Mining engineering salary: what changes your fortnightly take-home pay

Mining engineering salary: what changes your fortnightly take-home pay

If you're a mining engineer in Australia, your pay is among the highest in the country. But the figure you see in a job ad or a salary guide is not what lands in your bank account. Understanding how tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and superannuation affect your fortnightly pay can help you budget and compare offers.

The median mining engineering salary

According to the latest data from , the median full-time weekly earnings for Mining Engineers are $3,518. That works out to an annual salary of about $182,936 before tax. The median hourly rate is $79, and most mining engineers work 50 hours per week. This figure is before tax and before employer superannuation.

From gross to net: what changes your fortnight

Your take-home pay is what remains after income tax and the Medicare levy are deducted. Superannuation may also reduce your take-home if the salary is quoted as inclusive of super. Let's walk through the numbers for a mining engineer earning the median $3,518 per week.

Annual gross pay

• Weekly: $3,518
• Annual (52 weeks): $182,936

Income tax (2026–27 rates)

The Australian tax system is progressive. For a resident earning $182,936:

• First $18,200: nil
• Next $26,800 (from $18,201 to $45,000): taxed at 15c per dollar = $4,020
• Next $90,000 (from $45,001 to $135,000): taxed at 30c per dollar = $27,000
• Remaining $47,936 (from $135,001 to $182,936): taxed at 37c per dollar = $17,736.32
• Total tax: $48,756.32

The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) does not apply at this income level.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For a single person, the full 2% applies once your income exceeds $35,013. At $182,936, you pay the full levy:

• Medicare levy: $182,936 × 2% = $3,658.72

The latest published single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. Below $28,011 you pay no levy; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate. Full-time salaries like this one pay the full 2%.

After-tax annual and fortnightly pay

• Total deductions: $48,756.32 (tax) + $3,658.72 (Medicare) = $52,415.04
• After-tax annual: $182,936 – $52,415.04 = $130,520.96
• Fortnightly take-home: $130,520.96 ÷ 26 = $5,020.04

So from a gross fortnight of $7,036 ($3,518 × 2), you take home about $5,020 after tax and Medicare.

How superannuation changes the picture

Employer superannuation is currently 12% of your ordinary time earnings, paid on top of your salary if the job is advertised as 'plus super'. In that case, your take-home is unaffected. But if the salary is advertised as 'inclusive of super', the 12% is deducted from the total package before you receive your pay. For a $182,936 inclusive package, the base salary would be about $163,336, and super of $19,600 would go to your fund. Your take-home would then be lower because the taxable income is lower.

Always check whether a salary figure is base or package. Our Take-home pay guide explains the difference.

Comparing with other benchmarks

For context, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week (from 1 July 2026). The average full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week. A mining engineering salary of $3,518 per week is well above both.

What about award rates?

Some mining engineers may be covered by the Mining Industry Award [MA000011]. The award sets minimum rates for various classifications, from entry level at $27.53 per hour to dual trade instrument at $36.20 per hour. However, most professional mining engineers are employed above award rates. The pay guides provide the legal minimums, but your actual salary is likely negotiated.

Factors that affect your take-home

• Tax brackets: As your income changes, so does the marginal rate. The 37c bracket applies between $135,001 and $190,000. If you earn more than $190,000, the top rate of 45c applies.
• Medicare levy surcharge: If you don't have appropriate private hospital cover and your income exceeds $93,000 (single), you may pay an extra 1% to 1.5%. This is not included in the estimate above.
• HELP/HECS repayments: If you have a student loan, repayments are deducted at 1% to 10% of your income, reducing take-home further.
• Salary packaging: Some mining companies offer salary packaging for cars, laptops, or super. This can reduce your taxable income and increase take-home. See our Salary packaging page.

Using our tools

To calculate your own take-home pay, try our Clearance tool. It uses the latest tax rates and Medicare thresholds. You can also read our Tax and Medicare guide for more details on how the levy works.

Summary

A mining engineering salary of $3,518 per week gives you a gross annual income of $182,936. After income tax and the Medicare levy, you take home about $130,521 per year, or $5,020 per fortnight. Superannuation is additional if the salary is plus super. Understanding these deductions helps you plan your finances and compare job offers accurately.

Resident estimate only. Excludes HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, and payroll tax-table rounding. Not an assessment.