Rank gap
#22 vs #13
9 places apart on hub
Civil engineers pays more on the published average — $15,906 per year (14% higher than Electrical engineers). national EEH averages, hourly equivalents, and modeled take-home at each average in baseline and HELP scenarios.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Higher national EEH average
$15,906 more per year on the average — about $8.05/hr at ordinary hours.
Rank gap
#22 vs #13
9 places apart on hub
Hourly gap at average
$8.05/hr
$58.80 vs $66.85
Baseline take-home gap
$10,816
At each ABS EEH average · Baseline reference
Industry context
Electrical engineers (Engineering, ANZSCO 2333) vs Civil engineers (Engineering, ANZSCO 2332). Categories group training and licensing paths — the scoreboard compares published ABS EEH averages regardless of industry.
$116,184
ABS EEH average · $58.80/hr · rank #22
$132,090
ABS EEH average · $66.85/hr · rank #13
Take-home for an Australian resident when gross equals each occupation's published average — baseline gap at average: $10,816.
| Scenario | Electrical engineers | Civil engineers | Take-home gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident (baseline) | $88,485 | $99,301 | $10,816 |
| With HELP repayments | $81,487 | $89,870 | $8,383 |
Resident (baseline)
Take-home gap $10,816
With HELP repayments
Take-home gap $8,383
Students, career changers, and hiring managers often ask whether Electrical engineers or Civil engineering professionals pays more on a nationally representative benchmark. This page anchors that question to ABS May 2023 EEH average weekly total cash earnings (annualized) — then layers 2026 paycheck math so you see take-home, not just gross.
Civil engineering professionals leads on gross average by $15,906 per year. That is roughly $8.05 per hour — before you factor training time, licensing, or non-wage benefits.
Use the scoreboard for averages and ranks, the scenario ladder for baseline vs HELP take-home, then open each occupation profile for ABS source links and calculator deep links.
ABS EEH Data cube 11 averages are all-employee weekly total cash earnings for the ANZSCO unit group nationally. They do not add equity or self-employment income. Superannuation Guarantee is employer-side and sits outside employee cash take-home unless you model salary sacrifice.
Electrical engineers (ANZSCO 2333) and Civil engineers (ANZSCO 2332) can look closer or farther apart in a specific city than on this national line — especially tech and healthcare roles with Sydney/Melbourne weighting or penalty rates.
When an offer exceeds the average, model it in the Australia paycheck calculator. When you need city context, pair this page with metro paycheck examples Australia.
At Electrical engineers's average ($116,184), modeled effective employee levy rates run 23.8% baseline and 29.9% with HELP. At Civil engineers's average ($132,090): 24.8% (baseline) and 32.0% (HELP).
Australian personal income tax is federal only — states do not levy a separate wage income tax. Both vignettes include Medicare levy; baseline assumes private hospital cover so Medicare levy surcharge does not apply.
These are Australian-resident vignettes — not a forecast of your PAYG withholding or year-end reconciliation.
Education debt, licensing exams, night shifts, and Super packaging can invert a simple average ranking over a full career.
Healthcare pairs often compare years of training (health professionals vs carers). Tech pairs compare equity-heavy total pay against cash-wage averages.
Remember ABS figures are employee averages — sole traders and contractors can differ substantially.
Electrical engineers ranks #22 of 55 tracked occupations; Civil engineers ranks #13.
The $15,906 gap is 14% relative to Electrical engineers's average — use hourly figures when comparing to part-time or contract offers.
Featured corridors on the hub (software vs nursing, cyber vs software) exist because search volume clusters there — your pair may still be valid even when ranks are far apart.
Open the Electrical engineers and Civil engineers profiles for ABS source links and calculator deep links prefilled at each average.
If relocation is involved, stack metro paycheck examples Australia on top of this occupation comparison — gross average alone does not price rent or commute.
When an offer exceeds either average, model it in the Australia paycheck calculator with your HELP, residency, and private hospital cover settings.
Short definitions so ABS EEH averages map to real paycheck math.
Mean weekly total cash earnings for all employees in the ANZSCO 4-digit unit group from ABS EEH Data cube 11 — annualized × 52 for ranking and take-home modelling.
ABS weekly average × 52 — the annualization used for ranking and take-home modelling.
Our paycheck model applied to the ABS gross average — federal income tax and Medicare levy for an Australian resident (HELP column adds compulsory loan repayments).
Sorted by national average within our curated occupation set — not ABS employment counts or growth projections.
Higher average guarantees higher lifetime wealth.
Career length, unemployment risk, student debt, and Super matter. A lower-average education row can still win on pathways absent from ABS cash wages.
Take-home at average equals your offer net pay.
HELP, private hospital cover, residency, and salary sacrifice change the result. These columns standardize gross at the ABS EEH average for comparison only.
Two occupations with similar averages feel the same in every city.
Sydney and regional demand shifts offers above or below national averages. Always cross-check city tables when relocation is involved.
Before treating the wage gap as a career decision.
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