Problem-solving engineers from a range of industries are among Australia’s most in-demand workers for roles paying over $100,000.
Job ad numbers for electrical project engineers soared 94 per cent in the period from June to August 2026 when compared to the same period last year, new data from employment platform Seek shows.
The average advertised salary for these positions is $149,043.
Mining engineers (87 per cent job ad growth and an average annual salary of $173,323), and project engineers (65 per cent job ad growth and an average annual salary of $157,015) rounded out the podium of jobs that experienced the biggest surge in hiring demand.
“The price of some of Australia’s key commodities has risen this year, supporting demand for those working in the mining, resources and energy industry,” Seek’s chief economist Blair Chapman said.
“In particular, demand for mining and geotechnical engineers has grown quickly over the past year.”
Commercial managers, geotechnical engineers, health, safety and environment advisers, platform engineers, care managers, business service managers and workshop managers completed the top 10.
Commercial manager roles were the most lucrative of the bunch, with an average salary of $208,298.
All roles inside the top 10 raked in an average salary above $115,000.
The average full-time Australian worker earns $108,352 annually.
“Governments across Australia have continued to invest in infrastructure, with large-scale projects underway in most Australian states, as well as major rail projects in each of Australia’s eastern states,” Chapman said.
“These projects help drive demand for project engineers, health, safety and environment advisers and commercial managers in the construction industry.”
Chapman said investment in AI-related data centres is also creating demand for construction workers.
“Beyond construction, AI is fuelling demand for platform engineers, as businesses increasingly look to adopt the technology and require skilled workers to build and manage the IT infrastructure needed to support it,” he said.
What to consider if you’re weighing up a career change
Career coach Kate Richardson was unsurprised to see such demand in engineering, construction and mining.
“One of my clients recently left her successful marketing career to study environmental engineering so she could work from a regional area, make a positive impact and get out from behind the desk,” Richardson told 7NEWS.com.au.
“However not everyone can or wants to switch careers that require years of full-time university study.
“A lot of people I’m working with are exploring shifts in their career that build on their existing skills and expertise, and might require additional credentials but don’t demand a full-blown bachelor’s degree.”
Richardson said the data suggests employers are looking for highly-skilled and experienced staff, rather than fresh graduates.
“For example, job ads for platform engineers have increased by 41 per cent however this is not an entry level role,” she said.
“It’s not dissimilar to cybersecurity where there is a shortage of experienced technical people, and yet the competition at graduate level is incredibly high.”
Seek does not disclose its exact advertisement volumes and Richardson’s advice for anyone considering a switch is to remember the data reflects growth in job ads rather than the volume of opportunities.
“If you’re thinking about a change you want to understand not just which jobs are growing, but how many of those jobs there are actually likely to be in the near future,” she said.