Electrical Engineer Career Information

Occupation snapshot

18,900 electrical engineers in Australia1

4,706 electrical engineers in Victoria (24.9%)1

Average gross weekly earnings AUD$1,4502

Average weekly hours 41.13

Download Skills Australia’s labour market report for electrical engineers (RTF, 131kb)

An elecrical engineer using an altmeter 

Victoria is currently offering visa sponsorship for eligible electrical engineers. To be eligible to apply for sponsorship, electrical engineers must:

  • have a minimum of two years experience
  • have an IELTS score of seven or above in each band
  • meet Victoria's other minimum eligibility requirements
  • address Victoria's sponsorship assessment requirements in your application.

Detailed information about applying for Victorian Government visa sponsorship is available in the Visas and Immigration section.


Licensing and registration

Electrical engineers working in the building industry are required to be licensed. For more information on licensing, please contact:

Building Commission

The Goods Shed
733 Bourke Street, Docklands
VIC, 3008, AUS
Tel:
+61 3 1300 815 817
Fax:
+61 3 9618 9062
Email:
publicrelations@buildingcommission.com.au
Website:
www.buildingcommission.com.au

Tip

Think about applying for licensing and registration before you arrive in Australia, once you have your visa, as the process can take some time.


Industry contacts

Professional bodies and industry associations are a good source of information about electrical engineers in Victoria.

  • Engineers Australia is the major industry body for engineers. It is a valuable source of information and resources. Its publications include the Engineering Employment Handbook and the Salary and Benefits Survey. Engineers Australia hosts networking events and runs industry seminars.
  • Engineers Victoria is the Victorian branch of Engineers Australia. It provides links to professional development and networking activities.
  • Engineering Education Australia provides information on professional development and corporate learning programs. In some circumstances it is possible for engineering technologists to upgrade their qualifications to professional engineer status.

Finding a job

Engineering professionals are employed in a range of areas including aerospace, architecture, automotive, building services, civil and structural engineering, construction, facilities management, interior design, rail, quantity surveying, surveying and water.

Electrical engineers may work for management consultants, manufacturing companies, mining companies, the construction sector or the public service. They are employed across several industries including: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services; Manufacturing; and Mining.3


Tip

We suggest that you only apply for jobs when your visa to live and work in Australia has been issued. The visa application process can take time, and employers are less likely to employ you if you don’t know when you will arrive in Australia and don’t have a work visa.

To search for Victorian recruiters who specialise in electrical engineers, visit the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association's Member Index.

For more general information on Victoria’s job market, including where and how to find jobs, and workplace culture, visit our Working and Employment section.


Migrating to Victoria

Detailed information about how to migrate to Australia, including information about visa sponsorship from the Victorian Government, is available in the Visas and Immigrating section. You can also find detailed information about visa pathways including employer sponsorship on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website.



Skill assessment information

For information on obtaining a skill or qualification assessment, and the requirements for practicing your occupation in Australia, please refer to the Australian Skills Recognition Information (ASRI) website.

The ASRI website provides:

  • a list of all occupations which require skills assessment to practise in Australia if you gained your skills or qualifications overseas
  • information on who to contact to get your skills or qualifications assessed
  • information on who to contact to obtain licensing and registration in a particular state or territory of Australia, if it is required by Australian law
  • links to the websites of the organisations that carry out skills assessment in Australia and the relevant state-level organisations that carry out licensing and registration.

1 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Job Outlook – Occupation pages – Employment levels. Retrieved March 14 2012 from joboutlook.gov.au

2 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Job Outlook - Occupation pages. Retrieved March 14 2012 from joboutlook.gov.au. Please note that wages will vary according to your level of skill and qualification. For more information about your wage earning potential, visit the job seeker sites listed above under Finding a Job.

3 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Job Outlook - Occupation pages - Prospects for Employment. Retrieved March 14 2012 from joboutlook.gov.au

Migration Tools

Engineering Career Guide

Engineering Career Guide


Designed to help you navigate your way through the job seeking process, find an engineering job and settle into your new life in Victoria.

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