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Aerospace Engineer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an aerospace engineer is $137,700 per annum, before tax, up $29,000 since 2018.
Pay follows the employer more than the job title: defence contractors and large manufacturers work under enterprise agreements that set bands by classification, while smaller consultancies and space companies negotiate more individually. A security clearance, chartered status through Engineers Australia and a specialisation such as avionics or propulsion all tend to lift offers. Project-based contracts can pay well but usually trade away leave and long-term security.
Roles that pay more than aerospace engineer
The largest typical pay rise is $45,300 a year, moving into Engineering Manager.
- Engineering Manager+$45,300/yr
How to negotiate a higher aerospace engineer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time aerospace engineer salary is $137,700; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Aerospace 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 aerospace engineer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Engineering Manager pays a typical $45,300 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."
Aerospace Engineer salary questions
How much do aerospace engineers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an aerospace engineer is $137,700 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is aerospace engineer pay rising or falling?
The median aerospace engineer salary is up $29,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than aerospace engineer?
Engineering Manager pays a typical $45,300 a year more and draws on similar skills to aerospace engineer.