Your Electrical Engineering Salary: What Reaches Your Bank Account After Tax
Electrical engineering salaries vary widely: the award minimum for a graduate is $68,538, while median full-time pay is around $132,756 per year, according to Jobs and Skills Australia and ATO data.
Your Electrical Engineering Salary: What You Actually Take Home
When you're comparing job offers or negotiating a raise, the headline number isn't what matters most. What counts is the amount that reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. This guide breaks down the latest data on electrical engineering salaries in Australia, from the legal minimum to the market median, and shows you how much you keep.
The Award Minimum: Your Legal Floor
If you're a graduate electrical engineer with a four- or five-year degree recognised by Engineers Australia, the Professional Employees Award 2020 sets your minimum pay. From 1 July 2026, the minimum weekly rate for a Level 1 Graduate professional (pay point 1.1) is $1,313.83 per week for a 38-hour week, which works out to $68,538 per year and $34.57 per hour .
This is a floor, not a target. Most experienced electrical engineers earn well above this. The award also defines higher levels: Level 2 (experienced professional) starts at $78,836 per year, and Level 4 reaches $97,173 per year. But market rates are significantly higher.
Median Market Pay: What Most Electrical Engineers Earn
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time earnings for electrical engineers (ANZSCO 2333) are $2,553 per week – that's $67 per hour and about $132,756 per year . This is based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and reflects full-time non-managerial employees.
The Australian Taxation Office's 2023–24 tax returns show a similar picture: 34,797 people who identified as electrical engineers reported a median salary or wage income of $130,630 and an average of $134,110 .
So a realistic electrical engineering salary in Australia today is around $130,000 to $133,000 per year for a full-time role. Your actual pay will depend on experience, industry, location, and the specific employer.
What You Take Home After Tax and Medicare
Using the 2026–27 tax rates and the Medicare levy (2% for full-time earners), here's what you keep from the key benchmarks:
| Salary figure | Gross per year | Tax + Medicare | Take-home per year | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award minimum (graduate) | $68,538 | −$12,452 | $56,086 | $2,157 |
| Median full-time (JSA) | $132,756 | −$33,002 | $99,754 | $3,837 |
| Median salary (ATO) | $130,630 | −$32,322 | $98,308 | $3,781 |
| Average salary (ATO) | $134,110 | −$33,435 | $100,675 | $3,872 |
These estimates assume you are a resident, have private hospital cover (so no Medicare levy surcharge), and have no HELP/HECS debt. The latest published single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013 – full-time salaries pay the full 2% levy.
How to Compare Job Offers Using Take-Home Pay
When you receive a job offer, follow these steps:
Check if the salary is 'plus super' or 'including super'. Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026 and is not deducted from your take-home if the salary is quoted as 'plus super'. If it's 'including super', your cash salary is lower.
Calculate your take-home using the tax tables. Use our Take-home pay guide or a calculator to factor in your specific circumstances – HELP debt, Medicare levy surcharge if you earn over $105,000 without private hospital cover, and salary packaging.
Compare the after-tax amount, not the gross. A $130,000 salary might sound similar to $132,000, but the difference in take-home is about $1,500 per year. Use the figures above as a quick reference.
Consider the total package. Include super, bonuses, and benefits like a car or health insurance. But remember: super is locked away until retirement, so focus on the cash in hand.
Why the Electrical Engineering Salary Varies
Your individual pay depends on:
- Experience: Graduates start at the award minimum; experienced engineers with 4+ years can reach Level 2 or higher.
- Industry: Engineers in mining, oil and gas, or power generation often earn more than those in consulting or manufacturing.
- Location: Salaries in Sydney and Melbourne tend to be higher, but so is the cost of living.
- Company size: Large multinationals and government agencies may pay above market rates.
Key Takeaways
- The award minimum for a graduate electrical engineer is $68,538 per year.
- The median full-time electrical engineering salary is around $132,756 per year (JSA) or $130,630 (ATO).
- Take-home on the median is about $99,754 per year ($3,837 per fortnight) after tax and Medicare.
- Always compare offers on an after-tax basis and factor in super and other benefits.
For more detailed calculations, see our Tax and Medicare guide or use the Clearance tool to estimate your specific take-home pay.
Questions
What is the take-home pay for an electrical engineer on the median salary?
On the median full-time pay of $132,756 per year (from Jobs and Skills Australia), your take-home after 2026–27 income tax and the Medicare levy (with private hospital cover and no HELP debt) is about $99,754 a year, or $3,837 a fortnight. If you earn the ATO median of $130,630, take-home is roughly $98,308 a year, or $3,781 a fortnight.
How does the award minimum compare to market rates?
The Professional Employees Award 2020 sets a minimum of $68,538 per year for a graduate electrical engineer (Level 1, pay point 1.1). That is a legal floor. Market rates are much higher: the median full-time electrical engineer earns about $132,756, nearly double the award. Always check whether your employer pays above the award, as most do.
How should I use this information when comparing job offers?
Focus on the amount that lands in your bank account after tax and Medicare. Use the take-home figures above as a benchmark. Also consider superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026) – if the salary is quoted as 'plus super', add that to your total package. Use our Take-home pay guide to calculate your specific situation, including any HELP debt or Medicare levy surcharge.