What is the average salary for an engineer in Australia?

The ABS does not publish a specific average for engineers. Engineers are classified under Professionals, and the most recent data (May 2025) shows average weekly total cash earnings of $2,049.60 for all Professionals, which annualises to about $106,579. This is an average, not a median. The full-time adult ordinary-time average across all occupations is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026.

How does engineer pay compare to the national full-time average?

Based on the Professionals average of $106,579, it is slightly below the national full-time average of $108,352. However, many engineers earn above or below this figure depending on industry, experience, and location. The median full-time employee earns about $90,532 a year, so the typical engineer is likely above that median.

What is the take-home pay for an engineer on the average professional salary?

For a resident earning the Professionals average of $106,579 in 2026–27, tax on that income would be roughly $37,154 plus a 2% Medicare levy of $2,132, leaving about $67,293 after tax. This is before any deductions or offsets. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $52,255 a year on 38 hours, so the professional salary is about double the minimum.

Engineer salary Australia: how it compares to the national full-time average

How much does an engineer earn in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate earnings figure for engineers. Engineers are grouped under the occupation category Professionals in the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey. The most recent data (May 2025) shows that Professionals had average weekly total cash earnings of $2,049.60. That works out to about $106,579 a year (multiplied by 52). This is an average, not a median. For context, the median full-time employee in Australia earns about $90,532 a year, and the median for all employees (including part-time) is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

Because the ABS does not break out engineers separately, the Professionals figure is the best available public benchmark. Individual engineer salaries vary widely by industry, experience, and location. For example, engineers in mining or construction may earn more than the Professionals average, while those in some public-sector roles may earn less. Award-covered engineers have minimum rates set by the Fair Work Commission, which rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026.

The national full-time average as a reference

The site’s line is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026: $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the benchmark we use to show how any salary compares. The Professionals average of $106,579 is about 1.6% below that line. The full-time median of $90,532 is about 16% below.

Here’s how the key figures stack up:

National full-time average (ordinary time): $108,352 a year
Professionals average (all employment types): $106,579 a year
Full-time median: $90,532 a year
National minimum wage (from 1 July 2026): $52,255 a year on 38 hours

A take-home sketch for a typical professional

Let’s look at what a resident earning the Professionals average of $106,579 might take home after tax in 2026–27. The tax brackets 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).

On $106,579:

Tax on $18,200–$45,000: $26,800 × 15% = $4,020
Tax on $45,001–$106,579: $61,579 × 30% = $18,473.70
Total tax: $22,493.70
Medicare levy: $106,579 × 2% = $2,131.58
Total deductions: $24,625.28
Net income: about $81,954 a year, or $1,576 a week.

On a 38-hour week, that’s about $41.47 an hour after tax. Before tax, the hourly rate is $106,579 ÷ (38 × 52) = about $53.92 an hour.

For comparison, someone on the national full-time average of $108,352 would have a similar net: about $81,300 after tax and Medicare.

How engineers compare to other occupations

The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) lists average weekly total cash earnings for all occupations. Professionals rank second highest, behind Managers ($2,800.90 a week). Here are a few:

Managers: $2,800.90
Professionals: $2,049.60
Technicians and trades workers: $1,756.90
Clerical and administrative workers: $1,370.60
Labourers: $1,067.70

Engineers are part of the Professionals group, which also includes doctors, lawyers, teachers, and IT specialists. For more detailed medians by occupation, see Job medians.

State variations

Where you work affects your pay. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 gives full-time adult ordinary-time earnings by state. Here are the annualised averages:

Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Western Australia: $115,825
New South Wales: $109,658
Victoria: $106,137
Queensland: $106,064
Northern Territory: $103,173
South Australia: $102,450
Tasmania: $96,008

Engineers in WA and the ACT often earn above the national average, reflecting demand in mining and public-sector projects. For a full breakdown, see States and territories.

The bottom line

While there is no single “engineer salary” published by the ABS, the Professionals average of $106,579 is a reasonable benchmark. It sits just below the national full-time average of $108,352. After tax, a resident on that salary would take home about $81,954 a year. For award-covered engineers, minimum rates are set by Fair Work and rose 4.75% in July 2026. To see how your own salary compares, Place a salary on the line.