On this page you can see pay scales for different scientific fields and different levels of scientists. Figures from the tables are from 2003 and 2004 respectively – you can expect them to increase about 3-4% every year.
Linked from this page are a series of interviews with people responsible for recruiting science.
A consistent message is that there are plenty of challenging and rewarding opportunities out there for scientists and those that study science at high school.
See what they have to say for yourself.
Average pay scales
Area of Work |
Graduate |
Masters |
PhD |
Agricultural Science |
$35 000 |
$49 500 |
$57 000 |
Biological Sciences |
$35 000 |
$50 900 |
$50 000 |
Computer Science |
$38 000 |
$53 000 |
$65 000 |
Earth Science |
$38 000 |
$60 000 |
$52 000 |
Engineering |
$40 000 |
$59 900 |
$55 000 |
Mathematics |
$38 400 |
$50 000 |
$51 000 |
Medicine |
$47 000 |
$70 000 |
$52 000 |
Physical Science |
$39 000 |
$55 850 |
$55 000 |
Professional Pay
Job Title |
Average Salary |
Range |
Chief Chemist |
$71 978 |
$66 500 - $90 956 |
Senior Professional Scientist |
$67 585 |
$61 317 - $77 697 |
Professional Scientist |
$60 029 |
$49 842 - $73 076 |
Laboratory Technician |
$39 690 |
$36 121 - $43 814 |
Graduate Starting Salaries, Graduate Careers Council of Australia , 2003
Australian Financial Review, Boss, Salaries Edition, 2004