Engineering Job Market
“The domestic supply of new engineering graduates has not been able to keep pace with increases in the demand for engineers for many years… All indicators show that the engineering sector will continue to experience growth…”
Acting Chief Executive of Engineers Australia, Rupert Grayston, 2011
Melbourne School of Engineering graduates are renowned for their technical excellence, cross-disciplinary breadth, communication and leadership skills. Our engineering graduates work around the world, building successful careers in engineering, business and other fields. The Professional Master of Engineering offers students a dual-accreditation, unique in Australia, through EUR-ACE® and Engineers Australia, giving graduates the opportunity to practice as professional engineers throughout Europe and in any country signatory to the Washington Accord, including the US, UK, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada and more.
Our students and graduates have access to a variety of graduate positions, paid internships, vacation work and voluntary positions, which are advertised by employers through the University of Melbourne’s Careers Online portal.
Over 1,626 organisations have listed engineering employment opportunities through Careers Online, with more than 7,000 jobs listed for engineering students. Of these, around 3,500 have been graduate positions and approximately 900 have been vacation roles and internships.
FAQs
What is the current median starting salary for an engineering graduate?
Engineering graduate salaries can vary according to discipline and degree type. According to the national Graduate Destination Survey for 2010, which surveys new higher education graduates around four months after the completion of their qualification, the median starting salary for an engineer is $56,000. This figure has been derived from the responses of over 1000 graduates from Australian universities.
For more information on salaries, please visit the Graduate Careers Australia website.
Is there a demand for engineers in the workforce?
Yes! According to Engineers Australia’s new report: The Engineering Profession — A statistical overview 2011, there is evidence of an underlying shortage of engineers in Australia. Commenting on this report, Acting Chief Executive of Engineers Australia, Rupert Grayston, stated that the “domestic supply of new engineering graduates has not been able to keep pace with increases in the demand for engineers for many years… All indicators show that the engineering sector will continue to experience growth.”
What job seeking resources are available to University of Melbourne students?
University of Melbourne students and alumni have exclusive access to an online jobs portal, Careers Online. Over 1626 organisations have listed jobs for engineers through Careers Online.
Our students and graduates also have access to a labour market information resource that provides a comprehensive listing of sector employers and contacts.
How do University of Melbourne students access industry?
In addition to the Careers Online portal, the University of Melbourne offers current students access to prospective employers through events and careers fairs. To see a listing of the participating companies in 2011, please visit the University’s Careers & Employment website.
Melbourne School of Engineering offers access to industry through various networking events, workshops and through our curriculum.
How do I find out more about what different types of engineers do?
Engineering fields are diverse, and when considering a career, it is important to do as much research as possible.
Some helpful resources include:
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Engineering Your Career
Developed by Engineers Australia, this website offers a listing of different engineering careers and their associated duties, work environments and indicative salaries.
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Myfuture
Australia’s national career information website, myfuture provides a comprehensive overview of engineering occupations and their associated duties, work conditions, personal competencies and indicative salaries. Some career examples include:
