Mechanical Engineer Salary Australia
APS and federal government pay, labour-market context, experience bands, states, industries, qualifications and career progression — without mixing incompatible salary measures.
Last updated: 21 September 2026 · ANZSCO 233512
Typical APS professional band
$77,865 – $118,780
Senior APS / EL band
$120,750 – $143,200
APS employer super
15.4%
Employed nationally (JSA)
22,900
Figures are base salary bands unless labelled otherwise. See methodology.
Salary snapshot
| Measure | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Federal APS base (illustrative) | Many professional engineers sit APS 4–EL 2 ($77,865 – $182,500) before allowances. |
| Broader labour-market indicator | Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers (broader ANZSCO group — not Mechanical Engineer 233512 only): $2,614/week full-time median (~$135,928/year) — not a Mechanical Engineer–only median. |
| Private SG reference | 12% Super Guarantee on ordinary time earnings for most private employers (2025-26). |
Salary methodology
APS base salary figures come from the APSC Remuneration Report 2025 (2025–26 financial year) in src/data/federal/aps-levels.ts. Employer superannuation for APS employees is shown at 15.4% on top of base salary unless stated otherwise.
Private-sector Super Guarantee for most employers is 12% for 2025–26 (see src/data/rates/ato-super-guarantee.ts). Payday super timing rules changed from 1 July 2025; the rate itself remains 12% unless a contract pays more.
Labour-market employment counts and industry mix reference Jobs and Skills Australia ANZSCO 233512 Mechanical Engineers. JSA notes ANZSCO occupation pages are no longer being updated as OSCA is introduced — treat ANZSCO labour-market pages as historical context and verify against current JSA releases.
Broader-group weekly and hourly earnings ($2,614 full-time weekly median and $67 hourly median) are from JSA’s Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers group (ABS May 2025). They are labelled explicitly and are not Mechanical Engineer–only medians.
Agency pay bands on this page are illustrative ranges tied to APS framework endpoints or enterprise agreement structures; individual vacancies state the classification and salary range.
Australian labour-market context
Jobs and Skills Australia lists Mechanical Engineers under ANZSCO 233512 with about 22,900 people employed nationally. The occupation is concentrated in professional, scientific and technical services, manufacturing and mining. JSA’s six-digit Mechanical Engineer profile does not publish a dedicated median weekly earnings figure; labour-market earnings for the wider industrial/mechanical/production engineers group are reported separately and must not be read as a Mechanical Engineer-only average.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO 233512)
Mechanical Engineer salary in the Australian Government
There is no single universal federal mechanical engineer salary. Commonwealth employers pay by classification (APS or agency technical stream), enterprise agreement and role. Engineers appear across Defence, infrastructure and transport portfolios, research agencies and regulatory bodies — each with different allowance structures.
Base pay follows the advertised classification. APS employees receive 15.4% employer superannuation. Locality, shift, field and clearance-related allowances can change total cash without changing the headline APS level.
Return to the Federal Engineering Hub for the full agency directory. If the vacancy is classified APS 6, read the APS 6 salary guide for pay points and take-home context.
APS classifications (government engineering context)
These are national APS base salary bands (2025–26). They do not automatically apply to every engineer — your offer states the classification. Cross-check APS 6 and EL 1 when those levels appear on the ad.
