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Mechanical Engineer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a mechanical engineer is $135,900 per annum, before tax, up $28,300 since 2018.
Mechanical engineers work across very different pay settings, and mining and resources roles pay well above manufacturing and consulting. Chartered status, the size of the firm and whether the job runs on a site roster all shift the figure. Consulting pay tends to climb once you are managing projects and clients rather than doing the analysis yourself.
Roles that pay more than mechanical engineer
The largest typical pay rise is $47,100 a year, moving into Engineering Manager.
- Engineering Manager+$47,100/yr
- Mining Engineer+$47,000/yr
- Mechatronics Engineer+$7,700/yr
How to negotiate a higher mechanical engineer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time mechanical engineer salary is $135,900; 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 CAD and technical drawing tend to command a premium over general mechanical engineer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Engineering Manager pays a typical $47,100 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."
Mechanical Engineer salary questions
How much do mechanical engineers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a mechanical engineer is $135,900 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is mechanical engineer pay rising or falling?
The median mechanical engineer salary is up $28,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than mechanical engineer?
Engineering Manager pays a typical $47,100 a year more and draws on similar skills to mechanical engineer.