Your civil engineering salary: what clears after tax
Civil engineering salary data shows median full-time pay around $115,000–$120,000, with an award minimum of $68,538 for graduates.
How to work out what clears after tax as a civil engineer
When you see a civil engineering salary in a job ad, the figure is usually gross – before tax, Medicare levy, and any salary sacrifice. What you actually take home depends on your taxable income, the tax rates for 2026–27, and the Medicare levy. This guide walks you through the numbers using the latest public data from the Australian Taxation Office and Jobs and Skills Australia.
What the data says about civil engineering salary
The most recent ATO tax return data for 2023–24 shows that 50,761 people who gave their occupation as “Civil engineer” had a median salary or wage income of $120,000 and an average of $131,274. Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings for Civil Engineering Professionals (ANZSCO 2332) at $2,217 a week, which works out to about $115,284 a year. Both figures are before tax. The award minimum for a graduate civil engineer is $68,538 a year under the Professional Employees Award from 1 July 2026.
From gross to take-home
To estimate your take-home pay, start with your gross annual salary. For 2026–27, the tax rates are:
- $0–$18,200: nil
- $18,201–$45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
- $45,001–$135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
- $135,001–$190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
- Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000
You also get the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) if your taxable income is under $66,667. On a $120,000 salary, LITO is reduced to zero. The Medicare levy is a flat 2% of your taxable income – full-time salaries always pay the full 2% because they exceed the upper threshold of $35,013.
For example, on a $120,000 civil engineering salary:
- Tax on $120,000: $4,020 + 30c × ($120,000 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $22,500 = $26,020
- LITO: $0 (reduced to zero at this income)
- Medicare levy: 2% × $120,000 = $2,400
- Total deductions: $28,020 + $2,400 = $28,920
- Take-home: $120,000 – $28,920 = $91,080 a year, or $3,503 a fortnight.
Award minimums and your pay
If you are a graduate civil engineer starting at Level 1 pay point 1.1 (4- or 5-year degree), the award minimum is $68,538 a year. Take-home on that is about $56,086 a year ($2,086 a fortnight). Once your contract salary is at least 25% above your level’s minimum, overtime and penalty clauses stop applying.
Super and salary packaging
Super is 12% from 1 July 2026 on earnings up to $270,830. Job ads often say “plus super” – that means the employer pays super on top of the salary, not deducted from your take-home. If you salary sacrifice into super, your taxable income reduces, which can lower your tax and Medicare levy.
Using the take-home pay calculator
For a personalised estimate, use the Take-home pay tool on this site. It applies the 2026–27 rates and Medicare thresholds. Remember it excludes HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary sacrifice – so adjust for those if they apply.
Questions
What is the take-home pay on a civil engineering salary of $120,000?
On a $120,000 civil engineering salary, you take home about $91,080 a year ($3,503 a fortnight) after income tax and the Medicare levy at 2026–27 rates, assuming no HECS-HELP or Medicare levy surcharge.
What is the minimum pay for a graduate civil engineer?
Under the Professional Employees Award, a graduate civil engineer with a 4- or 5-year degree must be paid at least $68,538 a year ($34.57 an hour) from 1 July 2026. Take-home on that is about $56,086 a year ($2,157 a fortnight).
How does the Medicare levy affect my civil engineering salary?
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. Full-time salaries always pay the full 2% because they exceed the upper threshold of $35,013. The lower threshold is $28,011, but it only applies to very low incomes.