What industries does the HBG Salary Guide cover?

The guide covers six key industries: Construction & Civil, Fire Protection, Building Services, Manufacturing, Real Estate & Development, and Logistics. Each includes junior, mid-level, and senior salary ranges.

How often are the salary figures updated?

Salary data is updated annually based on market research, allocation data from Harrison Barratt Group placements, and Fair Work award rate changes.

Are these salaries inclusive of super?

Salary ranges shown are base rates exclusive of superannuation (currently 12%). Actual total packages including super, allowances, and overtime will be higher.

Do the salaries vary by state?

Yes. Sydney and Perth typically command premium rates for construction trades. The guide shows national averages — actual rates vary by location, project type, and demand.

How can I use this guide for hiring?

Use the ranges as benchmarks when setting pay rates or charge rates. Contact Harrison Barratt Group for specific advice on competitive rates in your area and trade.

Salary Guide 2026

Australian Salary Benchmarks

Data-driven salary ranges across six key industries, compiled from Harrison Barratt Group's national placement data spanning 860+ active clients and 128,000+ candidates. Use this guide to benchmark offers, negotiate packages, and plan workforce budgets with confidence.

Industries Covered

30+

Roles Benchmarked

Seniority Levels

2026

Data Year

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Data sourced from Harrison Barratt Group placement records. ABN 81 638 914 824.

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Salary Guide 2026

Australian Salary Benchmarks

Industries Covered

30+

Roles Benchmarked

Seniority Levels

2026

Data Year

Salary Data

Salary Ranges by Industry

All figures represent annual base salaries in AUD excluding superannuation, bonuses, and vehicle allowances. Ranges reflect national averages — metro premiums of 5–15% apply in Sydney and Melbourne for most roles.

Construction & Civil

Salary ranges for key white-collar construction and civil infrastructure roles across Australia. Bands reflect permanent base salaries excluding super and bonuses.

Role	Junior	Mid-Level	Senior	Notes
Project Manager	$90k – $120k	$120k – $160k	$160k – $220k+	Higher end for Tier 1 contractors and infrastructure megaprojects.
Site Supervisor	$80k – $100k	$100k – $130k	$130k – $170k	FIFO and remote roles can attract 15–25% premiums.
Estimator	$75k – $95k	$95k – $130k	$130k – $175k	Civil estimators with infrastructure experience command top-end rates.
Contracts Administrator	$70k – $90k	$90k – $120k	$120k – $160k	Strong demand for candidates with NEC and AS contracts experience.
Engineer (Site / Design)	$70k – $90k	$90k – $125k	$125k – $170k	Chartered engineers and those with CPEng attract premium salaries.
Safety Manager (WHS)	$80k – $100k	$100k – $135k	$135k – $180k	Diploma of WHS is minimum; Graduate Diploma and Certified OHS Pro valued highly.
Foreman	$85k – $105k	$105k – $135k	$135k – $165k	Trade background plus leadership skills critical for senior foreman roles.

Fire Protection

Fire protection is a high-demand niche within building services. Salaries reflect the specialised certifications and compliance knowledge required.

Role	Junior	Mid-Level	Senior	Notes
Project Manager	$85k – $110k	$110k – $145k	$145k – $190k	Experience across sprinkler, detection, and passive fire systems valued.
Design Engineer	$70k – $90k	$90k – $120k	$120k – $160k	Proficiency in HydraCALC, AutoCAD, and Revit highly sought.
Technician	$60k – $75k	$75k – $95k	$95k – $125k	Licensed fire technicians with FPAS accreditation earn top rates.
Estimator	$70k – $90k	$90k – $120k	$120k – $155k	Niche skill set — experienced fire estimators are in short supply nationally.

Building Services

Mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic building services roles. Salaries reflect the crossover of engineering expertise and construction delivery.

