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Industrial Engineer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an industrial engineer is $111,800 per annum, before tax, up $23,300 since 2018.
DerivedIndicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data · Estimate
- Sector moves pay more than the job title does: industrial engineers in mining, oil and gas and heavy resources usually earn well above those in general manufacturing, and enterprise agreements set the bands on larger sites.
- Chartered status through Engineers Australia and experience leading a site-wide program both shift you up the range.
- Contract and consulting work can pay a premium, though it usually trades away paid leave and stability.
The median salary rose by $23,300 between 2018 and 2024; the dashed line shows a projection to 2028 based on the real ABS Wage Price Index growth rate, not a role-specific forecast.
Roles that pay more than industrial engineer
The largest typical pay rise is $71,200 a year, moving into Engineering Manager.
- Engineering Manager+$71,200/yr
- Logistics Manager+$35,600/yr
- Mechanical Engineer+$24,100/yr
How to negotiate a higher industrial engineer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time industrial engineer salary is $111,800; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Industrial 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 Process improvement and Operations management tend to command a premium over general industrial engineer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Engineering Manager pays a typical $71,200 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."
Industrial Engineer salary questions
How much do industrial engineers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an industrial engineer is $111,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is industrial engineer pay rising or falling?
The median industrial engineer salary is up $23,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than industrial engineer?
Engineering Manager pays a typical $71,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to industrial engineer.
Related salaries
- Production Engineer salary
- Mechanical Engineer salary
- Engineering Manager salary
- Continuous Improvement Manager salary
- Logistics Manager salary
- Electrical Engineer salary
Pay advice
- How to ask for a pay rise, and back it up with real numbersWhat national wage growth looks like right now, how to work out a figure for your own role, wording you can adapt for the conversation, and what to do if the answer is no.
- The average salary in Australia (2026)Full-time adults in Australia averaged $2,083.70 a week in May 2026. Several measures get called the average salary, and this explains which one fits your situation.
- Overtime pay, time in lieu and what your award saysOvertime rates come from your award or agreement, not one national rule. How rates work, what happens on a salary, and how time off in lieu works.