Environmental engineer salary guide: what you can expect to earn in Australia

Environmental engineer salary overview

If you are considering a career as an environmental engineer in Australia, you will want to know the typical environmental engineer salary range. According to , indicative salaries for this role span from $85,000 to $155,000 per year (2025 full-time AUD). This broad band reflects variation by employer, experience, and location. The occupation is in growing demand, driven by mining rehabilitation, industrial contamination, and infrastructure environmental compliance.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that environmental engineers are employed primarily in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services; and Public Administration and Safety. The median age is 36, with 36% female participation. Most work full-time (82%), averaging 42 hours per week. Median weekly earnings are not published for this specific six-digit occupation, but the indicative range from gives a reliable guide.

How it compares to national benchmarks

To put the environmental engineer salary in context, compare it with key Benchmarks. The national minimum wage from Fair Work is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, which annualises to $52,255. The all employees average weekly total earnings (including part-time) is $1,579.20 per week, or $82,118 per year. Full-time adult ordinary time earnings (excluding overtime and employer super) are $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year.

Even the lower end of the environmental engineer range ($85,000) sits above the all employees average and approaches the full-time ordinary time benchmark. The upper end ($155,000) is well above that benchmark, reflecting the specialised nature of the work and the value placed on environmental compliance and remediation skills.

Take-home pay estimate

Your actual take-home pay depends on your taxable income, tax rates, and the Medicare levy. For the 2026-27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:

• Nil on the first $18,200
• 15 cents per dollar from $18,201 to $45,000
• 30 cents per dollar from $45,001 to $135,000
• 37 cents per dollar from $135,001 to $190,000
• 45 cents per dollar above $190,000

The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income, with a full-rate threshold of $35,013 for singles (the latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013). Most full-time environmental engineers will pay the full 2%.

For a salary of $120,000 (mid-range), the estimated tax is $26,520 and Medicare levy is $2,400, leaving an annual take-home of about $91,080. Fortnightly, that is roughly $3,503. Use our Take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate. Remember that superannuation is additional: from 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%, and most job advertisements quote a salary excluding super.

Superannuation and other considerations

Employer super contributions are not deducted from your take-home pay if the salary is quoted as base plus super. The maximum contribution base for super is $270,830 per quarter. If you salary package or have a novated lease, your take-home pay will differ. The figures here are estimates only and not a tax assessment.

For more details on the occupation, see the profile. The ABS also classifies environmental engineers under OSCA code 243935.

Summary

The environmental engineer salary in Australia typically ranges from $85,000 to $155,000 per year. This places the role well above the national minimum wage and competitive with full-time average earnings. Your take-home pay will depend on your exact salary and personal circumstances, but the figures above give a realistic starting point.