Engineer Salary in Australia 2025: Mechanical, Civil & Electrical Compared

Thinking about a career in engineering or curious about how much engineers really earn in Australia in 2025? This guide breaks down engineer salary trends across Mechanical, Civil and Electrical roles — from graduate engineer salary Australia levels all the way up to chartered and senior ranges. You’ll also get a simple comparison table, the highest-paying engineering jobs, and what actually affects earning potential.

Whether you’re exploring jobs or hiring talent, you can dive into real numbers and insights, and if you’re ready to take the next step, you can Search Engineering Salary or Post a Job on our platform in seconds.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what engineers in Australia can expect in 2025:

• A typical graduate engineer salary in Australia is around AUD $60,000-$70,000 for entry-level roles.
• Mid-career engineers are often earning in the range of AUD $80,000-$110,000, depending on discipline and sector.
• In senior, chartered or high-demand roles (especially in mining or remote sites), salaries can reach AUD $135,000-$175,000+.
• The range reflects variation by discipline (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical), industry and location. We’ll dive into those details in the next section.

Ready for the full breakdown? Keep reading and you’ll see salary tables, comparisons, and practical tips to boost your pay.

Here’s a summary of typical salaries in Australia (2025) for three major disciplines, graduate through senior/chartered level.

Discipline	Graduate / Entry­Level (~0-2 yrs)	Mid-Career (~5-10 yrs)	Chartered / Senior (~10+ yrs)	Typical Range*	Notes
Mechanical Engineer	AUD $65,000–$80,000	AUD $80,000–$110,000	AUD $120,000–$150,000+	~AUD $63,000–$124,000 (median ~$82,737)	Mining/manufacturing often pay more
Civil Engineer	AUD $65,000–$85,000	AUD $90,000–$130,000	AUD $130,000–$175,000+	~AUD $90,000–$130,000 for experienced	Infrastructure and structural work premium
Electrical Engineer	AUD $70,000–$90,000	AUD $95,000–$140,000	AUD $140,000–$180,000+	~AUD $80,000–$120,000 typical	Strong demand in utilities & renewables
All Engineers (average across disciplines)	AUD $60,000–$70,000	AUD $80,000–$110,000	AUD $120,000–$160,000+	SEEK data: average engineer $95,000-$115,000	Reflects broad “engineer salary” benchmark

2025 salary ranges (AUD) for Mechanical, Civil and Electrical engineers in Australia at different career-stages. Sources: PAYScale, industry reports, job-board data.

Engineering continues to be one of the most stable and well-paid career paths in Australia, but each discipline has its own earning trends. Below is a practical breakdown of engineer salary differences in 2025, covering Mechanical, Civil and Electrical roles from graduate to chartered level. These insights help job-seekers understand real opportunities — and employers set competitive pay.

Mechanical Engineer Salary Australia (2025)

The mechanical engineer salary Australia range varies depending on whether you’re working in manufacturing, mining, defence, renewables, or heavy industry.

• A typical graduate engineer salary in Australia (Mechanical) sits around $65,000-$80,000, with mining and oil & gas usually at the higher end.
• Mid-career mechanical engineers (5-10 years) commonly earn $80,000-$110,000 across roles like design engineer, reliability engineer, automation engineer, or rotating-equipment specialist.
• A chartered engineer salary Australia for Mechanical often reaches $120,000-$150,000+, especially in large industrial plants, defence projects or mining operations.

Where Mechanical engineers earn the most:

Mining, industrial automation, rotating equipment design, defence systems and major maintenance projects.

Demand outlook:

Strong and stable thanks to manufacturing upgrades, renewable energy equipment, and resource-sector expansion.

Civil Engineer Salary Australia (2025)

The civil engineer salary in Australia level is strongly influenced by government infrastructure spending and private construction demand.

• Civil engineering graduates normally start around $65,000-$85,000 often rising quickly due to talent shortages.
• Mid-career civil engineers earn $90,000-$130,000 in roles such as structural engineer, site engineer, geotechnical engineer or project engineer.
• Senior and chartered engineer salary Australia range for Civil average $130,000-$175,000+, especially in transport, geotechnical, major infrastructure or structural consulting.

Where Civil engineers earn the most:

Large transport projects (rail, roads, tunnels), high-rise structural engineering, bridge design, water infrastructure and civil roles linked to mining.

Demand outlook:

Very strong across Australia due to major infrastructure commitments, housing growth, and urban development.

Electrical Engineer Salary Australia (2025)

Because of Australia’s energy transition, data-centre boom and electrification push, electrical engineer salary Australia numbers are among the highest of all engineering disciplines.

• Graduate electrical engineers typically start around $70,000-$90,000, slightly higher than other disciplines due to specialised skill requirements.
• Mid-career electrical engineers working in power systems, SCADA, process automation, manufacturing, or renewables earn $95,000-$140,000.
• Senior or chartered engineer salary Australia for Electrical can reach $140,000-$180,000+, particularly in high-voltage design, renewable energy, mining networks and utility-scale projects.

Where Electrical engineers earn the most:

Renewable energy construction, HV distribution, mining power systems, automation, and data-centre infrastructure.

Demand outlook:

Extremely strong and expected to grow electricity demand, renewables, and automation require significant engineering expertise.You can explore the electrician career path in Queensland to get more insights.

Quick Comparison Summary (2025)

If we compare all three disciplines:

• Electrical engineering offers the highest earning potential, especially for chartered engineers in power and renewables.
• Civil engineering provides fast salary growth, driven by major infrastructure investments across Australia.
• Mechanical engineering delivers versatile and consistently high earning opportunities, particularly in mining, defence and heavy industry.

