What is the minimum wage for a mechatronics engineer in Australia?

The legal minimum depends on whether you are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. If no award or agreement applies, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) is the floor. Many mechatronics engineers are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020 or a similar award, which sets higher minimum rates for different classification levels. You should check the award using the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database.

Does the mechatronics engineer salary include superannuation?

No. The salary or wage figure quoted is gross pay before tax. Superannuation is an additional payment that employers must contribute on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%. For example, if your base hourly rate is $26.44, your employer must also pay $3.17 per hour into your super fund.

Can a mechatronics engineer be paid less than the national minimum wage?

Only in limited circumstances. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on introductory award rates (for the first six months) may be paid less than the adult national minimum. For award-free juniors, the percentage of the adult rate applies (e.g., 18-year-olds get 68.3% or $18.06 per hour). However, most mechatronics engineers are adults and would be entitled to at least the national minimum or the award rate, whichever is higher.

Mechatronics engineer salary: what the minimum wage rules say in 2026

There is no single published minimum rate for a mechatronics engineer; the legal floor is the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour or the applicable award rate, whichever is higher.

What the research says about a mechatronics engineer salary

When you search for a mechatronics engineer salary in Australia, you will find a wide range of figures from job ads, surveys, and recruitment sites. However, this guide focuses on the legal minimum pay floor that applies to this occupation. We rely on publicly available data from the Fair Work Commission, the Fair Work Ombudsman, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The legal minimum: national minimum wage and awards

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. This is the absolute floor for employees not covered by a modern award or registered agreement. Most mechatronics engineers, however, work under an award. The most likely award is the Professional Employees Award 2020, which covers engineers, scientists, and IT professionals. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the minimum rates for each classification under that award. The database was updated on 1 October 2026 to reflect the 4.75% increase from the Annual Wage Review 2026.

Because the award classifications are detailed (e.g., Engineer Level 1, Level 2, etc.), we cannot give a single “mechatronics engineer salary” figure from the database without knowing the specific level. What we can say is that the lowest ongoing classification under the Professional Employees Award cannot fall below the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Some awards also have introductory rates for new employees (limited to the first six months), which from 1 July 2026 are $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

What the ABS says

The ABS classifies mechatronics engineers under occupation code 243937 in the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA). The ABS publishes average earnings data for broad categories but does not release a specific median or average salary for this occupation. The most recent ABS data (May 2026) shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings across all occupations are $2,083.70 per week. This is a useful benchmark, but it is not a minimum or a guarantee for any individual role.

How superannuation fits in

Any discussion of a mechatronics engineer salary must include superannuation. The super guarantee is an employer contribution on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12%. If your base hourly rate is $26.44, your employer must pay an additional $3.17 per hour into your super fund. If you are covered by an award, the award rate already assumes super is paid on top.

Casual loading and penalty rates

If you work as a casual mechatronics engineer, you are entitled to a casual loading. The national minimum wage for casuals is $33.05 per hour (the adult rate plus 25% loading). Award-covered casuals may receive a different loading or penalty rates for weekend, public holiday, or night work. The Modern Awards Pay Database includes penalty rate tables for each award.

When an award or agreement sets a higher rate

A modern award or an enterprise agreement can require a rate higher than the national minimum. For example, the Professional Employees Award 2020 may specify a minimum of $35 or $40 per hour for an experienced engineer. Always check the specific award classification or your enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can help you find the correct rate.

What this guide does not cover

This guide does not provide a market salary survey or a median figure. We do not have a single authoritative source for the average mechatronics engineer salary in Australia. If you are negotiating a salary, you should consider factors such as experience, location, industry, and the specific duties of the role. The legal minimum is only one part of the picture.

For more detail on how minimum wages work, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. To compare rates across awards, visit our Rate tables.

Summary

The legal minimum for a mechatronics engineer is the national minimum wage ($26.44/h) or the applicable award rate, whichever is higher.
The Professional Employees Award 2020 is the most common award for this occupation.
Superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of the salary.
Casual loading and penalty rates may apply.
No single “mechatronics engineer salary” figure is published by the ABS or Fair Work bodies; you must check your specific award classification.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.