Electrical Engineer salary guide Australia 2026
The median Electrical Engineer salary in Australia is $120,000, with pay ranging from $83,000 at entry level to $148,000 for senior professionals.
Overview
What does an Electrical Engineer earn?
The median salary of Electrical Engineers in Australia is $120,000. Salaries typically sit within $95,000–$148,000, shifting upward as you gain chartership or specialised technical expertise. Early-career positions start around $83,000, while highly experienced practitioners can secure upwards of $148,000 across heavy industry and energy projects.
Optional — pick a state first
Median for Electrical Engineer, nationally across Australia.
10th $95,000
25th $120,000
50th (median) $148,000
75th $179,000
90th
Figures above update by state/city. For a full breakdown by seniority, see the table below.
Location
Electrical Engineer salary by city
Brisbane offers the highest Electrical Engineer salaries among Australia's major cities, at around $131,000. This is closely followed by Sydney at $125,000, where ongoing industrial and commercial development continues to drive strong hiring competition.
What drives salary
Factors that affect Electrical Engineer pay
Your earning capacity as an Electrical Engineer depends on where and how you apply your skills. Specialised technical credentials and sector demand play the largest roles in moving pay brackets.
Holding Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status or National Engineering Register (NER) accreditation signals proven competence. In Queensland, Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) registration is a legal requirement to sign off on projects, which commands a noticeable salary premium.
Specialising in high voltage (HV) network design and low voltage (LV) infrastructure increases market demand for your skills. Employers value Engineers who navigate complex distribution grids alongside strict safety requirements.
Experience with utility-scale solar farms and energy storage projects attracts elevated compensation. As Australia transitions its power grid, organisations actively reward Engineers with clean-energy project backgrounds.
Engineers working across mining operations and remote infrastructure sites generally earn higher rates. These roles involve harsh operating conditions and sophisticated industrial machinery.
A deep working knowledge of AS/NZS standards paired with multidisciplinary team coordination pushes salaries higher. Delivering complex works on time while managing client expectations makes experienced talent especially valuable.
Comparison
How Electrical Engineers compare to related roles
An Electrical Engineer typically earns in line with a Mechanical Engineer or Civil Engineer, though specialised high-voltage and renewable grid roles command a clear premium. Against a Structural Engineer or Systems Engineer, Electrical Engineers often achieve higher earnings once they move into lead technical design.
| Role | Range | Relative | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineer You are here | $95,000–$148,000 | $120,000 | |
| Systems Engineer | $91,000–$142,000 | $114,000 | |
| Mechanical Engineer | $89,000–$136,000 | $110,000 | |
| Civil Engineer | $88,000–$140,000 | $110,000 | |
| Structural Engineer | $90,000–$131,000 | $108,000 |
Employment Hero Job Data
Salary figures are derived from Employment Hero proprietary data. All figures represent base salary only and exclude bonuses, superannuation and other benefits. Last updated October 2026.
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