Each discipline offers great career stability, your salary growth mainly depends on industry choice, experience level, and whether you pursue chartered status.

 

1. Mining Engineer (especially remote-site roles)

Mining remains the strongest payer, especially for FIFO and remote projects. Typical total packages can exceed $160,000-$200,000+, thanks to site allowances, 12-hour shifts, and demand for expertise. (Searches for “mining engineer salary Australia remote site” are trending for this reason.)

2. Electrical / Power Systems Engineer

With the energy transition, HV distribution and renewable energy engineering pay extremely well. Senior electrical engineers can earn $140,000-$180,000+ in utilities, mining, and data centres.

3. Civil Engineer – Senior / Chartered (Major Infrastructure)

Massive infrastructure projects drive strong salaries. Chartered civil engineers working on rail, road, or tunnelling projects often reach $140,000-$175,000+.

4. Mechanical Engineer – Senior / Specialist Roles

Mechanical engineers in mining, defence, automation and reliability engineering often hit $120,000-$150,000+. Specialist roles like rotating equipment or design leads trend higher.

5. Structural Engineer (Buildings & Bridges)

Strong demand in high-rise and infrastructure engineering keeps salaries solid, usually $110,000-$150,000 depending on project complexity.

6. Project Engineers (Across Mechanical, Civil, Electrical)

Project engineers who manage scope, schedules and contractors tend to earn $100,000-$140,000, especially in construction and renewable energy.

7. General Mechanical / Civil / Electrical Engineers (Mid-Career)

Mid-level engineers across common disciplines typically earn $90,000-$120,000, depending on industry.

8. Graduate Engineers (All Disciplines)

A typical graduate engineer salary in Australia sits between $60,000-$75,000, with electrical and mining graduates slightly higher than civil/mechanical.

Engineer salaries in Australia can vary more than many people expect. Two engineers with the same degree may earn completely different figures depending on industry, location, seniority and the type of projects they work on. Here are the biggest factors influencing pay in 2025:

1. Experience Level (Graduate → Mid → Chartered)

The biggest salary jumps come with experience.

• A graduate engineer salary Australia ranges around $60,000-$75,000.
• By mid-career (5–10 years), that can grow to $90,000-$130,000, depending on discipline.
• A chartered engineer salary Australia typically falls between $130,000-$180,000+, reflecting higher technical responsibility and leadership.

2. Industry Sector

Not all engineering industries pay equally. In 2025, these are the highest-paying sectors:

• Mining & remote-site FIFO – top earnings due to allowances and skills shortages (often seen in mining engineer salary Australia remote site searches).
• Energy & Utilities – especially electrical and HV power systems roles.
• Renewables – solar, wind, battery storage, grid connection roles pay strongly.
• Defence & Aerospace – stable, secure, good salary progression.
  Lower-paying (but stable) sectors include local government, consulting, and residential construction.

3. Location: Metro vs Remote Sites

Working in remote or regional areas — especially in WA, QLD and NT — often comes with:

• Site uplift allowances
• 12-hour shift premiums
• Accommodation and travel packages
  This can lift the overall engineer salary by 20-40% compared to metro roles.

4. Specialised Technical Skills

Engineers with niche or high-demand technical skills naturally command higher salaries.

Examples include:

• High-voltage electrical design (HV)
• SCADA, PLC and automation skills
• Structural design software (SpaceGass, Strand7, Revit)
• Rotating equipment expertise
• Process optimisation skills
• Geotechnical modelling
• Data-centre and renewable-energy capacity design

The more specialised the skill, the stronger the salary growth potential.

5. Project Type & Scale

Larger or more complex projects typically pay more because of higher risks and responsibilities.

For example:

• Rail, highways, tunnels, bridges
• Wind and solar farms
• Oil & gas processing facilities
• Power distribution networks
• Large industrial plants
  Compared to small commercial or residential builds, major infrastructure and energy projects have much higher salary ceilings.

6. Company Size & Budget

Big companies, especially mining houses, utilities, EPCM firms and Tier 1 builders generally pay more than small consulting firms.

They also offer:

• Larger teams
• Better technology
• Higher project budgets
• More structured career progression

This impacts both salary and long-term growth.

7. Certifications & Continuous Learning

Engineers who invest in certifications often see salary boosts, examples:

• Chartered credentials (CPEng)
• RPEQ for Queensland
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• High-voltage and protection engineering courses
• Software certifications for CAD, BIM or industrial control systems

These credentials signal capability and employers reward that.

8. Negotiation & Job-Market Demand

When demand is high (like in renewables, power or mining), engineers have more leverage. This is where using a platform like ours helps you can compare salaries, view live offers, and negotiate with confidence.

Engineer pay varies slightly across the country. WA and NT typically offer the highest engineer salary ranges due to mining and remote-site allowances. Queensland also pays strongly for resources and infrastructure. NSW and VIC remain steady with competitive salaries in consulting, construction and renewables. SA and TAS offer stable but slightly lower averages.

Overall, engineer pay by state Australia mostly depends on project demand and whether roles are metro or regional/FIFO.

If you’re exploring engineering roles or want to compare engineer salary trends across Australia, you can register on our platform to see live opportunities that match your skills. Job seekers can browse Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and mining engineering positions instantly — including remote FIFO offers with higher pay.

Employers can post jobs, attract qualified engineers, and benchmark competitive salaries.

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