Are you dreaming of landing one of the highest paying jobs in Australia as an Indian engineer, complete with visa sponsorship and a path to permanent residency? Imagine earning AUD 100,000+ annually in booming sectors like civil or mechanical engineering while enjoying Australia’s sunny lifestyle and world-class infrastructure. This blog breaks it down step-by-step from skills assessments to job-hunting hacks, empowering you to turn that ambition into reality to find engineering jobs in Australia.
Table Of Content
1Are Engineering Jobs in Demand in Australia?2Highest Paying Engineering Jobs in Australia3Engineering Jobs in Australia with Visa Sponsorship4How to Get Engineering Jobs in Australia5Conclusion6Frequently Asked Questions
Are Engineering Jobs in Demand in Australia?
Yes, engineering jobs are in demand in Australia, driven by large-scale infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy expansion, advanced manufacturing, and rapid digital transformation.
Australia continues to face skill shortages in several engineering fields, creating consistent opportunities for both local and international professionals. To address this gap, Australia immigration programs actively encourage skilled engineers to migrate and contribute to the workforce.
From civil and mechanical engineering to software, mining, and electrical roles, demand remains strong nationwide. With competitive salaries, long-term career growth, and global exposure, Australia stands out as a top destination for engineering talent.
Highest Paying Engineering Jobs in Australia
The highest-paying engineering jobs in Australia are Petroleum Engineer, Mining Engineer, Engineering Manager, Senior Software Engineer, Data Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Civil Engineer, and Mechanical Engineer.
Let’s see each of them in detail:
1. Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum Engineers in Australia design methods to extract oil and gas efficiently from reservoirs, playing a crucial role in Australia’s energy sector. Demand surges due to ongoing LNG exports, offshore projects in Western Australia, and the shift toward low-emission technologies like carbon capture amid global energy transitions.
Key responsibilities include reservoir analysis, drilling optimization, production planning, and ensuring safety compliance in high-risk environments. They use simulations to maximize recovery while minimizing environmental impact.
This career offers stability through long-term resource contracts and is PR-friendly, listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List (ANZSCO 233612) for visas like Subclass 189/190. Demand spans metropolitan hubs like Perth and Brisbane plus regional FIFO sites in WA and QLD.
Petroleum Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Petroleum Engineer
- Reservoir Engineer
- Drilling Engineer
- Mud Engineer
- Petrophysical Engineer
Salary of Petroleum Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Petroleum Engineers in Australia ranges from AUD 140,000 to AUD 195,000 per year, with FIFO bonuses pushing totals to AUD 250,000.
- Entry-level: AUD 68,000–104,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 145,000–185,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 206,000–263,000+ per year
Factors like FIFO allowances (AUD 20,000–50,000), Perth location premiums, and superannuation (11%) boost earnings.
2. Mining Engineer
Mining Engineers oversee extraction operations for minerals like lithium and iron ore, vital to Australia’s resources boom. Demand stems from global battery supply chains, rare earth needs, and infrastructure growth despite commodity fluctuations.
Responsibilities cover site planning, equipment selection, safety protocols, and environmental rehabilitation. They optimize operations for cost-efficiency in open-pit or underground mines.
PR pathways are strong via the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List, with stable employment from multi-year projects. High need in regional WA, QLD, and NSW mining towns, plus metro offices.
Mining Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Mining Engineer
- Mine Planning Engineer
- Operations Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Production Engineer
Salary of Mining Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Mining Engineers in Australia ranges from AUD 150,000–223,000 per year, higher in FIFO roles.
- Entry-level: AUD 90,000–120,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 140,000–180,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 200,000–250,000+ per year
Factors such as location (WA premiums up to 20%), experience, and performance bonuses influence overall pay.
3. Engineering Manager
Engineering Managers lead teams on complex projects across industries like construction and energy. Growth drivers include large-scale infrastructure investments and increased technology integration in resource and industrial sectors.
They handle project oversight, budgeting, staff development, and stakeholder coordination. Risk management, compliance, and delivery timelines are core responsibilities.
This role is highly stable with consistent leadership demand and is PR-eligible through broad engineering occupation lists. Opportunities exist in metro cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, as well as major regional infrastructure projects.
Engineering Manager Jobs in Australia
- Engineering Manager
- Project Engineering Manager
- Principal Engineer
- Technical Manager
- Design Manager
Salary of Engineering Manager in Australia
The average salary for an Engineering Managers in Australia is AUD 200,000 per year, with senior roles reaching up to AUD 300,000, including incentives.
