Electrical Engineering Job Market in Australia (2026 Data)
Electrical engineering is quietly one of the fastest-growing engineering fields in Australia right now. Here is what the official numbers show, not just the usual “in demand” claim.
How many electrical engineers work in Australia
Jobs and Skills Australia counts 34,100 people working as Electrical Engineers as of November 2025.
That is up 7,600 people, or 28.7%, over the past three years. Very few occupations of this size grew that fast.
There is a related group too: “Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians,” at 10,200 people. That group actually shrank slightly, down 3% over three years, so the growth story here is really about the professional engineer role.
Is electrical engineering still growing
Yes. Jobs and Skills Australia projects 12% growth for Electrical Engineers over the five years to May 2030, more than double the growth rate expected across the whole Australian job market.
Some other details about who works in this field right now:
- 8.1% work part-time
- Women make up 12.9% of the workforce
- 13.3% are aged 15 to 24, a slightly younger workforce than some other engineering fields
- Unemployment sits below the national average
What do electrical engineers earn in Australia
SEEK’s salary data, refreshed September 2026, puts the average annual salary for an Electrical Engineer role in Australia between $105,000 and $125,000.
Industry has a big impact on pay. According to SEEK, electrical engineers in Mining, Resources and Energy average $151,812 a year, well above general Engineering firms at $117,047 and Government and Defence at $112,791.
Regional roles can pay even more. SEEK lists Riverland and Murray Mallee in South Australia at an average of $220,000, and the Pilbara region in Western Australia at $168,230, both driven by mining and energy projects.
Jobs and Skills Australia rates this occupation as Skill Level 1, meaning it typically needs a bachelor’s degree, consistent with how Australian employers and visa assessors treat the role.
Can electrical engineers get sponsored for a visa
Yes. Electrical Engineer, ANZSCO 233311, sits on Australia’s Core Skills Occupation List. That makes it eligible for employer sponsorship through the Skills in Demand visa, which replaced the old subclass 482 in December 2024.
If you want to understand how that visa process works now, our Skills in Demand Visa guide breaks it down. And once you are ready to look for roles, our list of engineering recruitment agencies in Australia covers the firms actively placing electrical engineers.
Where the demand sits
Renewable energy projects, mining operations and the push to upgrade Australia’s electricity grid are all driving demand for electrical engineers. That is part of why regional and resource states often out-earn the capital cities for this role, since so much of the current build-out is happening outside Sydney and Melbourne.
FAQ
Is electrical engineering a good career for migrants moving to Australia? Yes. It is on the Core Skills Occupation List, employment grew 28.7% over three years, and Jobs and Skills Australia projects a further 12% growth to 2030.
What is the average salary for an electrical engineer in Australia? SEEK puts it between $105,000 and $125,000 a year as of September 2026, with Mining, Resources and Energy roles averaging over $151,000.
Can electrical engineers get visa sponsorship in Australia? Yes. Electrical Engineer (ANZSCO 233311) sits on the Core Skills Occupation List, so it qualifies for the Skills in Demand visa when an employer sponsors you.
Why do regional areas pay more for electrical engineers? Mining, energy and infrastructure projects in regional Australia often pay a premium to attract engineers, which is why areas like the Pilbara and South Australia’s Riverland show some of the highest average salaries.
