineer salary, the best approach is to look at job advertisements, industry surveys, or professional bodies such as Engineers Australia. The ABS does publish earnings by industry – the aerospace manufacturing and defence industries may offer clues. The on-site Job medians page shows medians for broad occupations, but aerospace engineer is not listed. For a more tailored comparison, you can use the Industry medians page to see earnings in sectors like 'Aerospace and defence'.
The bottom line
An aerospace engineer salary in Australia is not officially published, but the role sits within the professional category that averages around $106,579 a year. Given the specialised skills and demand, it is reasonable to expect earnings at or above the national full-time average of $108,352. The take-home pay on that average would be about $83,000 a year after tax and Medicare. For a more precise picture, consult industry sources or use this site's tools to compare your own salary.
How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the ABS surveys and the national minimum wage. About this site provides further context on how we use official data to help you understand where your pay stands.