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Aeronautical Engineering Salary: Legal Minimum and How to Check Your Rate

The national minimum wage is the legal floor for award-free aeronautical engineers, but no median salary is published for this occupation.

What is the legal minimum for an aeronautical engineering salary?

If you are looking up an aeronautical engineering salary, the first thing to know is the legal minimum that applies to you. The national minimum wage is set by the Fair Work Commission and from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week for full-time work (38 ordinary hours), and $33.05 per hour for casual employees. This is the floor for award-free adult employees. Lower rates apply for juniors, apprentices, and trainees. Superannuation guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

How does an aeronautical engineering salary compare to the national minimum?

Actual aeronautical engineering salaries are often well above the national minimum. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for aeronautical engineers (ANZSCO 233911) because the sample size is too small. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, 91% of aeronautical engineers work full-time, averaging 42 hours per week. The median age is 37, and 11% are female. Without a published median, the best benchmark is the national minimum wage.

What about award rates for aeronautical engineers?

There is no modern award that specifically covers aeronautical engineers. If your role is covered by a modern award (for example, the Professional Employees Award 2020 if you are a professional engineer), the award rate applies and must be at least the national minimum. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains rates for many awards, but not for aeronautical engineers as a separate classification. If no award applies, the national minimum wage is your minimum. An enterprise agreement can also set a higher rate.

How to check your pay

To check if your aeronautical engineering salary meets the legal minimum, start with your hourly rate. Compare it to $26.44 per hour (or the relevant junior or apprentice rate if applicable). If you are covered by an award, look up the classification rate in that award. Remember that superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary time earnings. For more details, see Which minimum wage applies, or browse Rate tables for award rates.

Key points to remember

  • The national minimum wage is the legal floor for award-free employees.
  • Modern awards and enterprise agreements can require higher rates.
  • The ABS does not publish a median salary for aeronautical engineers.
  • Super is an employer payment on top of your pay.
  • Junior, apprentice, and trainee rates are lower than the adult minimum.

For further reading, see Guides on how to calculate your minimum pay, or How the figures work for the methodology behind the numbers.

Questions people ask next

What is the current national minimum wage for aeronautical engineers?

From 1 July 2026 the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, and $33.05 per hour for casuals. This is the legal floor for award-free employees. Juniors, apprentices, and trainees may be paid less. Superannuation guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

Are there specific award rates for aeronautical engineers?

There is no modern award that specifically names aeronautical engineers. If a modern award covers your role, the minimum rate in that award applies and must be at least the national minimum. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database lists rates for many occupations, but not for aeronautical engineers. Without an award, the national minimum wage is the floor.

How does an aeronautical engineering salary compare to the national average?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for aeronautical engineers due to a high standard error. The all-occupations median full-time earnings are $2,083.70 per week (May 2026), but aeronautical engineers may earn more or less. The only guaranteed minimum is the national minimum wage.

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