Heavy diesel mechanic salary and the national average
If you are looking for a single published salary figure for heavy diesel mechanics in Australia, the short answer is that no official average or median exists at the 6-digit occupation level. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes detailed earnings data by industry and broad occupation groups, but for a specific role like a heavy diesel mechanic (ANZSCO 321212), the sample sizes are too small to release a reliable estimate. Jobs and Skills Australia confirms that median weekly earnings are not produced for 6-digit occupations.
That does not mean you cannot get a sense of where this role sits. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average across all occupations is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. This is the reference line used on this site. You can place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares.
Take-home pay sketch using the national average
Since we do not have a specific heavy diesel mechanic salary, we can illustrate what take-home pay would look like if a mechanic earned the national full-time average. Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:
- Tax-free threshold: $0 on the first $18,200
- 15% on earnings from $18,201 to $45,000: $4,020
- 30% on earnings from $45,001 to $135,000: $19,005.60 (for $108,352, the portion above $45,000 is $63,352)
- Total tax: $23,025.60
- Medicare levy (2%): $2,167.04
- Total deductions: $25,192.64
- Take-home pay: $83,159.36 per year, or about $1,599.22 per week
This is a rough guide. Actual take-home will vary with deductions, HELP repayments, and other factors. The point is that the national average provides a benchmark.
What about medians and minimums?
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025) gives a full-time adult median of about $90,532 a year and an all-employees median of about $74,100. These are broader figures and may be more representative of typical earnings than the average, which can be pulled up by high earners. For heavy diesel mechanics, the median is not published, but you can explore job medians for other roles.
At the bottom end, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week on a 38-hour week ($52,255 a year). Heavy diesel mechanics are almost always covered by a modern award, such as the Vehicle Manufacturing, Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020, which sets higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains the exact classification rates, but they depend on the level (e.g., tradesperson, leading hand). The 2026 Annual Wage Review increased award minimums by 4.75%.
State differences
Earnings also vary by location. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, shows state full-time ordinary-time averages:
- 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
Heavy diesel mechanics in mining or remote areas may earn more than the state average due to allowances and demand. You can compare states and territories for more detail.
Where to find more information
For award rates, check the Fair Work Commission's database or contact Fair Work. For industry-specific data, the ABS publishes average weekly earnings by industry, but heavy diesel mechanics work across transport, mining, construction, and manufacturing. The industry medians page may help.
If you have a specific salary in mind, you can place it on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage.
A note on sources
All averages cited are from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025. The minimum wage and award information are from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. No precise figure for heavy diesel mechanics is available from these sources.