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Production Engineer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a production engineer is $108,200 per annum, before tax, up $22,500 since 2018.
The agreement covering your site moves pay more than anything else, so a mine or a heavy processing plant on a union enterprise agreement sits differently from a small manufacturer on individual contracts. Shift rosters, overtime and production bonuses add to the base in many operations, while seniority shows up in whether you are managing a line or supporting one.
Roles that pay more than production engineer
The largest typical pay rise is $74,800 a year, moving into Engineering Manager.
- Engineering Manager+$74,800/yr
- Chemical Engineer+$39,900/yr
- Mechanical Engineer+$27,700/yr
How to negotiate a higher production engineer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time production engineer salary is $108,200; 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 Process improvement and Operations management tend to command a premium over general production engineer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Engineering Manager pays a typical $74,800 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."
Production Engineer salary questions
How much do production engineers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a production engineer is $108,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is production engineer pay rising or falling?
The median production engineer salary is up $22,500 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than production engineer?
Engineering Manager pays a typical $74,800 a year more and draws on similar skills to production engineer.