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Automation Technician salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an automation technician is $98,800 per annum, before tax, up $21,000 since 2018.
Automation technicians usually work under an award or enterprise agreement, so what you take home depends on the sector and the shifts you accept. Mining, utilities and heavy manufacturing generally pay above the maintenance rates in light manufacturing, and on-call allowances, overtime and site allowances can add a lot to a base rate. Holding an electrical licence and being able to work on fixed wiring also opens roles that pay more than programming and support positions.
Roles that pay more than automation technician
The largest typical pay rise is $36,400 a year, moving into ROV Pilot.
- ROV Pilot+$36,400/yr
- Chemical Plant Operator+$7,800/yr
How to negotiate a higher automation technician salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time automation technician salary is $98,800; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Automation Technicians 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 Programming and software development and Installation and maintenance tend to command a premium over general automation technician experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. ROV Pilot pays a typical $36,400 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."
Automation Technician salary questions
How much do automation technicians earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an automation technician is $98,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is automation technician pay rising or falling?
The median automation technician salary is up $21,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than automation technician?
ROV Pilot pays a typical $36,400 a year more and draws on similar skills to automation technician.