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Environmental Engineer Salary: Award Rates, Casual Loading and Super Paid on Top

Under the Professional Employees Award 2020, a graduate environmental engineer with a 4‑year degree earns a minimum of $34.57 per hour (full‑time, 38‑hour week), with casual loading of 25% and superannuation of 12% paid on top.

Understanding the Environmental Engineer Salary

If you are an environmental engineer or considering the profession, knowing how your hourly rate translates to annual, fortnightly and take‑home pay is essential. This article explains the environmental engineer salary using the latest award rates from the Fair Work Commission, how casual loading and superannuation are paid on top, and how to convert your rate using a standard 38‑hour week.

The Award Minimum Rates

Environmental engineers are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides set the minimum pay for each classification. For a graduate with a 4‑ or 5‑year degree (Level 1, Pay point 1.1), the minimum annual wage from 1 July 2026 is $68,538, which equals $34.57 per hour for a 38‑hour week. More senior roles pay more: Level 2 is $39.77 per hour, Level 3 is $43.46, Level 4 is $49.02, and Level 5 is $59.05.

These rates are the minimum. Many employers pay above award, but the award provides a legal floor. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that full‑time adult ordinary time earnings average $2,083.70 per week (May 2026), which is about $108,352 per year – well above the graduate award rate.

Converting Hourly to Annual, Fortnightly and Weekly

The basic formula is:

Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52

We assume a 38‑hour week, which is the standard ordinary hours under the award. For a graduate on $34.57 per hour:

  • Weekly: $34.57 × 38 = $1,313.66
  • Fortnightly: $1,313.66 × 2 = $2,627.32
  • Annual: $1,313.66 × 52 = $68,310.32 (close to the award annual wage of $68,538; the small difference is due to rounding in the award’s hourly calculation)

You can use the timesheet to enter your base hourly rate and see these figures instantly. The timesheet also has a checkbox for casual loading.

Casual Loading: 25% on Top

If you work as a casual environmental engineer, you are entitled to a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. This loading compensates for not receiving paid leave or other entitlements. For the graduate rate:

  • Casual hourly rate: $34.57 × 1.25 = $43.21
  • Casual weekly: $43.21 × 38 = $1,641.98
  • Casual annual: $1,641.98 × 52 = $85,383.96

Important: Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into the timesheet. Instead, enter the base rate and tick the casual loading checkbox – the tool adds the 25% automatically. See our casual loading guide for more details.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Superannuation is an extra payment from your employer into a super fund. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings. It is paid on top of your base salary, not deducted from it. For a full‑time graduate on $34.57 per hour:

  • Super per hour: $34.57 × 0.12 = $4.15
  • Super per week: $1,313.66 × 0.12 = $157.64
  • Super per year: $68,310 × 0.12 = $8,197.20 (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830)

The super guarantee applies to ordinary hours and some overtime, but not to casual loading. For more detail, visit our super and packaging page.

Tax and Take‑Home Pay

Your take‑home pay depends on the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy (generally 2%). The tax‑free threshold is $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. For a graduate earning $68,310 per year:

  • Tax on $68,310: ($45,000 – $18,200) × 0.15 + ($68,310 – $45,000) × 0.30 = $4,020 + $6,993 = $11,013
  • Medicare levy (2%): $1,366
  • Total deductions: $12,379
  • Annual take‑home: $55,931
  • Weekly take‑home: $1,075.60

Use our take-home pay tool for a personalised estimate. Remember that HELP debts, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included here.

Fortnightly Pay and Budgeting

Many employers pay fortnightly. For the graduate example:

  • Gross fortnightly: $2,627.32
  • Tax and Medicare per fortnight: $476.12
  • Net fortnightly: $2,151.20

Knowing your fortnightly figure helps with budgeting and comparing job offers. The reference tables on this site show common conversions for award rates.

Other Considerations

  • Penalty rates: If you work evenings, weekends or public holidays, you may be entitled to penalty rates (e.g., 125% Monday–Saturday before 6 am or after 10 pm, 150% Sunday). Casual employees get higher penalty rates because the casual loading is added.
  • Overtime: Hours beyond 38 per week (or an agreed average) are paid at overtime rates.
  • Enterprise agreements: If your workplace has an enterprise agreement, the award may not apply. Always check your employment contract.

For a full list of award classifications and allowances, see the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Summary

The environmental engineer salary under the Professional Employees Award 2020 starts at $34.57 per hour for a graduate with a 4‑year degree. Casual employees receive 25% loading, and superannuation of 12% is paid on top. Use the formula hourly × 38 × 52 to get annual gross, then subtract tax and Medicare for take‑home pay. The the timesheet makes these calculations quick and accurate.

Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.

Try the rate on a timesheet

Adjust the timesheet

Year, gross$52,245.4452 weeks at this rate

Starts at the adult National Minimum Wage. Change the rate if the job pays more.

Level with the adult National Minimum Wage.

Mon$200.947.6 h
Tue$200.947.6 h
Wed$200.947.6 h
Thu$200.947.6 h
Fri$200.947.6 h
One fortnight$2,009.44 gross
  • Take-home
  • Tax
  • Medicare
Super 12%, paid on top$6,269.45 a year
Week
$1,004.72
Fortnight
$2,009.44
Take-home a year
$45,006.90
Tax + Medicare
$7,238.54
  • 16 h$21,998
  • 20 h$27,498
  • 24 h$32,997
  • 30 h$41,246
  • 38 h$52,245
  • 40 h$54,995

Resident tax for 2026–27 with the tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds. No HELP, no salary sacrifice, no Medicare levy surcharge. Super is 12% of ordinary earnings only, capped at the maximum contribution base.

Questions people ask next

What is the minimum hourly rate for an environmental engineer under the award?

Under the Professional Employees Award 2020, a graduate environmental engineer with a 4‑ or 5‑year degree (Level 1, Pay point 1.1) has a minimum hourly rate of $34.57 for full‑time employees. More experienced classifications attract higher rates, up to $59.05 per hour for Level 5. These rates apply from 1 July 2026.

How is casual loading applied to an environmental engineer’s pay?

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. For example, the graduate rate of $34.57 becomes $43.21 per hour. The loading is paid instead of entitlements such as annual leave and sick leave. Use the casual loading checkbox on [the timesheet](/) to see the loaded rate.

How is superannuation paid for an environmental engineer?

Superannuation is paid on top of the base hourly rate at 12% of ordinary earnings (the super guarantee rate from 1 July 2026). For a full‑time graduate earning $34.57 per hour, the employer contributes an extra $4.15 per hour into a super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year.

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