Chemical Engineer and Process Engineer Salary / Wage
Salary and wage information for chemical engineers and process engineers is compiled regularly by analysis of Australian jobs advertised in major publications. Salaries are annual unless otherwise stated.
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations Code (ANZSCO) for chemical engineers is 233111 and for materials engineers is 233112.
Job titles and exact tasks vary in this work and examples of some occupation titles are chemical engineer, process engineer, materials engineer, refinery engineer, polymer engineer and waste treatment engineer.
These occupations are currently on the Australian Combined Skilled Occupation List, (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, MLTSSL).
The average weekly full-time ordinary earnings in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services in mid 2018 were $1,840, giving an annual income of approximately $95,680. This was almost unchanged compared to mid 2017.*
The 2017 Hudson Engineering Guide advises that a typical salary for a chemical / process engineer was $80 – $110 per hour in Sydney. This reached $80 – $130 per hour for Adelaide and Perth.
Chemical Engineer and Process Engineer Salaries / Wages in 2018
| Job Title | Salary / Wage $ | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Project Engineer | 110,000 – 160,000 | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Graduate Chemical Engineer | 75,000 – 85,000 | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Principal Process Engineer | 150,000 – 200,000 | Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Senior Chemical / Process Engineer – Chemicals | 125,000+ | Victoria |
| Chemical Plant Maintenance Engineer | 100,000 + | Victoria |
| Senior Chemical Process Engineer | 120,000 – 140,000 | Queensland |
| Graduate Process Engineer | up to $70,000 | Perth, Western Australia |
 | ||
*Source:ABS
These pages may also be of interest:
Chemical engineering jobs are near non-existent due to chemical plants closing down to move to Asia . Job competition is tough and salaries are not as good as a decade ago . Dow factory in Altona was latest to close . Australia now only has 2 functioning refineries . Salaries above are grossly exaggerated unless in mining / metallurgical extraction .
As a chemical engineer with 10 year’s experience working in NSW, this profession should not be on the Australian Skilled Occupations List. It is no longer 2008 and Australia’s chemicals industries are rapidly being outsourced, jobs are rare and do not offer anywhere near the above salaries. If you are living overseas looking at Australia, save yourself the pain and look at Singapore or Hong Kong instead, where all of the modern plants are being built in this part of the world. You will be competing with hundreds of applicants for any job in Australia.