Environmental engineering salary in Australia
If you are looking at an environmental engineering salary, the short answer is that the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a specific median weekly earnings figure for this occupation. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for Environmental Engineers (ANZSCO 233915) notes that median weekly earnings are not available. That does not mean the role is poorly paid – it simply means the survey sample is too small to release a reliable number.
What we can do is place the occupation against the national benchmarks. The site’s line is the full‑time adult ordinary‑time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026: $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the average for all full‑time adults, not a median and not specific to any occupation.
How environmental engineers compare with the averages
Environmental engineers are classified as 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, and the average hourly total cash earnings was $64.50. That is above the all‑occupations average of $1,611.10 a week and $47.90 an hour.
For a full‑time professional, a typical salary would likely sit somewhere between the national full‑time median and the full‑time average. The full‑time median weekly earnings for all employees is about $1,887 (ABS Employee Earnings, May 2025), which works out to roughly $98,124 a year. The full‑time average is higher because it is pulled up by very high earners.
Hours and demographics
The Jobs and Skills Australia profile, drawing on the 2021 Census, shows that 82% of environmental engineers work full‑time, compared with 64% across all occupations. The average full‑time hours per week for environmental engineers is 42 hours, slightly below the all‑occupations average of 44 hours. The median age is 36, and women make up 36% of the workforce.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour
The site lets you see any salary as a yearly figure, a weekly amount (based on a 38‑hour week), and an hourly rate. For example, if you enter the national full‑time average of $108,352 a year, it shows $2,083.70 per week and about $54.83 per hour. That hourly rate is below the Professionals average of $64.50, which reflects that many professionals work longer hours or have higher pay.
State and territory differences
Where you work matters. The on‑site state full‑time averages (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026) are:
- New South Wales: $109,658 a year
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Environmental engineers in Western Australia or the ACT might expect higher pay, while those in Tasmania may see lower figures. These are averages across all full‑time adults, not occupation‑specific.
Minimum wage and award coverage
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 38 hours (Fair Work). Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. Environmental engineers are typically covered by the Professional Employees Award or a enterprise agreement, which sets minimum rates above the national minimum. The award rate for a Level 1 professional engineer is higher than the minimum wage, but actual pay is usually negotiated individually.
Tax on an environmental engineering salary
For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (with possible reductions for low incomes). A salary of $108,352 would fall in the 30% bracket, so the marginal tax rate is 30% plus 2% Medicare levy = 32%.
Where to find more
- Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares with the national average.
- Job medians lists median earnings for many occupations where the ABS publishes data.
- How the figures are set explains the sources and methodology.
Bottom line
While the ABS does not publish a precise median for environmental engineers, the occupation sits within the Professionals category, which has average weekly earnings of $2,049.60. The national full‑time average is $2,083.70 a week. Most environmental engineers would earn between the full‑time median of about $1,887 a week and the average, depending on experience, location, and employer. The best way to see where a specific offer or expectation sits is to use the site’s line tool.