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Electrical Engineer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an electrical engineer is $132,800 per annum, before tax, up $28,000 since 2018.
Pay moves most with the sector you work in: resources, utilities and defence generally pay above general building consultancies, and remote or site-based roles add allowances on top of the base. Registration requirements differ between states, and holding the registration your state asks for or Engineers Australia chartership can change what you're offered for the same design work. Many utility and government engineers are covered by enterprise agreements, so their increases follow the agreement rather than individual negotiation.
Roles that pay more than electrical engineer
The largest typical pay rise is $50,200 a year, moving into Engineering Manager.
- Engineering Manager+$50,200/yr
- Telecommunications Engineer+$12,600/yr
- Mechatronics Engineer+$10,800/yr
How to negotiate a higher electrical engineer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time electrical engineer salary is $132,800; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Electrical Engineers are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Engineering design and analysis and CAD and technical drawing tend to command a premium over general electrical engineer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Engineering Manager pays a typical $50,200 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Electrical Engineer salary questions
How much do electrical engineers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an electrical engineer is $132,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is electrical engineer pay rising or falling?
The median electrical engineer salary is up $28,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than electrical engineer?
Engineering Manager pays a typical $50,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to electrical engineer.