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Materials Engineer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a materials engineer is $109,200 per annum, before tax, up $22,800 since 2018.
Pay varies more by sector than by job title, with mining, oil and gas generally paying above manufacturing, construction and public sector laboratories. Site based and fly-in fly-out roles usually carry allowances on top of base salary, and chartered engineers in consultancy or specialist testing work tend to earn more than those in routine production support. A postgraduate qualification can also lift the range in research heavy roles.
Roles that pay more than materials engineer
The largest typical pay rise is $38,900 a year, moving into Chemical Engineer.
- Chemical Engineer+$38,900/yr
- Mechanical Engineer+$26,700/yr
- Metallurgist+$2,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher materials engineer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time materials engineer salary is $109,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Engineering design and analysis and Laboratory analysis tend to command a premium over general materials engineer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Chemical Engineer pays a typical $38,900 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."
Materials Engineer salary questions
How much do materials engineers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a materials engineer is $109,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is materials engineer pay rising or falling?
The median materials engineer salary is up $22,800 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than materials engineer?
Chemical Engineer pays a typical $38,900 a year more and draws on similar skills to materials engineer.