| Level | Base salary | Super (15.4%) | Base + super | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS 4 | $77,865 – $86,500 | $11,991+ (on min) | $89,856+ (on min base) | APSC 2025–26 |
| APS 5 | $88,085 – $97,400 | $13,565+ (on min) | $101,650+ (on min base) | APSC 2025–26 |
| APS 6 | $100,190 – $118,780 | $15,429+ (on min) | $115,619+ (on min base) | APSC 2025–26 |
| EL 1 | $120,750 – $143,200 | $18,596+ (on min) | $139,346+ (on min base) | APSC 2025–26 |
| EL 2 | $150,800 – $182,500 | $23,223+ (on min) | $174,023+ (on min base) | APSC 2025–26 |
Salary calculator (base + super + take-home)
Annual base (mid)
$109,485
Employer super (15.4%)
$16,861
Fortnightly take-home
$3,187
Salary by experience
| Stage | Experience | Federal context | Private market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate / entry | 0–2 years | Commonwealth graduate engineers often enter APS 3–APS 5 (77,865–97,400 base for APS 4–5 bands, 2025–26 APSC framework). | Private graduate packages vary by sector; Engineers Australia publishes graduate outcomes by field of education, not a single Mechanical Engineer statutory rate. |
| Early career | 3–5 years | Professional engineers frequently sit at APS 5–APS 6 once leading work packages (88,085–118,780 APS band range). | — |
| Mid-career | 6–10 years | Technical leads and specialist engineers may be classified APS 6 or EL 1 (100,190–143,200). | — |
| Senior / principal | 10+ years | Senior specialists and engineering managers often map to EL 1–EL 2 (120,750–182,500 base before allowances). | — |
Graduate Mechanical Engineer salary
Mechanical engineering graduates typically hold a four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or equivalent accredited degree. Commonwealth graduate programs recruit annually — check APS Jobs and agency sites for current intake windows rather than relying on stale closing dates.
APS graduate engineers commonly start between APS 3 and APS 5 depending on program and prior experience. Defence, CSIRO and ANSTO run STEM-focused streams that may include rotations, mentoring and baseline security clearance for defence-adjacent roles.
Engineers Australia reports graduate earnings outcomes by engineering discipline. Those figures describe early-career labour-market outcomes across employers — they are not identical to APS graduate salary rates.
Senior Mechanical Engineer salary
Senior Mechanical Engineer, Lead Engineer, Principal Engineer and Engineering Manager are employer-specific titles. In the APS they may align with APS 6, EL 1 or EL 2 depending on whether the role is hands-on technical or people and budget leadership.
Technical specialist streams in research agencies let senior engineers remain in deep technical work without moving into general executive management.
Private-sector senior mechanical engineers in mining, consulting and OEM firms may earn higher base cash than APS equivalents, but comparisons must include super (15.4% employer contribution in APS), allowances, leave and job security preferences.
Employment by state and territory
Shares are from JSA employment distribution. They show where jobs are located — not salary levels in each state.
| State | Employment share | Major industries | Federal opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 25.7% | Manufacturing, professional services, infrastructure | Defence estate, CASA, portfolio agencies in Sydney and Canberra corridor |
| VIC | 28.3% | Manufacturing, automotive supply chain, R&D | DSTG, CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology, Airservices |
| QLD | 18.4% | Mining services, energy, manufacturing | Defence bases, marine safety, research facilities |
| WA | 18.9% | Mining, LNG, remote operations | Defence, Geoscience Australia field programs, BOM radar sites |
| SA | Smaller share | Defence industry, shipbuilding, energy | Defence capability, submarine supply chain agencies |
| TAS | Smaller share | Manufacturing, marine | Antarctic Division, BOM, CSIRO |
| ACT | Smaller share | Public administration | Defence headquarters, DSTG, policy and capability offices |
| NT | Smaller share | Mining, remote infrastructure | Defence, remote locality allowances on APS roles |
Industries employing Mechanical Engineers
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Manufacturing
- Mining and resources
- Defence and aerospace
- Energy and utilities
- Transport and infrastructure
- Public administration (Commonwealth and state)
- Research and development
What does a Mechanical Engineer do?
Mechanical engineers design, develop, test and maintain mechanical systems — plant, machinery, vehicles, HVAC, pressure systems and production equipment. Work spans concept design, specifications, materials selection, manufacturing support, reliability engineering and safety assurance.
In the Australian Government, mechanical engineers support defence capability and estate, transport safety, research infrastructure (CSIRO, ANSTO), Antarctic stations, meteorological hardware and regulatory certification. Day-to-day tasks include engineering analysis, technical documentation, project coordination, inspection and stakeholder advice.
