Top 20 Entry-Level Engineering Salary in Australia 2026
Your initial paycheck will depend considerably on your chosen field of engineering. Entry level Engineering salaries in Australia can vary substantially between fields of engineering and the range between top and lowest salaries for new graduates can be as large as $25,000. If you are partway through an engineering degree, have considered moving to a country with a qualified engineering degree, or just considering which fields of engineering would likely offer the greatest earning potential, the inner workings of these differences may help you make the most suitable choice for your career.
The list not only covers all 20 most lucrative engineering careers in 2026 and lists their specific salaries, but in addition to current salaries, the list addresses starting salaries as well as the prospective earnings of engineering professions, their popularity among employers and prospective earnings. In addition to listing these aspects, we will also be discussing what determines the benefits a job will have.
Engineer Salary in Australia 2026: How Much Do Engineers Earn?
Engineering remains one of the most promising career paths in Australia. Whether it’s technology, infrastructure, or energy engineering, graduates are in high demand across various sectors. In 2026, salary expectations continue to align with market needs, with some fields offering significantly higher starting salaries. Below is a ranked salary breakdown and a field-wise summary for new graduates.
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Entry-Level Engineering Salary in Australia 2026 (Yearly & Monthly)
Rank | Engineering Field | Yearly Salary (AUD) | Monthly Salary (AUD) |
1 | Petroleum Engineering | $90,000 | $7,500 |
2 | Data Engineering | $85,000 | $7,083 |
3 | Software Engineering | $80,000 | $6,667 |
4 | Computer Engineering | $78,000 | $6,500 |
5 | Mining Engineering | $77,000 | $6,417 |
6 | Engineering Manager | $76,000 | $6,333 |
7 | Electrical Engineering | $75,000 | $6,250 |
8 | Aerospace Engineering | $73,000 | $6,083 |
9 | Systems Engineering | $72,000 | $6,000 |
10 | Chemical Engineering | $71,000 | $5,917 |
11 | Network Engineering | $70,000 | $5,833 |
12 | Mechanical Engineering | $68,000 | $5,667 |
13 | Mechatronics Engineering | $67,000 | $5,583 |
14 | Industrial Engineering | $66,000 | $5,500 |
15 | Structural Engineering | $65,000 | $5,417 |
16 | Telecommunication Engineering | $64,000 | $5,333 |
17 | Civil Engineering | $63,000 | $5,250 |
18 | Environmental Engineering | $62,000 | $5,167 |
19 | Materials Engineering | $61,000 | $5,083 |
20 | Biomedical Engineering | $60,000 | $5,000 |
Brief Overview of each Engineering Discipline
- Petroleum Engineering
A high-paying field focused on extracting oil and gas efficiently and safely from the earth’s surface.
- Role: Design and manage drilling and production operations
- Most Demanded City: Perth
- Entry-Level Salary: $90,000/year ($7,500/month)
- Data Engineering
A rapidly growing field that builds and manages large-scale data systems used in analytics and AI.
- Role: Create data pipelines and optimise data storage
- Most Demanded City: Sydney
- Entry-Level Salary: $85,000/year ($7,083/month)
- Software Engineering
Integral to Australia’s booming tech sector, software engineers are essential for building modern apps and systems.
- Role: Develop, test, and maintain software solutions
- Most Demanded City: Sydney
- Entry-Level Salary: $80,000/year ($6,667/month)
- Computer Engineering
Combines hardware and software expertise to build efficient computing systems.
- Role: Design embedded systems and computer hardware
- Most Demanded City: Melbourne
- Entry-Level Salary: $78,000/year ($6,500/month)
- Mining Engineering
Crucial to Australia’s mineral-rich economy, this field focuses on mining safety, design, and efficiency.
- Role: Plan and oversee mining operations
- Most Demanded City: Perth
- Entry-Level Salary: $77,000/year ($6,417/month)
- Engineering Manager (Graduate/Assistant)
Involves assisting senior engineers in planning and supervising large engineering projects.
