How To Become An Engineer In Australia
Does the thrill of solving problems and the excitement of pushing the boundaries through innovation and technology light up your spirit?
If so, a career path in engineering might just be the best option for you!
And with Australia projected to have a shortage of 200,000 engineers by 2040 and higher than average earnings, it is one of the most sought-after careers by many students.
This career guide will show you the necessary steps and qualifications on how to become an engineer in Australia.
Who is an Engineer?
An engineer is a professional who uses mathematical and scientific principles to solve technical problems.
Engineering spans over multiple disciplines and industries.
A career in engineering allows you to contribute to amazing projects and shape technological development in different industries.
Size of the Industry
There are over 200,000 engineers in the Australian workforce.
The engineering industry is one of the most diverse industries, having several branch segments such as
- Aeronautic engineering,
- Chemical engineering
- Civil engineering,
- Electrical engineering,
- Electronic engineering,
- Mechanical engineering,
- Mining engineering,
- Telecommunication engineering
- and many others.
Generally, statistics show a progressive projected growth of engineering-related professions by 2026.
Popular Locations
About 77.3% of engineers live in capital cities. New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia have the most share of employers for all the engineering specializations listed below.
Here is the percentage of engineers (in different disciplines) in each state and territory of Australia.
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | ACT | NT | |
| Civil | 33.7% | 23.2% | 23.2% | 4.6% | 11.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.2% |
| Chemical | 24.2% | 27.1% | 17.7% | 5.6% | 23.4% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Mining | 12.5% | 7.2% | 25.8% | 5.8% | 46.9% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 0.1% |
| Mechanical | 26.1% | 29.4% | 17.3% | 7.0% | 17.5% | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Electrical | 36.2% | 20.8% | 19.3% | 5.3% | 14.0% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.7% |
| Other | 31.7% | 30.6% | 17.0% | 7.2% | 9.2% | 1.1% | 0.3% | 2.9% |
| Telecom | 40.0% | 33.1% | 11.5% | 4.3% | 6.4% | 1.0% | 0.5% | 3.1% |
Industries Where Engineers Are Needed
The Professional Scientific and Technical Services industry employs the majority of engineers in Australia.
Other industries employing engineers in Australia are:
- Construction
- Mining Industry
- Manufacturing
- Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
- Information, Media and Telecommunications
- Healthcare and Social Assistance
- Other Industries
Hours of work
In Australia, the average hours worked by an Engineer is 42.6 hours per week in their primary job. However, engineers working in teaching roles could be working up to 52.7 hours per week.
These hours are less than the working hours average for all jobs in Australia (44 hours per week). (Source: Labour Market Insights).
Age
The average age of engineers in the Australian workforce is 37 to 39 years, which is younger than the all-jobs average of 40 years.
Gender
The engineering field is a mostly male-dominant industry with 87% of males accounting for the entire workforce in Australia.
The females account for 13% of the engineering workforce in Australia.
What are some of the skills required to become an Engineer in Australia?
Becoming an engineer in Australia requires a combination of several technical, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
Here’s a list of skills that are often required or beneficial for aspiring engineers:
- Technical Proficiency
- Critical Thinking
- Problem-Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Creativity and Innovation
- Communication Skills
- Teamwork
- Analytical Skills
- Time Management
- Adaptability
- Attention to Safety
- Project Management
- Ethical Understanding
- Computer Literacy
Usually, the specific skills required can vary based on the engineering discipline you choose.
What are the tasks and duties of an Engineer in Australia?
Here are some tasks and duties that engineers commonly perform in Australia:
- Designing and Planning: Engineers create detailed plans, blueprints, and specifications for projects, considering factors like functionality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
- Project Management: Engineers oversee projects from conception to completion, managing budgets, timelines, resources, and coordinating with various teams.
- Prototyping: Engineers create prototypes or models to test and modify before the main proper implementation.
- Problem-Solving: Engineers identify, analyse and solve complex technical challenges, finding practical solutions to address issues in various fields.
- Collaboration: Engineers work closely with other professionals, such as architects, designers, technicians, and clients, to ensure projects align with goals.
- Quality Control: Engineers ensure that products, systems, or structures meet quality standards and specifications by implementing rigorous testing and inspections.
- Construction Oversight: For civil engineers, overseeing construction projects involves monitoring progress, compliance with plans, and addressing issues that arise on-site.
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD): Engineers use specialised software to create detailed 2D and 3D models of designs, facilitating visualisation and analysis.
- Maintenance and Repairs: Engineers develop maintenance schedules and protocols to ensure the long-term functionality of systems and equipment.
- Risk Assessment: Engineers evaluate potential risks associated with projects, systems, or structures and develop strategies to mitigate them.
- Regulatory Compliance: Engineers ensure that designs and projects adhere to relevant regulations, codes, and safety standards.
