Engineer Salary and the National Average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, stands at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. This is the benchmark used on this site to place any salary on the line. But where does an engineer’s pay sit against this figure?
The ABS does not publish a single "engineer salary" in its regular earnings releases. Instead, engineers are captured under the broader occupation group Professionals. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025, the average weekly total cash earnings for all Professionals was $2,049.60, which is about $34 per week below the current national full-time average. However, that figure includes many roles beyond engineering, such as lawyers, accountants, and teachers. Engineers often earn more than the Professionals average, especially in certain industries and locations.
Industry Matters
The industry in which an engineer works significantly affects pay. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 shows that the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry – which employs many engineers – had a full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,389.60, well above the national average. Other industries with high engineering concentrations include Mining (not separately listed in the table but often high), Manufacturing, and Construction. Unfortunately, the ABS does not break down earnings by both occupation and industry in a single table, so precise figures for "engineer in mining" are not publicly available from these sources.
Location and the State Averages
Where you work as an engineer also matters. The on-site notes provide state full-time averages. For example, Western Australia’s full-time average is about $115,825 per year, reflecting the strong mining and resources sector that employs many engineers. In contrast, Tasmania’s full-time average is about $96,008. Engineers in WA may therefore earn well above the national average, while those in Tasmania might be closer to or below it. See the States and territories page for more detail.
Experience and Seniority
The ABS data does not break down earnings by experience level for specific occupations. However, the Employee Earnings and Hours survey shows that Managers (which includes some senior engineers) averaged $2,800.90 per week, while Professionals overall averaged $2,049.60. This suggests that experienced engineers in management roles can significantly exceed the national average. Conversely, graduate engineers or those in junior positions may start below the average.
Award vs. Enterprise Agreement
Many engineers are covered by enterprise agreements or individual contracts rather than modern awards. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains minimum rates for classifications under awards like the Professional Employees Award or Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award. For example, a professional engineer under the relevant award might have a minimum rate around $1,600–$1,800 per week, depending on classification. However, most engineers earn above award rates. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but that is a floor, not a typical engineer salary.
Medians and the Gender Pay Gap
The full-time median weekly earnings for all employees are about $1,887 (roughly $90,532 per year), while the all-employees median is about $1,436 ($74,100 per year). Engineers likely have a median above the full-time median, given the high demand for the profession. The gender pay gap also plays a role: men’s full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412 per year, while women’s is about $100,594. Engineering remains a male-dominated field, so the average for male engineers may be higher than the overall Professionals average.
How to Compare Your Own Salary
If you are an engineer and want to see where your pay sits, you can use the tool on this site. Enter your annual salary before tax, and it will show your weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the full-time average. For a more detailed comparison by occupation, see the Job medians page, which includes median earnings for various roles from the ABS Employee Earnings survey.
The Bottom Line
While there is no official "engineer salary" figure from the ABS, the available data suggests that many engineers earn close to or above the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week, particularly those in high-paying industries like professional services or mining, and those in senior or managerial positions. However, without a specific published average, it is important to use the closest proxies and consider your own circumstances.
For more on how these figures are determined, visit How the figures are set.