Tasks align with JSA’s occupation description for ANZSCO 233512: applying physics and materials science to mechanical problems, preparing drawings and standards compliance, and coordinating with other engineering disciplines.
Mechanical Engineering specialisations
Defence & sustainment
Land systems, maritime mechanical systems, test ranges and asset reliability.
Manufacturing & production
Process plant, quality systems and continuous improvement.
HVAC & building services
Thermal comfort and fire services in large facilities.
Robotics & mechatronics
Integrated control and mechanical design.
Renewable energy
Wind, solar thermal and storage mechanical interfaces.
Process engineering
Chemical and materials processing plant.
Marine & naval
Maritime systems and naval architecture interfaces.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or equivalent from a Washington Accord–recognised program.
- Engineers Australia accreditation for Australian degrees; National Engineering Register and Chartered status (CPEng) are professional recognition tools — not universal hiring requirements for every APS role.
- State and territory registration may apply to certain professional engineering services in the built environment; that is separate from APS classification.
- Postgraduate study (masters, PhD) can support research roles at CSIRO, ANSTO and DSTG but is not mandatory for all mechanical engineering positions.
Skills
Technical
- CAD and mechanical design (SolidWorks, Inventor, CATIA or similar)
- Finite element analysis and engineering simulation
- Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer
- Materials selection and manufacturing processes
- Reliability, maintainability and asset management
- Control systems interfaces (often with mechatronics teams)
- Standards compliance (AS, ISO, defence specifications where applicable)
Professional
- Technical writing and engineering reports
- Project scheduling and stakeholder communication
- Risk assessment and safety in design
- Contractor and supplier management
- Cross-disciplinary coordination with electrical and civil engineers
Career progression
Private sector (illustrative)
- Graduate Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Senior Mechanical Engineer
- Lead / Principal Engineer
- Engineering Manager
- Technical Director or executive leadership
Australian Government (illustrative)
- Graduate / APS entry engineer
- APS 5–6 professional engineer
- EL 1 team lead or senior specialist
- EL 2 principal engineer or section manager
- SES or executive pathway (not all engineers pursue management)
Defence engineering
Defence employs civilian mechanical engineers across estate, capability acquisition, sustainment and science. Work can include vehicles, maritime systems, mechanical components of weapons platforms, test and evaluation, and engineering assurance.
Australian Defence Force (ADF) commissioned engineering officers (including electrical and mechanical engineering officer categories under Defence pay and conditions) are paid under military salary structures — not APS base salary tables. Do not combine ADF officer pay with civilian APS mechanical engineer remuneration.
DSTG hires mechanical engineers for research prototypes, environmental testing and integration with other disciplines. Clearance requirements are common and affect which roles a candidate can access.
Engineer vs technician
Mechanical Engineers (ANZSCO 233512) are degree-qualified professional engineers. Mechanical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians (ANZSCO unit group 3125) are a separate occupation with different training, duties and pay profiles. Salary data for technicians must not be presented as Mechanical Engineer salary.
Federal agency pay bands (illustrative)
Recheck current vacancies before applying — classifications change per ad.
| Agency | Indicative range | Roles | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Defence (civilian APS) | $88,085 – $143,200 | Mechanical engineer, sustainment engineer, project engineer | Illustrative APS span for advertised civilian engineering roles; actual classification depends on the vacancy. |
| Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) | $88,085 – $182,500 | Research engineer, test engineer, systems integration | Technical streams may use Defence science pay structures in addition to APS classifications. |
| CSIRO | $77,865 – $182,500 | Research engineer, experimental mechanical systems | Paid under CSIRO enterprise agreement classifications, not generic APS labels on all roles. |
| ANSTO | $77,865 – $143,200 | Mechanical systems, reactor support, radiopharmaceutical plant | Nuclear facility engineering; ANSTO EA applies. |
| Bureau of Meteorology | $77,865 – $118,780 | Field engineering, radar and observational systems | Operational engineering with shift and locality components possible. |
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO 233512)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (via JSA broader-group earnings)
- APSC Remuneration Report 2025 — APS classifications
- ATO Super Guarantee rates
- Agency careers pages linked in the agency table
Data checked: 21 September 2026
FAQs
How much does a Mechanical Engineer earn in Australia?
