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Mechanical Engineering Technician salary in Australia

The median full-time salary for a mechanical engineering technician is $93,600 per annum, before tax, up $19,400 since 2018.

• Pay depends heavily on the sector, with technicians in mining, oil and gas and heavy manufacturing usually earning more than those in light manufacturing or repair workshops, and enterprise agreements setting rates on many large sites.
• Overtime, shift work and site allowances add to the base, which is part of why average full-time hours in this role run above a standard week.
• Registration is not required, so a technician's pay rests on their qualifications, the systems they can work on and how much responsibility they take for installation and commissioning.

Roles that pay more than mechanical engineering technician

The largest typical pay rise is $89,400 a year, moving into Engineering Manager.

• Engineering Manager+$89,400/yr
• Mechanical Engineer+$42,300/yr
• Metal Machinist+$41,900/yr

How to negotiate a higher mechanical engineering technician salary

• Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time mechanical engineering technician salary is $93,600; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
• Use demand as leverage. Mechanical Engineering 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 Engineering design and analysis and CAD and technical drawing tend to command a premium over general mechanical engineering technician experience, name them specifically when you ask.
• Bring a real alternative to the table. Engineering Manager pays a typical $89,400 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."

Mechanical Engineering Technician salary questions

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