Civil engineer: salary vs cost of living
Job Outlook publishes a full-time weekly-earnings figure of $2200 for Civil Engineering Professionals. After estimated PAYG income tax, the 2% Medicare levy and any HECS-HELP compulsory repayment, take-home pay is approximately $1,519.15 per week.
From gross to take-home
| Component | Annual AUD | Weekly AUD |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $114,400 | $2200 |
| Income tax (2024-25 resident scale) | -$25,108 | -$483 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | -$2,288 | -$44 |
| HECS-HELP compulsory repayment | -$8,008 | -$154 |
| Take-home pay | $78,995.8 | $1,519.15 |
| Without HECS | $87,003.8 | $1,673.15 |
Sanity check: income tax 25108 AUD plus Medicare and HECS-HELP repayment of $8008 AUD.
Rent as a share of take-home pay
The 30% threshold is the conventional definition of rental stress. Anything below is considered comfortable; anything above squeezes everything else.
| City | Unit rent (/wk) | % of take-home | House rent (/wk) | % of take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $460 | 30% | $580 | 38% |
| Brisbane | $580 | 38% | $650 | 43% |
| Canberra | $580 | 38% | $700 | 46% |
| Darwin | $600 | 39% | $700 | 46% |
| Geelong | $460 | 30% | $520 | 34% |
| Gold Coast | $620 | 41% | $800 | 53% |
| Hobart | $480 | 32% | $560 | 37% |
| Melbourne | $580 | 38% | $600 | 39% |
| Newcastle | $560 | 37% | $640 | 42% |
| Perth | $600 | 39% | $670 | 44% |
| Sydney | $720 | 47% | $780 | 51% |
Weekly earnings figure is sourced from Job Outlook (jobsandskills.gov.au). Tax and Medicare estimates use the 2024-25 ATO resident scale; HECS-HELP repayment uses the 2024-25 ATO Schedule. ExamExplained does not provide financial advice. For tailored advice, see a licensed financial adviser or registered tax agent.