What is the average salary for a systems engineer in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a specific average weekly earnings figure for systems engineers. The most recent median weekly earnings for Computer Network and Systems Engineers (ANZSCO 263111) are not available from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours. However, you can compare against the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) as a benchmark. Systems engineers are often employed in industries such as Information Media & Telecommunications and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, where average weekly ordinary-time earnings are $2,714.10 and $2,389.60 respectively.

How does a systems engineer salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, amounting to about $52,255 per year. Systems engineers typically earn well above this minimum, given the specialised skills required. Most systems engineers work full-time (93% according to Jobs and Skills Australia) and average 41 hours per week, so their weekly earnings are likely to be significantly higher than the minimum wage.

What factors influence a systems engineer's salary?

Several factors affect systems engineer pay, including experience, industry, location, and certifications. The ABS state full-time averages vary: for example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest average at $119,090 per year, while Tasmania is lower at $96,008. Systems engineers in the private sector may earn differently from those in the public sector. Additionally, the median age for this occupation is 40, suggesting many have substantial experience. The industry you work in also matters – those in Information Media & Telecommunications or Professional Services tend to have higher average earnings.

Systems engineer salary: how it compares to the national full-time average

Systems engineer salary in Australia

If you're looking for a precise figure for a systems engineer salary, you'll find that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a specific average for this occupation. The most recent median weekly earnings for Computer Network and Systems Engineers (ANZSCO 263111) are not available from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (August 2025). This is because the occupation is classified at the 6-digit ANZSCO level, for which median earnings are not produced due to sample size limitations.

However, you can still get a clear picture of where a systems engineer's pay sits by comparing it to the national full-time average, industry benchmarks, and state variations. This page helps you read the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour, using the most reliable public data.

National full-time average as a benchmark

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings report for May 2026 shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week nationally. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that's about $108,352 per year. This is the line against which all salaries on this site are measured. Systems engineers, given their technical expertise and demand, typically earn above this average, but the exact figure depends on experience, industry, and location.

For context, the full-time median (the middle point of all full-time salaries) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100 per year. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.

How systems engineer pay compares by industry

While the ABS doesn't give an occupation-specific average, it does publish average weekly ordinary-time earnings by industry. Systems engineers are commonly employed in:

Information Media & Telecommunications: $2,714.10 per week (about $141,133 per year)
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services: $2,389.60 per week (about $124,259 per year)
Public Administration & Safety: $2,179.80 per week (about $113,350 per year)

These industry averages can serve as a rough guide, but remember they include all roles in those industries, not just systems engineers.

Reading the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour

This site converts any salary into three views: yearly (before tax), weekly (based on a 38-hour week), and hourly. For example, if you earn $120,000 per year, that's about $2,307.69 per week and $60.73 per hour. You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average.

State and territory variations

Where you work affects your pay. The ABS state full-time averages for May 2026 are:

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

Systems engineers in the ACT or Western Australia may earn more than those in Tasmania or South Australia, reflecting broader market conditions. For more detail, see our states and territories page.

What the data says about systems engineers

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 14,500 employed Computer Network and Systems Engineers in Australia. The median age is 40, and 93% work full-time, averaging 41 hours per week. Only 8% are women, which is far below the all-occupations average of 49%. These demographics can influence salary expectations – experienced professionals in their 40s with full-time hours are likely to earn above the national median.

Using job medians and industry medians

For occupations where the ABS does publish a median, you can find them on our job medians and industry medians pages. Unfortunately, systems engineer is not one of them, but you can compare your own salary to the national benchmarks.

Tax on a systems engineer salary

If you earn a typical systems engineer salary – say between $100,000 and $140,000 – you'll fall into the 30% tax bracket for 2026–27 (income between $45,001 and $135,000). The 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 a 2% Medicare levy applies to most taxpayers. Use our guides to understand how tax affects your take-home pay.

Conclusion

While a precise systems engineer salary figure isn't published by the ABS, you can use the national full-time average of $108,352 per year as a reference point. Most systems engineers likely earn above this, especially those in high-paying industries or states. To see where your own salary sits, place it on the line and compare it to the national average, medians, and minimum wage.