Mechanical engineer salary Australia: where the national line sits
If you are a mechanical engineer in Australia, your pay probably lands somewhere near the national full-time average – but exactly where depends on your state, your industry, and the way your wage is set. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a separate earnings figure for mechanical engineers, so the best public benchmark is the Professionals category, which includes engineers, scientists, architects, and similar roles.
In May 2025, the ABS reported that Professionals earned average weekly total cash earnings of $2,049.60. That is about $106,579 a year if you multiply by 52. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. The two figures are close, but the Professionals average is a touch lower. Remember that the national average includes all full-time adults across every occupation, from managers to labourers, so it is a broad reference point.
How the site’s line works
This site uses the national full-time adult ordinary-time average as its line. When you place a salary on the line, the tool shows how far your weekly or yearly pay sits above or below that benchmark. For a mechanical engineer, the distance will depend on your specific circumstances. The line is updated twice a year, after each ABS Average Weekly Earnings release (May and November).
State variations matter
Where you work is one of the biggest factors. The ABS publishes full-time adult ordinary-time earnings by state. Here are the annualised figures from the on-site notes:
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
Mechanical engineers in Western Australia and the ACT tend to earn above the national line, partly because of the mining and public-sector workforces. In Tasmania, the state average is below the national line. These are averages for all full-time adults, not just engineers, but they give a sense of the regional spread. For a deeper look, visit the states and territories page.
Award coverage and method of pay
Another factor that can move your salary off the line is how your pay is set. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) breaks down earnings by method of pay:
- Award only: average $1,038.90 a week in NSW, $837.20 in Victoria
- Collective agreement: $1,706.90 in NSW, $1,697.40 in Victoria
- Individual arrangement: $1,931.80 in NSW, $1,823.40 in Victoria
Mechanical engineers covered by an enterprise agreement or individual contract typically earn more than those paid only the award rate. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week, but most mechanical engineers are above that. Award minimums rose by 4.75% in the same decision.
Using the job medians page
If you want to compare your pay to other occupations, the job medians page shows median weekly earnings for broad groups. For example, the median for all employees is about $1,436 a week ($74,100 a year), and the full-time median is about $1,887 a week ($90,532 a year). Professionals as a group have a higher median, but the ABS does not break out mechanical engineers separately.
Tax and take-home pay
Once you know your yearly salary, you can estimate your tax. For 2026–27, the resident tax rates 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 the Medicare levy of 2% (with possible reductions for low-income earners). A mechanical engineer earning $108,352 would fall in the 30% bracket, with a total tax plus Medicare of about $24,000–$25,000, depending on deductions.
How the figures are set
The national average comes from the ABS survey of employers, not from tax returns. It measures ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults – that is, base pay before overtime, bonuses, or allowances. The how the figures are set page explains the methodology in more detail.
The bottom line
Without a specific ABS figure for mechanical engineers, the best reference is the Professionals average of $2,049.60 a week. That sits just below the national line of $2,083.70. Your own salary may be higher or lower depending on your state, your industry, and whether you are on an award, agreement, or individual contract. Use the site’s line to see where you stand.