Role	Junior	Mid-Level	Senior	Notes
HVAC Engineer	$70k – $90k	$90k – $125k	$125k – $170k	Energy efficiency and sustainability expertise increasingly valued.
Electrical Engineer	$70k – $90k	$90k – $130k	$130k – $175k	HV experience and CPEng status attract premium salaries.
Project Manager	$85k – $110k	$110k – $150k	$150k – $200k	Multi-services PM experience (mech + elec + hydraulics) in high demand.
BIM Coordinator	$65k – $85k	$85k – $115k	$115k – $150k	Revit MEP, Navisworks, and clash detection skills are essential.

Manufacturing

Salaries for key management and engineering roles within manufacturing and production environments across food, beverage, metals, and plastics.

Role	Junior	Mid-Level	Senior	Notes
Production Manager	$80k – $100k	$100k – $130k	$130k – $170k	Lean and Six Sigma certifications add $10k–$20k to packages.
Quality Manager	$75k – $95k	$95k – $125k	$125k – $165k	ISO 9001 lead auditor and HACCP experience highly valued in food manufacturing.
Maintenance Manager	$80k – $100k	$100k – $135k	$135k – $175k	Trade background (electrical or mechanical) with CMMS experience preferred.
Process Engineer	$70k – $90k	$90k – $120k	$120k – $160k	Continuous improvement methodology and automation experience drive top-end pay.

Real Estate & Development

Salary ranges for property development, sales, and management roles. Figures reflect base salaries — commission and bonus structures are additional.

Role	Junior	Mid-Level	Senior	Notes
Development Manager	$90k – $120k	$120k – $165k	$165k – $230k+	Large-scale mixed-use and greenfield development experience commands premium.
Project Manager	$80k – $105k	$105k – $140k	$140k – $185k	Developer-side PMs with DA/planning approval experience highly sought.
Sales Agent	$50k – $65k	$65k – $85k	$85k – $120k	Base salary only — top performers earn $200k+ with commissions.
Property Manager	$55k – $70k	$70k – $90k	$90k – $120k	Portfolio size and asset class (commercial vs residential) affect salary.

Logistics

Supply chain, warehousing, and transport management salaries. The rise of e-commerce has driven strong demand and upward pressure on salaries in this sector.

Role	Junior	Mid-Level	Senior	Notes
Warehouse Manager	$70k – $90k	$90k – $120k	$120k – $155k	WMS proficiency (Manhattan, SAP EWM, Blue Yonder) valued by major 3PLs.
Transport Manager	$75k – $95k	$95k – $130k	$130k – $170k	Fleet management, CoR compliance, and fatigue management experience essential.
Supply Chain Analyst	$65k – $80k	$80k – $110k	$110k – $145k	Advanced Excel, Power BI, and ERP (SAP/Oracle) skills are table stakes.
Dispatch Supervisor	$60k – $75k	$75k – $95k	$95k – $125k	Shift-based roles in high-volume distribution centres attract the top end.

Methodology

How We Compile This Data

Real Placement Data

Salary bands are derived from actual placements made by Harrison Barratt Group across permanent recruitment and contract staffing engagements nationally.

Candidate Interviews

We interview thousands of candidates annually and collect current and expected salary data as part of our qualification process.

Client Feedback

Working with 860+ active clients gives us real-time visibility into what companies are willing to pay across different seniority levels and regions.

Market Benchmarking

We cross-reference our internal data with publicly available sources including SEEK salary data, ABS earnings data, and industry association surveys.

Market Insights

Key Salary Trends for 2026

Infrastructure Boom

Government infrastructure spend continues to drive demand for construction PMs, estimators, and engineers. Senior PMs on Tier 1 projects now routinely exceed $200k base.

Fire Protection Shortage

Fire protection remains one of the tightest labour markets in building services. Experienced estimators and design engineers can command 10–15% above listed ranges.

Logistics Wage Growth

E-commerce growth has pushed warehouse and supply chain salaries up 8–12% over the past two years, with no signs of slowing.

Safety Premium

WHS managers with Certified OHS Professional status are seeing packages $20k–$30k above standard safety roles, driven by regulatory complexity.

BIM & Digital Skills

BIM Coordinators with Revit MEP and digital engineering experience are in high demand as the industry accelerates digital adoption.

Regional Premiums

FIFO and remote roles in WA and QLD mining regions continue to attract 15–30% salary premiums over metro equivalents.

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