- Role: Support in managing teams, budgets, and timelines
- Most Demanded City: Brisbane
- Entry-Level Salary: $76,000/year ($6,333/month)
- Electrical Engineering
Covers a broad range of industries from power systems to automation and smart technologies.
- Role: Design and test electrical systems or circuits
- Most Demanded City: Sydney
- Entry-Level Salary: $75,000/year ($6,250/month)
- Aerospace Engineering
A niche but important field working with aircraft, drones, and satellites.
- Role: Design and test aeronautical components
- Most Demanded City: Adelaide
- Entry-Level Salary: $73,000/year ($6,083/month)
- Systems Engineering
Focuses on integrating various hardware and software systems in large-scale operations.
- Role: Ensure the cohesive functioning of engineering systems
- Most Demanded City: Canberra
- Entry-Level Salary: $72,000/year ($6,000/month)
- Chemical Engineering
Applies chemistry to develop processes in food, pharma, and energy industries.
- Role: Optimise chemical production and processing
- Most Demanded City: Brisbane
- Entry-Level Salary: $71,000/year ($5,917/month)
- Network Engineering
Supports and secures digital communication systems across organisations.
- Role: Manage and configure network infrastructure
- Most Demanded City: Sydney
- Entry-Level Salary: $70,000/year ($5,833/month)
- Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is one of the most versatile engineering fields, vital in manufacturing and automation.
- Role: Design and test mechanical devices and systems
- Most Demanded City: Melbourne
- Entry-Level Salary: $68,000/year ($5,667/month)
- Mechatronics Engineering
Blends mechanics, electronics, and computing for innovative automation systems.
- Role: Develop robotic and intelligent systems
- Most Demanded City: Sydney
- Entry-Level Salary: $67,000/year ($5,583/month)
- Industrial Engineering
Focuses on process improvement and resource optimisation in industries.
- Role: Improve production efficiency and safety
- Most Demanded City: Melbourne
- Entry-Level Salary: $66,000/year ($5,500/month)
- Structural Engineering
Specialises in ensuring the strength and durability of buildings and bridges.
- Role: Analyse and design load-bearing structures
- Most Demanded City: Sydney
- Entry-Level Salary: $65,000/year ($5,417/month)
- Telecommunication Engineering
Deals with the setup and maintenance of data transmission systems.
- Role: Design telecom infrastructure, including satellite and fibre networks
- Most Demanded City: Canberra
- Entry-Level Salary: $64,000/year ($5,333/month)
- Civil Engineering
Involves designing and managing infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and buildings.
- Role: Plan and supervise the construction of public infrastructure
- Most Demanded City: Melbourne
- Entry-Level Salary: $63,000/year ($5,250/month)
- Environmental Engineering
Focuses on sustainable solutions to environmental issues like pollution and waste.
- Role: Design eco-friendly systems for air, water, and soil management
- Most Demanded City: Brisbane
- Entry-Level Salary: $62,000/year ($5,167/month)
- Materials Engineering
Develops and improves materials used in industries such as aerospace and electronics.
- Role: Test and engineer new materials for industrial use
- Most Demanded City: Perth
- Entry-Level Salary: $61,000/year ($5,083/month)
- Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering task combines healthcare knowledge with engineering to improve medical technologies.
- Role: Develop medical devices and assistive technologies
- Most Demanded City: Sydney
- Entry-Level Salary: $60,000/year ($5,000/month)
Best Cities for Engineering Salary in Australia: Where to Earn More
While salaries are influenced by field and specialisation, location plays a key role in determining how much an entry-level engineer earns in Australia. Here are some cities that offer high wages consistently:
1. Perth
Perth is well known for its expanding mining and oil industries, and also offers some of the highest salaries for fresh graduates. The resource-driven economy of the city makes hot spot for engineering talents.
2. Sydney
Home to major tech companies and government infrastructure projects, Sydney is ideal for Software, Data, Electrical, and Network Engineers. The cost of living is high, but so are the salaries.
