Structural Engineer

A Structural Engineer designs, analyses, and oversees the construction of buildings, bridges, and other structures to ensure they are safe, stable, and compliant with Australian Building Codes and Standards. They use computational modelling, site inspections, and engineering principles to assess loads, materials, and construction methods. They work in consulting firms, construction companies, or government agencies, collaborating with architects, contractors, and other professionals to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Develop structural designs using CAD software and specialist finite element analysis (FEA) programs such as STAAD.Pro or SAP2000, and building information modelling software such as Revit. Calculate load paths, stress distributions, and deflection limits for buildings, bridges, towers, and infrastructure using mathematical modelling and design codes. Select appropriate materials (steel, concrete, timber, composite) and cross-sections based on strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Prepare structural calculations, design reports, and drawings to demonstrate compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standards (e.g. AS 3600 for concrete, AS 4100 for steel). Review geotechnical reports and soil investigations to inform foundation design and ground settlement assessments. Conduct site inspections and quality audits during construction to verify that work conforms to drawings, specifications, and safe work practices. Analyse failure modes, buckling, fatigue, and seismic performance using structural analysis software and hand calculations. Liaise with architects on spatial constraints, aesthetic integration, and constructability of structural systems.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need a bachelor's degree in engineering (or equivalent) before you can practice, which takes 3 to 4 years full-time study. Even then, depending on the state and the work, you may need to register as a professional engineer (for example RPEQ in Queensland) before you can sign off designs, which takes work experience and an assessment. The software learning curve is steep: STAAD.Pro, SAP2000, and Revit take months to use well. Site work means early starts, weather delays, and responsibility for public safety.

Most roles are in capital cities with consulting firms or large construction companies. Remote design work is possible but site inspections require you on-site, so you can't work fully remote. Regional Australia has fewer opportunities unless you're willing to FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) for large infrastructure jobs.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2332, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiencycore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Electronic Document Management
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Microsoft Excel Data Management
• Negotiation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Record Management

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Structural Engineer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026