What is the minimum wage for an engineer in Australia?

There is no single minimum wage for engineers. Most engineers are covered by a modern award, such as the Professional Employees Award 2020, which sets minimum rates above the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, but award rates are typically higher. Check your award or enterprise agreement for the exact rate.

Are engineers covered by a specific award?

Yes, many engineers are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020. Other awards may apply depending on the industry (e.g., Manufacturing Award for production engineers). If no award applies, the national minimum wage is the floor. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool to find your award.

How is superannuation paid on an engineer’s salary?

Employers must pay superannuation contributions on top of an engineer’s ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% and must be paid at the same time as wages (payday super). This is separate from the salary figure quoted in contracts.

Engineer Salary Australia: Legal Minimums, Awards, and What You Can Expect

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, but engineer salaries are typically set by awards or enterprise agreements and are often much higher.

Understanding Engineer Salary Australia: The Legal Minimum and Beyond

When searching for "engineer salary australia", you will find a wide range of figures. Some come from job advertisements, others from industry surveys, and a few from official sources. This guide helps you separate the legal minimum from a survey average, an award rate, and a negotiated salary. The key is knowing which pay floor applies to you and how your actual pay compares.

The National Minimum Wage as a Floor

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. This rate applies to employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. However, it is not a guarantee for every worker. Junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and those on introductory award rates may be paid less. For example, an award‑free 16‑year‑old can be paid as little as $12.51 per hour (47.3% of the adult rate). The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year; the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it.

For most engineers, the national minimum wage is only a theoretical floor. Engineers are almost always covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement that sets higher rates. If you are award‑free and agreement‑free, the national minimum applies, but that is rare in professional engineering roles.

Award Coverage for Engineers

The most common award for engineers is the Professional Employees Award 2020. It covers professional engineers, scientists, and IT professionals. The award classifies employees by level (e.g., Engineer Level 1 to Level 5) and sets minimum weekly salaries. These rates are updated each year following the Annual Wage Review. From 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification cannot fall below the national minimum of $1,004.90 per week. Introductory rates (first six months) cannot be below $978.10 per week.

Other awards may apply depending on the industry. For instance, engineers working in manufacturing may be covered by the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020. Always check the coverage clause in the relevant award. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Which minimum wage applies tool can help you identify your award.

How Actual Engineer Salaries Compare

Actual engineer salaries are typically much higher than the award minimum. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) May 2026 data, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. This is a general average, not engineer‑specific. Professional engineers often earn above this, especially with experience and in high‑demand fields like mining, construction, or software engineering. However, there is no single official median engineer salary published by the ABS or Fair Work bodies. Job advertisements and industry surveys (e.g., from Engineers Australia) provide indicative ranges, but these are not legal benchmarks.

If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, your base pay rate cannot be less than the award rate. Negotiated salaries often include allowances, performance bonuses and superannuation. Remember that super is an employer payment on top of your salary. From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super at 12% at the same time as wages (payday super).

The Role of Superannuation

When discussing any salary figure, always consider super. The super guarantee is an employer contribution on top of ordinary time earnings. For an engineer earning $100,000 per year, the employer must add 12% super ($12,000) on top, making total remuneration $112,000. This is separate from the salary quoted in contracts.

Key Takeaways

The national minimum wage is $26.44/h or $1,004.90/week from 1 July 2026.
Award rates for engineers are higher and set by awards like the Professional Employees Award.
Actual salaries vary widely; use official sources for your award, not general averages.
Super is paid on top at 12% from 1 July 2026.

For more details on how rates are calculated, see our Guides and How the figures work.