3. Melbourne
A tech and industrial hub, Melbourne pays well for roles in Computer, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering. The city’s growing construction and manufacturing sectors demand fresh talent.
4. Brisbane
With active infrastructure and environmental engineering projects, Brisbane offers attractive salaries for Chemical and Environmental Engineers.
5. Adelaide & Canberra
These cities offer competitive pay for Aerospace and Systems Engineers, especially in defence and space-tech sectors.
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Factors Influencing Entry-Level Salary in Australia
Multiple factors can affect how much a fresh engineering graduate earns in Australia:
1. Location
As mentioned, cities like Perth and Sydney offer higher pay due to industrial concentration and demand. Rural or regional areas might offer lower salaries but better work-life balance.
2. Engineering Discipline
Not all engineering fields pay equally. Petroleum, Data, and Software Engineering typically offer higher entry-level pay compared to Biomedical or Environmental Engineering.
3. Job Demand
Disciplines aligned with current national priorities, like renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and mining, see greater demand and better salaries.
4. Skills and Certifications
Having specialised skills like programming, data analysis, or project management certifications can elevate your starting salary.
5. Academic Institution & Internships
Graduates from top Australian universities or with relevant internship experience are often offered better salary packages.
6. CDR & Skill Assessment Approval
For international engineers, a successful CDR report and Engineers Australia skill assessment can dramatically improve employment chances and starting salaries.
Opportunities for Fresh Migrants
Australia has long welcomed skilled migrants to fill labour shortages, and engineers are high on the priority list. If you’re an international engineering graduate or an overseas-qualified engineer, here are the opportunities waiting for you:
1. Skilled Migration Visas
Visas like the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) offer pathways for engineers to live and work in Australia permanently.
2. Graduate Temporary Visa (Subclass 485)
For international students who completed engineering studies in Australia, this graduate skilled visa subclass 485 allows temporary work and helps build local experience, often leading to permanent roles.
3. Higher Salary with CDR Report
A professionally written and approved CDR report not only helps you migrate but also makes you eligible for higher-paying jobs in Australia.
4. Equal Opportunity Employers
Many Australian companies follow equal employment policies, meaning qualified international engineers can access the same opportunities as locals if they meet the criteria.
5. Support Services
At CDR for Australia, we assist engineers globally in preparing high-quality, plagiarism-free CDR reports to maximise their migration and career potential.
In Summary
Especially in 2026, the engineering field remains a good career option for freshers, where demand is stronger than ever. Entry-level engineers are being offered attractive salaries across a variety of disciplines, from the booming petroleum and data sectors to the ever-essential fields of civil and mechanical engineering. Some cities, such as Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne, pay well to the freshers, especially if you have skills that are in great demand.
Australia is a great place for graduates from overseas and skilled migrants. A strong demonstration of a CDR report and a good Engineers Australia review can greatly enhance your chances of getting a well-paying job. And this is where CDR for Australia comes in and helps you to cross that important bridge of migration.
FAQs
How much do graduate engineers take home monthly?
On a typical graduate salary of $68k-$70k, your take-home pay is around $4,500 – $4,650 per month after tax and deductions.
Should you take a lower salary to go into a large firm’s graduate program?
Yes, usually. It comes down to the training opportunities and networking that will be available at larger companies versus the slightly lower beginning salary, but the salary cut must not exceed 10%.
Are jobs with the same qualifications available to international engineering graduates as they are to Australian graduates?
Yes. You may begin 5-8% lower, but will be earning the same amount of money as a local graduate within 12-18 months of your Australian experience.
What engineering discipline has the best salary growth potential?
Renewable energy and software engineering currently have the fastest salary growth. Mining engineering often reaches a six-figure salary the quickest.
Should I negotiate salary as a fresh graduate?
Yes. After receiving a formal offer, it is acceptable and often expected to negotiate for a 5-7% increase. If the base salary is firm, negotiate other benefits.
How quickly do engineering salaries increase in the first five years?
Expect a 25-35% salary increase in your first five years, moving from around $68,000 to the $85,000-$92,000 range.
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