AI engineer salary in Australia: how it compares to the national full-time average
If you are researching an AI engineer salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that no official government source publishes a dedicated figure for this role. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Fair Work Commission and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) do not break out artificial intelligence engineering as a separate occupation or industry category. That means any exact number you see online is likely from a private survey, a recruitment firm or an employer advertisement, not from a national statistical authority.
What the official data does tell us
The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, for May and November. The most recent release, for May 2026, gives the national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings as $2,083.70 a week. Multiplied by 52, that works out to about $108,352 a year. This is the figure this site uses as the national line.
For context, the full-time median (from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, 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.
Which industry covers AI engineers?
Most AI engineers work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry. The ABS reports that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in that industry averaged $2,389.60 a week, or about $124,259 a year. That is roughly 15% above the national full-time average. Within that industry, the average for men was $2,570.80 a week and for women $2,082.00 a week, though these broad averages include many roles beyond AI engineering.
Other relevant industries include Financial and Insurance Services ($2,341.30 a week) and Information Media and Telecommunications (not separately shown in the May 2026 release but typically above the national average).
State and territory differences
AI engineer salaries also vary by location. The ABS state-level full-time averages for May 2026 are:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 a week ($109,658 a year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 a week ($106,137 a year)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 a week ($106,064 a year)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 a week ($102,450 a year)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 a week ($115,825 a year)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 a week ($96,008 a year)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 a week ($103,173 a year)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 a week ($119,090 a year)
Because AI engineer roles are concentrated in tech hubs, salaries in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra may be higher than the state averages suggest. The ACT average is the highest of any state or territory, reflecting the concentration of professional services and government-related tech work.
How the figures are set
The ABS calculates average weekly earnings from a survey of employers. It is a mean, so it can be pulled up by a small number of very high earners. The median (the middle value) is lower. For a more typical AI engineer salary, you would want to look at the median for the relevant occupation or industry, but the ABS does not publish a median for Professional, Scientific and Technical Services at the industry level in the Average Weekly Earnings release. The Employee Earnings survey (every two years) does provide medians for broad occupations, but again, AI engineer is not a standard classification.
What about awards and minimums?
AI engineers are typically not covered by a modern award because they are professional employees earning above the award threshold. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database shows minimum rates for award-covered employees, but these do not apply to most AI engineering roles. The national minimum wage and award rates rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, but this is well below typical AI engineer pay.
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). An AI engineer earning $124,259 would fall in the 30% bracket plus Medicare levy, giving a marginal rate of 32%.
Where to find more specific data
Because the ABS does not publish an AI engineer salary, you may need to combine official industry averages with private sources. The Industry medians page on this site shows median earnings for broad industry groups from the ABS Employee Earnings survey. The Job medians page gives occupation-level medians where available. For a more tailored estimate, you can Place a salary on the line to see how a specific figure compares to the national average.
Summary
- No official Australian source publishes a specific AI engineer salary.
- The closest industry average (Professional, Scientific and Technical Services) is $124,259 a year, about 15% above the national full-time average of $108,352.
- State averages vary, with the ACT highest and Tasmania lowest.
- AI engineer roles are unlikely to be covered by awards; the national minimum wage is $52,255 a year.
- For a more precise estimate, consult private salary surveys or job advertisements, and compare them to the official averages on this site.
States and territories can help you see how pay differs around the country. How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the ABS averages and medians.