Civil construction salary and the national average
If you work in civil construction, you might wonder how your pay compares to the typical Australian full-time worker. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate average for civil construction in its twice-yearly Average Weekly Earnings report. The closest industry grouping is construction, but even that figure is not broken out here. Instead, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 a week—$108,352 a year—serves as the central benchmark on this site.
Where civil construction sits against the line
Civil construction covers a wide range of roles: from labourers and plant operators to engineers and project managers. Pay can vary by state, by the specific award or enterprise agreement, and by skill level. The national full-time average of $108,352 is a useful reference point. For example, if you are a civil construction worker in Western Australia, where the state full-time average is $115,825, you might expect to earn above the national line. In Tasmania, where the state average is $96,008, pay may sit below it.
Many civil construction employees are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 or similar instruments. From 1 July 2026, award minimum wages rose by 4.75%, following the Fair Work Commission’s annual review. The national minimum wage itself is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. Award rates for civil construction roles are typically higher, especially for skilled classifications.
Take-home pay: a resident’s sketch
Using the national full-time average as a stand-in, let’s look at what a civil construction worker earning $108,352 would take home in 2026–27. The tax-free threshold is $18,200. From there, you pay 15¢ for every dollar up to $45,000, then 30¢ up to $135,000. On $108,352, that works out to about $23,767 in income tax. Add the 2% Medicare levy ($2,167), and total deductions are roughly $25,934. Your net annual pay would be about $82,418, or $1,585 a week.
Of course, this is a simplified calculation. It does not include the low-income tax offset, the Medicare levy surcharge (if you do not have appropriate private hospital cover), or any deductions for work-related expenses. For a more precise figure, place your own salary on the line and see the weekly and hourly equivalents.
How civil construction compares to other benchmarks
The full-time median earnings for all Australian employees are about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). That is lower than the average, reflecting the skew from high earners. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100. If civil construction pay tends to cluster around the median, many workers would be earning between $74,000 and $90,000. But without a specific civil construction figure, this is only a general guide.
State averages also provide context. The highest full-time average is in the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090), followed by Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658). The lowest is Tasmania ($96,008). Civil construction projects are concentrated in regions with infrastructure spending, so location matters.
Award rates and minimums
If you are covered by an award, your minimum pay is set by Fair Work. The Building and Construction General On-site Award includes classifications such as Civil Construction Worker Level 1 to Level 4, with rates that increase each July. For example, a Level 1 worker might earn around $27–$28 an hour, while a Level 4 worker could earn $30 or more. These are above the national minimum wage of $26.44. Enterprise agreements often provide higher rates.
To see how your own salary measures up, you can compare it to the national average line. The site also offers industry medians and job medians for broader context. Remember that the average is just one point—your individual circumstances, including overtime, allowances, and location, will affect your take-home pay.
The bottom line
Civil construction salaries are not published as a standalone figure by the ABS, but the national full-time average of $108,352 gives you a solid reference. Whether you are above or below that line depends on your role, state, and agreement. Use the tools on this site to place your salary on the line and see where you stand. For more on how the figures are set, visit How the figures are set.