- Entry-level: AUD 130,000–160,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 170,000–220,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 230,000–300,000+ per year
Experience (10+ years), industry sector, and metro versus regional location significantly affect total compensation.
4. Senior Software Engineer
Senior Software Engineers build scalable systems across fintech, mining technology, defense, and enterprise platforms. Demand continues to rise due to digital transformation, AI adoption, cloud migration, and cybersecurity requirements.
Key duties include software architecture design, performance optimization, mentoring junior developers, and integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines.
This occupation is stable due to ongoing tech skill shortages and is PR-friendly under the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. Strong demand exists in major tech hubs such as Sydney and Melbourne, with growing remote opportunities.
Software Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Senior Software Engineer
- Lead Software Engineer
- Full Stack Engineer
- Backend Engineer
- DevOps Engineer
Salary of Senior Software Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Senior Software Engineers in Australia ranges between AUD 178,000–AUD 215,000 per year.
- Entry-level: AUD 110,000–140,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 150,000–180,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 190,000–220,000+ per year
Sydney salary premiums, equity packages, and remote or hybrid work options can further influence earnings.
5. Data Engineer
Data Engineers build and manage data pipelines that support big data analytics across industries such as mining, healthcare, and finance. Demand is rising rapidly due to AI adoption, cloud migration, and the need for real-time data-driven decision-making.
Their work involves designing ETL processes, managing large-scale databases, ensuring data quality, scalability, and enforcing data governance standards across platforms.
This role offers long-term stability due to ongoing skill shortages and is PR-eligible under Australia’s skilled occupation lists. Opportunities are mainly concentrated in metro cities, with growing demand in regional hubs supporting mining and infrastructure projects.
Data Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Data Engineer
- Big Data Engineer
- Cloud Data Engineer
- ETL Developer
- Pipeline Engineer
Salary of Data Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Data Engineers in Australia ranges between AUD 150,000–AUD 180,000+ per year, depending on experience and specialization.
- Entry-level: AUD 100,000–130,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 140,000–170,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 180,000–220,000+ per year
Professional certifications and strong cloud expertise (AWS, Azure, GCP) can significantly increase earning potential.
6. Electrical Engineer
Electrical Engineers design, develop, and maintain power systems supporting renewable energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, and modern electrical grids. Demand is driven by Australia’s net-zero targets, renewable expansion, and mining electrification projects.
Key responsibilities include circuit design, automation systems, testing and commissioning, and integrating renewable energy sources into existing power networks.
This occupation is PR-eligible with high employment stability and demand across both metropolitan areas and regional locations, particularly at wind farms, solar parks, and mining sites.
Electrical Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Electrical Engineer
- Power Systems Engineer
- Control Systems Engineer
- Instrumentation Engineer
- Renewable Energy Engineer
Salary of Electrical Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Electrical Engineers in Australia ranges between AUD 110,000–AUD 198,000 per year.
- Entry-level: AUD 80,000–110,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 120,000–160,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 170,000–200,000+ per year
Specialisation in renewable energy and power systems can attract additional salary premiums.
7. Chemical Engineer
Chemical Engineers develop and optimize industrial processes across energy, pharmaceuticals, and mining sectors. Demand is growing due to advancements in sustainable fuels, carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and cleaner production technologies.
Key responsibilities include process simulation, safety and risk analysis, plant scale-up, and quality control to ensure efficient and compliant operations.
This occupation is stable and PR-friendly, listed on skilled occupation lists, with opportunities in metropolitan manufacturing plants and regional resource projects.
Chemical Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Chemical Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Plant Engineer
- Refinery Engineer
- Bioprocess Engineer
Salary of Chemical Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Chemical Engineers in Australia ranges between AUD 145,000–AUD 180,000 per year.
- Entry-level: AUD 85,000–115,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 130,000–160,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 170,000–200,000+ per year
Industries such as oil and gas typically offer higher salary premiums.
8. Aerospace Engineer
Aerospace Engineers design and innovate systems for aviation, defense, and space technology. Demand is increasing due to AUKUS initiatives, defense exports, and growing investment in aerospace R&D.
Core duties include aerodynamics modeling, systems and flight testing, avionics design, and performance optimization for aircraft and spacecraft.
Strong defense contracts provide job security and PR pathways. Roles are concentrated in metropolitan hubs such as Adelaide and Melbourne, with select regional facilities.
Aerospace Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Aerospace Engineer
- Avionics Engineer
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Propulsion Engineer
Salary of Aerospace Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Aerospace Engineers in Australia is AUD 150,000+ per year.
