Engineering graduates in Australia earn on average $26,000 more than other graduates five years into their careers.
Engineers are among Australia’s top earning graduates, with new data confirming the significant personal, professional and financial rewards of an engineering degree.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia’s Higher Education Outcomes Report, engineering graduates earn on average $26,000 more than other graduates five years into their careers.
Engineers Australia Chief Engineer, Katherine Richards AM CSC, said the findings highlight the profession’s value.
“This data shows that engineering is valued and that it’s not only rewarding personally and professionally, but financially. Engineering impacts almost every facet of life.”
The report also found Engineering and Related Technology graduates report median incomes of $106,550, while post-graduate engineering qualifications push earnings to $135,000.
Mining Engineers top the nation’s graduate salary rankings at $152,000 in their fifth year, surpassing professions such as general medicine ($151,000), law ($95,000), economics ($93,000) and management and commerce ($87,000).
Mrs Richards said while this exceptional earning power reflects the demand for engineering talent, our need for national engineering capability will only continue to grow and Australia needs more engineering graduates.
“More than half of the nation’s $1.7 trillion GDP is generated through six engineering-intensive sectors, yet just over five per cent of domestic students are studying engineering. That’s why we are calling on governments at all levels to support our call to set a national target for an additional 60,000 engineering graduates in the decade ahead to maximise Australia’s growth, productivity and prosperity.”
| Graduate outcomes by field of education | Year 1 | Year 5 |
| Mining Engineering | $113,380 | $152,000 |
| Engineering and related technologies | $74,540 | $106,550 |
| Electrical Engineering | $74,180 | $106,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $71,460 | $100,720 |
| Electrical, Electronic Engineering & Technology | $70,840 | $98,250 |
| Civil Engineering | $69,100 | $97,850 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $69,790 | $96,490 |
| Electronic Engineering | $65,700 | $96,020 |
| Biomedical Engineering | $61,770 | $93,570 |
| Aerospace Engineering | $65,260 | $92,780 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $66,070 | $92,300 |
| Environmental Engineering | $67,850 | $92,090 |
| Computer Engineering | $64,300 | $88,770 |
| Average for all Australia tertiary students | $65,527 | $85,918 |
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Higher Education Outcomes Report
About the JSA data
- The Jobs and Skills Australia Higher Education Outcomes Report analyses graduate outcomes in all major tertiary fields including field such as arts, business, education, health and science. Using Australian Tax Office income data up to 2022-23 it tracks both domestic and international students in Australia.
Engineering graduates
- In 2023, 5.2% of domestic commencing students enrolled in engineering, on a par with a decade ago (5.6%).
- Australian universities awarded 21,648 engineering degrees half (47.5%) to international students.
- Women accounted for 19% of engineering Bachelor degrees and female international students account for 29% of engineering Research PhD and Masters graduates.
- Engineering has the second highest proportion of commencements with an ATAR of 80+ (73.2 per cent).
Source: Engineer Australia
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