- Training and Documentation: Engineers prepare manuals, guidelines, and training materials to assist users in operating and maintaining systems.
The tasks and duties of engineers can vary based on their discipline, whether it’s civil, mechanical, electrical, aeronautic, chemical, or any other specialisation.
How much do Engineers Earn in Australia?
Engineering is considered to be one of the highest paying professions in Australia.
The average earning of an engineer in Australia is $105,000.
Keep in mind that the earnings of engineers mostly depends on the skills, type of field and experience levels.
Here are the average weekly earnings for jobs in the engineering discipline:
- Electrical Engineering- $2,538
- Mining Engineering- $3,252
- Telecommunication Engineering- $2,099
- Mechanical Engineering- $2,410
The above data has been sourced from the Australian Government website, Labour Market Insights.
Essential steps to becoming an Engineer in Australia
The first decision to make is to decide which type of engineer you want to be.
This would help you streamline your focus on the academic and experiential journey to embark on.
However, there are generally required steps for you to take to become an engineer in Australia.
Step 1: Choose an Engineering specialisation
The first step is to decide what exact field you would like to start a career path in.
As mentioned earlier, several skills are cross-functional in the various fields of engineering.
Nevertheless, it is important that you pick out an area of specialisation and focus your training and academic studies on it.
Here are some of the engineering specialisations you can pick from:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Software Engineering
- Robotics Engineering
- And others
Step 2: Complete an Engineering Degree
The second step in becoming an engineer in Australia is to complete an engineering degree from an accredited institution in Australia.
For engineering study, there are two main degrees. They are the Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering.
Bachelor of Engineering
To become a recognised engineer in Australia, you need to complete a Bachelor’s in Engineering degree.
This program usually takes up to 3–4 years of full-time study or up to 6 years of part-time study in any Australian institution.
Most international students are required to undertake full-time study. Domestic students, however, can choose to do the study part-time.
To be qualified for a bachelor of engineering degree, you must meet the following requirements:
- Completed a Year 12 or equivalent
- Meet the university’s English Language proficiency requirements. For tests such as PTE, IELTS and TOEFL
As an international student you should also have the following
- Valid Passport
- Student Visa
The cost of studying engineering in Australia varies depending on the institution and location you choose to attend.
The estimated cost of a Bachelor degree in Engineering ranges from $25,000 to $40,000 per year.
As an international student, you can leverage on the available financial aid programs and government scholarships.
Master of Engineering
The Master of Engineering degree is a higher academic qualification in the engineering field.
This program is more advanced and is highly recommended for students who wish to gain a more practical industrial experience in the engineering field.
This program takes 2 years if you have a related undergraduate degree in engineering. Otherwise, it can take up to 3 years, depending on the school.
These are the requirements for this degree:
- Completed a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
- Meet the university’s English Language proficiency requirements. For tests such as PTE, IELTS and TOEFL
- Student Visa
- Valid Passport
The estimated cost of a Master’s degree ranges from $30,000 to $50,000 per year.
Step 3: Obtain Experience
The next step is to obtain as much experience as you can in the industry, ideally 3 years as an graduate engineer.
You can achieve this through internships, volunteer work and traineeships in engineering companies.
This experience will better position you for employment opportunities in the future and also help you build a great network with professionals in the industry.
In some states, this work experience serves as a requirement when obtaining a professional license to become an engineer.
Step 4: Registration with appropriate organisation
After completing a degree from an accredited institution, getting a registration with professional engineering bodies in Australia is usually the next step.
There are some recognised licensing bodies for engineers in Australia which certify that their members are experienced, qualified and chartered.
They also provide additional certification and professional development opportunities to their members like Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) or Registered Professional Engineer (RPEng) from Engineers Australia.
This serves as a career boost for engineers in the industry and access to a network of top engineering professionals. Some of these bodies are:
Popular Universities To Study Engineering In Australia
As per the QS World Rankings, the University of New South Wales is ranked as the number 1 university to study engineering in Australia.
Here is a list of some of the popular institutions that offer Engineering courses in Australia:
- University of New South Wales
- University of Melbourne
- University of Sydney
- Monash University
- Australian National University
- University of Queensland
- University of Technology Sydney
- Queensland University of Technology
- RMIT University
- Curtin University
- University of Western Australia
- University of Adelaide
- Griffith University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- Deakin University
Future Growth of Engineers In Australia
Embracing the concept of an evolving world, the future of engineering in Australia shines bright. As industries advance and technology surges forward, engineers stand as one of the main characters to lead the way.
With a positive projected growth of 10.5% by 2026, the demand for innovative minds is increasing in the engineering industry.
From civil to software, mechanical to environmental, biomedical to aeronautic, engineers are at the forefront of progressive change.
If you consider starting off a journey in any field of engineering, then you’re on a path to career success!
