How does your pay stack up? Here’s the latest data to help you compare engineering salaries by role, region and industry.
This article was originally published in April 2025 and has been updated with new information.
Employees, including engineers, are experiencing confusion and dissatisfaction with the current jobs market, according to the latest research from recruiter Hays.
Some of the key takeaways from the report include:
- Six in 10 workers believe they’re underpaid, but satisfaction levels vary widely.
- Salary satisfaction is subjective, with some earning $250,000 feeling underpaid, while others on less than $50,000 feel content.
- Of the businesses surveyed, 84 per cent said they’ve experienced a skills shortage over the past year.
“We’re not seeing widespread salary increases across engineering at the moment,” Austin Blackburne, Technical Director at Hays ANZ, told create. “In fact, salaries have remained relatively stable.
“Unlike sectors such as technology or commercial construction, where volatility and movement have driven spikes, engineering has stayed steady, reflecting a more balanced supply-and-demand dynamic in most disciplines.”
The increasing emphasis on emissions reduction in infrastructure and energy is driving up demand for engineers across a number of key disciplines, according to Blackburne.
“The push towards net zero is definitely fuelling demand in the energy and infrastructure sectors – especially in renewable energy, power generation and grid development,” he said.
“But with many projects running concurrently across the country, we’re seeing significant pressure on a relatively small pool of qualified professionals. This supply-demand imbalance is creating upward pressure on salaries, particularly in niche areas like grid integration, battery storage and energy transition planning.”
Use the graphs below to compare typical salaries across infrastructure, energy and resources sectors.
“One of the key takeaways [here] is the increasing divergence between generalist and specialist skillsets,” Blackburne said. “Engineers with highly niche expertise – especially in sustainability, infrastructure resilience and advanced energy systems – are commanding a premium.
“Meanwhile, those in more traditional roles may find salary growth slower unless they’re upskilling into high-demand areas.”
Salaries for engineers in the public sector have remained relatively stable in recent years, partly due to the nature of government remuneration structures.
“Government-affiliated roles follow strict salary frameworks tied to regional classification and step-based progression, which means increases are generally incremental and predictable.
“However, cost control has tightened considerably in the past 18 months, adding an extra layer of restraint. The private sector, by contrast, offers more flexibility in pay, especially when demand spikes, but doesn’t [always] provide the same structured growth pathways.”
Is it time for your next career move?
A third of professionals have changed jobs in the past year, with almost two-thirds planning a move in the next 12 months, according to the report.
“If you’re aiming for a specific salary increase, make sure you can clearly articulate why – whether it’s new responsibilities, critical skills or market benchmarks,” Blackburne said.
“And if you’re considering a move, connect with a recruiter who understands the engineering market. They can provide insights on which companies are hiring, what they’re paying, and whether now is the right time for you to make a change.”
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