- Entry-level: AUD 90,000–120,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 130,000–160,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 170,000–220,000+ per year
Higher security clearance levels can significantly increase earnings.
9. Civil Engineer
Civil Engineers plan and develop critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and public utilities. Demand is driven by urban expansion, disaster-resilient infrastructure projects, and long-term government investment.
Key tasks include structural design, site supervision, regulatory compliance, and engineering modeling to ensure safety and durability.
This occupation offers strong PR pathways through skilled occupation lists, with balanced demand across metropolitan cities and regional areas.
Civil Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Civil Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Transport Engineer
- Water Engineer
Salary of Civil Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Civil Engineers in Australia ranges between AUD 95,000–AUD 156,000 per year.
- Entry-level: AUD 70,000–100,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 110,000–140,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 150,000–180,000+ per year
Major infrastructure projects in QLD and VIC often offer higher pay.
10. Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineers design and maintain machinery and systems used in mining, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Demand is supported by automation, industrial modernization, and the manufacturing revival.
Responsibilities include CAD-based design, prototyping, equipment maintenance, and applying thermodynamics principles to improve efficiency and performance.
This is a versatile occupation for PR, with strong demand across both metropolitan and regional Australia.
Mechanical Engineering Jobs in Australia
- Mechanical Engineer
- Design Engineer
- HVAC Engineer
- Robotics Engineer
- Maintenance Engineer
Salary of Mechanical Engineer in Australia
The average salary for Mechanical Engineers in Australia ranges between AUD 90,000–AUD 130,000 per year.
- Entry-level: AUD 70,000–95,000 per year
- Mid-level: AUD 100,000–125,000 per year
- Senior-level: AUD 130,000–160,000+ per year
Mining and FIFO roles can significantly boost overall earnings.
Engineering Jobs in Australia with Visa Sponsorship
There are numerous engineering jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship, particularly in high-demand areas like civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering on the Skilled Occupation List.
Some common jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship include:
Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211): Roles in infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro, often with 482 visa sponsorship.
Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO 233512): Positions in manufacturing and renewable energy, open to international candidates.
Structural Engineer (ANZSCO 233214): Opportunities in construction and hydraulics, visa sponsorship available.
Electrical Engineer (ANZSCO 233311): Demand in automation and clean tech sectors.
Distributed Systems Engineer: Sponsorship and relocation support offered.
Visa Sponsorship Process in Australia
1. Secure a job offer from an approved Australian employer willing to sponsor via the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
2. Obtain a positive skills assessment from Engineers Australia, prove at least two years of relevant experience.
3. Meet the English language proficiency requirements.
4. The employer handles nomination and labour market testing, followed by your visa application including health checks.
How to Get Engineering Jobs in Australia
Indian engineers starting from basics can build a pathway to engineering jobs in Australia by first validating qualifications and gaining foundational skills before targeting visas and employment.
Here’s a simple step-by-step process to get engineering jobs in Australia:
Step 1: Evaluate Education
Assess if your Indian engineering degree (e.g., B.Tech from IIT/NIT or other universities) is recognized under the Washington Accord; if not, prepare for Engineers Australia skills assessment by collecting degree certificates, transcripts, and passport details.
Step 2: Skills Assessment Prep
Enroll for Migration Skills Assessment via Engineers Australia portal: submit a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) with three career episodes describing your projects, plus CV and work references proving 1-2 years experience.
Step 3: English Test
Take IELTS (aim for 7.0 overall, min 6.0 per band) or PTE Academic (equivalent score) from India; join coaching if needed, as this is mandatory for visas.
Step 4: Build Job Profile
Tailor an Australian-style resume (2-3 pages, skills-focused), create LinkedIn profile highlighting ANZSCO-matched experience (e.g., civil engineer 233211), and learn tools like AutoCAD or Revit via online courses.
Step 5: Job Hunt and Visa
Search sponsorship roles on SEEK/Indeed with “visa sponsorship engineer”; apply to 50+ jobs weekly, network in Indian expat groups. Secure any of the Australian skilled visa; include family if eligible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pursuing In Demand Jobs in Australia like engineering jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship offers Indian professionals a clear pathway to rewarding careers and permanent residency in a thriving economy. By methodically completing skills assessments, mastering English proficiency, optimizing profiles, and targeting sponsorship opportunities, candidates can overcome initial hurdles and tap into high-demand sectors such as civil and mechanical engineering.
Australia’s Skills in Demand visa continues to prioritize skilled migrants, making it an ideal destination for ambitious engineers ready to contribute long-term.
