Civil engineering salary in Australia: where it sits against the national line
If you are a civil engineer in Australia or considering the profession, the key question is often: how does the pay compare to the average worker? The short answer is that the typical civil engineer earns above the national full-time average, but the exact figure depends on whether you look at the median or the average, and which data set you use.
The median civil engineering salary
The most authoritative source for occupation-specific earnings is the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which Jobs and Skills Australia publishes in occupation profiles. For Civil Engineering Professionals (ANZSCO 2332), the median full-time weekly earnings are $2,217 as of May 2025. That translates to about $115,284 a year before tax (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is a median, meaning it represents the middle point: half of full-time civil engineers earn more, half earn less.
It is important to note that this figure covers non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, which excludes managers and part-time workers. The median hourly earnings are $59, compared to $47 for all occupations. About 93% of civil engineers work full time, and the average full-time hours are 44 per week.
How it compares to the national full-time average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026), is $2,083.70 a week or $108,352 a year. The civil engineering median of $115,284 is about $6,932 higher per year. That places civil engineering well above the line that this site uses as its reference.
For context, the full-time median across all occupations is about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week.
A resident take-home sketch
To see what the median civil engineering salary means in your pocket, we can apply the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy. On $115,284:
- Tax: about $27,697 (using the 30% bracket from $45,001 to $135,000)
- Medicare levy: about $2,306 (2% of taxable income)
- Take-home: roughly $85,281 per year, or about $1,640 per week.
This is a simplified estimate. It does not include the tax-free threshold ($18,200), the low-income tax offset, HELP or HECS repayments, or any deductions. Your actual take-home will vary.
State and territory differences
The national full-time average varies by state. For example, the average in Western Australia is $115,825 a year, while in Tasmania it is $96,008. The civil engineering median of $115,284 is close to the WA average but well above the Tasmanian average. You can explore state-by-state averages on the States and territories page.
Industry context
Civil engineers work across industries such as construction, mining, and professional services. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) shows that the Mining industry has the highest average full-time earnings at $3,224.20 per week, while Construction is $1,985.30. Civil engineering professionals often earn more than the industry average because of their specialised skills. For a broader view of how occupations compare, see Job medians.
What the data does not tell you
The median figure is a snapshot. Actual salaries depend on experience, location, employer, and whether you work in the public or private sector. The ABS data also shows that the public sector full-time average ($2,263.10 per week) is higher than the private sector ($2,034.10). Civil engineers in government roles may earn differently from those in consulting or contracting.
How the figures are set
The national average and medians come from two different ABS surveys. The Average Weekly Earnings survey is published twice a year (May and November) and measures average ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults. The Employee Earnings and Hours survey is published annually and provides medians by occupation. The minimum wage is set by Fair Work and updated each July. For more detail, see How the figures are set.
Final takeaway
A civil engineering salary in Australia typically exceeds the national full-time average. The median of $115,284 is a solid benchmark, but remember it is a median, not an average. If you want to see where your own salary sits against the national line, you can Place a salary on the line and compare it to the full-time average, medians, and minimum wage.