Engineering Job Demands in Australia

Discover the Most In-Demand Engineering Jobs in Australia and Advance Your Career. Curious about Engineering Salaries in Australia? Check out the following list of high engineering job demand in Australia, including job descriptions and salary ranges:

1. Mechanical Engineer: A Mechanical Engineer is responsible for designing and creating machinery and systems that use mechanical energy to perform tasks or transport objects. They work in various fields like aerospace, automotive, biomedical, construction, medical, computer, and electronics. In Australia, the typical annual income for a Mechanical Engineer is $110,000, with entry-level roles starting at $90,000 per year and experienced engineers earning up to $156,000 per year.
2. Project Engineer: Project engineers are skilled professionals responsible for overseeing every aspect of a project’s life cycle, from its initial conception to its successful completion. They work closely with project teams to ensure that all tasks are completed according to the plan and within the established timeframe. In Australia, the average annual salary for project engineers is $120,000, which equates to an hourly rate of $61.54. Entry-level project engineer positions typically start at $100,001 per year, while experienced project engineers can earn up to $180,000 per year.
3. Mining Engineer: Mining engineers are highly-trained professionals who focus on extracting minerals and metals from the ground. They have the expertise and experience required to work on various types of mining operations, such as open-pit mines, underground mines, and surface mines. In Australia, the typical annual salary for a mining engineer is $148,750, which amounts to an hourly wage of $76.28. For beginners, the starting salary for entry-level mining engineer positions usually begins at $125,000 per year, while seasoned mining engineers can earn as much as $194,000 per year.
4. Electrical Engineer: Electrical engineers are responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining electrical systems in various settings, such as homes, buildings, and machinery. They are responsible for tasks such as installing electrical wiring, setting up power distribution systems, and working with electrical devices. In Australia, the average annual income for electrical engineers is $110,636, which equates to an hourly wage of $56.74. For beginners, entry-level positions usually start with an annual salary of $93,766, while highly experienced electrical engineers can earn up to $155,300 per year.
5. Civil Engineer: Civil engineers are responsible for the planning, construction, and maintenance of various infrastructure projects such as buildings, roads, bridges, canals, dams, and water and wastewater systems. They specialize in multiple engineering fields, including environmental engineering, structural engineering, water resource management, and transportation engineering. In Australia, the typical wage for civil engineers is $105,000 per year or $53.85 per hour. For beginners, starting salaries for entry-level positions typically begin at $90,000 per year, while experienced civil engineers can earn up to $145,000 per year.
6. Software Engineer: Software engineers are responsible for creating and maintaining software systems, which include designing, testing, debugging, and writing code. They use various methods to guide the software development process, such as defining, measuring, implementing, managing, changing, and enhancing the software life cycle process. In Australia, the average salary for a software engineer is $118,631 per year or $60.84 per hour. For beginners, starting salaries for entry-level positions typically begin at $100,000 per year, while the most highly-paid and experienced software engineers can earn up to $162,567 per year.
7. Chemical engineer: Chemical engineers apply their knowledge of chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics to overcome challenges associated with creating or utilizing a diverse range of products, including chemicals, fuels, pharmaceuticals, and food. In Australia, the median salary for a chemical engineer is $98,675 per year or $50.60 per hour. For beginners, starting roles for entry-level positions usually begin at $91,402 per year, while experienced professionals can earn up to $120,817 per year.
8. Environmental engineer: Environmental engineers use a combination of engineering principles and knowledge in soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop effective solutions to various environmental problems. Their duties include improving waste management, promoting public health, and reducing air and water pollution. In Australia, the median salary for an environmental engineer is $87,571 per year or $44.91 per hour. For beginners, starting roles for entry-level positions typically offer a salary of around $61,378 per year, while experienced professionals can earn up to $110,162 per year.
9.  Petroleum engineer: Petroleum engineers are experts in designing and implementing effective methods to extract oil and gas from beneath the Earth’s surface. They also conduct research and develop innovative techniques to extract oil and gas from existing wells. In Australia, the average salary for a petroleum engineer is $130,797 per year or $67.08 per hour. Entry-level positions generally offer a salary of around $115,234 per year, while highly experienced professionals can earn up to $158,250 per year.
10.  Production or plant engineer: Production or Plant Engineers are professionals who manage the day-to-day operations of industrial facilities. They are accountable for designing, planning, constructing, modifying, and maintaining machinery and equipment in the plant to achieve optimal performance. They collaborate with other departments to ensure the smooth running of the production process. In Australia, the average salary for a plant engineer is $108,637 per year or $55.71 per hour. Entry-level positions typically start at $100,000 per year, while highly experienced plant engineers can earn up to $127,563 per year.
11. Industrial engineer: Industrial engineers specialize in analyzing production processes to minimize waste. They create efficient systems that incorporate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to produce goods or provide services. In Australia, the typical salary for industrial engineers is $90,000 annually, which equals an hourly rate of $46.15. Entry-level positions usually begin at $80,000 per year, while experienced industrial engineers can earn up to $131,971 per year.
12. Transport engineer: Transportation engineers play a crucial role in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation systems. They conduct research on new projects, ensure the safety and efficiency of existing structures and systems, and implement new technologies. In Australia, transportation engineers earn an average salary of $99,161 per year or $50.85 per hour. Entry-level positions typically offer a salary of $88,033 per year, while experienced transportation engineers can earn up to $114,948 per year.
13.  Aeronautical engineer: Aeronautical engineers specialize in designing, building, and maintaining different types of vehicles for transportation, such as aeroplanes, helicopters, and missiles. They utilize their expertise in aviation and technology to develop energy-efficient machines for both defence purposes and space exploration. The average annual salary for an aeronautical engineer in Australia is $96,005, which is equivalent to an hourly rate of $49.23. Entry-level positions typically pay around $87,532 per year, while the most experienced aeronautical engineers can earn up to $133,277 per year.
14. Quantity surveyor: The role involves creating different types of documents, such as reports, contracts, budgets, risk assessments, and analyses. The individual in this position also provides advice to managers and clients on new strategies and improvements. They monitor materials and reorder them as needed, and document any design changes while updating budgets accordingly. In Australia, the average yearly salary for a quantity surveyor is $129,675, which is equivalent to an hourly rate of $66.50. Entry-level positions typically pay around $97,500 per year, while experienced workers can earn up to $177,500 per year.
15. Biomedical engineer: Biomedical engineers have a range of career opportunities available to them. They can work in the industry to develop and design new technologies, or they can conduct research in academic settings to explore the boundaries of medical feasibility. Biomedical engineers also collaborate with government agencies to establish safety standards for medical devices. In Australia, the average annual salary for a biomedical engineer is $97,990, or $50.25 per hour. Entry-level positions generally offer a salary of $84,181 per year, while experienced professionals can earn up to $127,656 per year.
16. Nuclear engineer: Nuclear engineers specialize in the production, control, and management of nuclear energy, including the safe disposal of nuclear waste. They conduct research, design new reactor systems, and develop safety protocols for handling nuclear materials and operating power plants. In Australia, the average annual salary for a nuclear engineer is $148,268 or $71 per hour. Entry-level positions usually offer starting salaries of around $103,340 per year, while highly experienced nuclear engineers can earn up to $184,773 per year.