Pay depends on employer, experience and location. Commonwealth engineers are usually paid by APS classification or agency enterprise agreement — often between APS 4 and EL 2 base salary ($77,865–$182,500 in the 2025–26 APSC framework) plus 15.4% employer super, before allowances. Private-sector packages vary widely across mining, manufacturing and consulting.
What is the average Mechanical Engineer salary in Australia?
JSA does not publish a dedicated median weekly earnings figure for ANZSCO 233512 Mechanical Engineers on its occupation profile. A broader industrial/mechanical/production engineers group reports $2,614 median full-time weekly earnings (ABS May 2025) — that is not a Mechanical Engineer–only average. We do not quote a single “average mechanical engineer salary” without that distinction.
How much does a graduate Mechanical Engineer earn?
APS graduate engineers often start at APS 3–APS 5 ($67,875–$97,400 base in 2025–26, depending on classification). Private graduate roles vary by industry. Engineers Australia graduate outcome surveys report discipline-level early earnings across all employers — not APS rates alone.
How much does a senior Mechanical Engineer earn?
Senior titles may align with APS 6 to EL 2 in government ($100,190–$182,500 base in 2025–26) or higher in private resources and consulting when bonuses and site allowances apply. Title and classification must be read from the employer’s offer.
How much does a Mechanical Engineer earn in the Australian Government?
There is no single federal mechanical engineer salary. Pay follows the classification on the job — commonly APS 5–EL 2 for professional engineers — plus 15.4% employer super and any locality, shift or deployment allowances in the relevant enterprise agreement.
What APS level are Mechanical Engineers?
Levels vary by agency and seniority. Graduates may enter APS 3–5; experienced professional engineers are often APS 6; team leaders and principals may be EL 1–EL 2. Defence and research agencies can use parallel technical classifications.
How much does a Defence Mechanical Engineer earn?
Civilian Defence mechanical engineers are paid under APS or Defence technical arrangements for the advertised classification. ADF engineering officers are paid under military salary schedules — a different system. Check the specific job ad or ADF pay documentation; do not assume one Defence figure covers both.
Does a Mechanical Engineer need to be registered in Australia?
A degree accredited under the Washington Accord is the usual entry requirement. CPEng and state registration apply to some professional engineering services in the built environment. JSA notes registration may be required in some states and territories for certain work.
What degree do I need to become a Mechanical Engineer?
A four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or equivalent accredited engineering degree is standard. Some research roles prefer or require postgraduate qualifications.
Which industries employ Mechanical Engineers?
JSA highlights professional, scientific and technical services, manufacturing and mining. Defence, energy, transport and government research agencies also employ mechanical engineers in Australia.
Which Australian states employ the most Mechanical Engineers?
JSA employment distribution includes Victoria (28.3%), NSW (25.7%), Western Australia (18.9%) and Queensland (18.4%), with smaller shares elsewhere. Employment share does not imply salary levels in each state.
How does Mechanical Engineer salary change with experience?
Experience affects starting classification and promotion speed. In the APS, progression is through pay points and merit promotion to higher classifications. Private-sector progression may be faster in boom sectors but less structured.
Do government Mechanical Engineers receive superannuation?
Yes. APS employees receive a 15.4% employer superannuation contribution under current Commonwealth policy — higher than the 12% Super Guarantee that applies to most private employers.
What is the difference between a Mechanical Engineer and a Mechanical Engineering Technician?
Mechanical Engineers (ANZSCO 233512) are degree-qualified professionals. Mechanical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians (ANZSCO 3125) perform different duties with separate training pathways and pay data.
Is Mechanical Engineering a good career in Australia?
Demand remains supported across manufacturing, resources, defence and professional services, with about 22,900 employed Mechanical Engineers nationally per JSA. Suitability depends on your preferred sector, location tolerance and interest in structured APS progression versus private-sector variability.