The Robert Walters annual Salary Survey has revealed the professions which are most likely to see a salary rise in 2017.
According to the survey, NSW-based senior IT professionals are expected to see the biggest salary increase, due to strong demand for specialist talent.
“Overall, the recruitment market across Australia was more buoyant than expected in 2016, particularly in the areas of technology, corporate governance and infrastructure, which should continue throughout 2017,” said Robert Walters, managing director ANZ.
“Technology advances enabling fast track productivity gains, regulatory pressures within the financial services sector and the $50 billion worth of investment committed by Australia’s national and state government, are the main drivers for salary growth.”
Human resources, sales and business support are the three sectors most likely to miss out on salary growth due to oversupply, whereas IT jobs in NSW, digital marketing roles in Victoria and infrastructure roles in Queensland are expected to see the most growth.
The biggest salary increases of 2017
| State | Role | 2016 salary | 2017 salary |
| NSW | IT network/system engineer | $110,000 (max) | $160,000 (max) |
| NSW | Funds and operational analysts | $60,000 (max) | $80,000 (max) |
| VIC | Digital marketing manager | $140,000 (max) | $180,000 (max) |
| QLD | Logistics officer | $60,000 (min) | $75,000 (min) |
| NSW | Project manager | $130,000 (max) | $160,000 (max) |
| NSW | DevOps engineer | $90,000 (min) | $110,000 (min) |
| NSW | IT tester | $70,000 (min) | $85,000 (min) |
| QLD | Customer service team leader | $75,000 (max) | $90,000 (max) |
The engineering industry
According to Robert Walters, 2016 was a transitional year for the industry in Queensland, with continued challenging market conditions in mining and oil & gas, while civil infrastructure experienced growth and construction remains the strongest market. The lack of major projects across all engineering sectors resulted in engineers migrating to NSW and Victoria to take up opportunities.
Furthermore, salaries have been stagnant or reduced in most sectors, with the exception of certain specialisations in civil engineering disciplines, such as design managers in rail and roads, rail engineers and estimators. Towards the end of 2016 there were positive signs in the mining sector with more projects announced, indicating the potential for improved activity for 2017. Roles in the civil infrastructure and commercial construction sectors are expected to increase in demand due to a number of major projects coming online, including large road, rail and port initiatives.
In Western Australia, engineering recruitment slowed in 2016, which decreased salary expectations. Generally, salaries were either flat or shifted downwards and it is anticipated that this trend will continue in 2017. Large infrastructure projects, particularly in the road and rail sector, will generate growth in Western Australia. Candidates with a civil background from design to project delivery and niche candidates from road, rail and tunnelling are expected to be the most sought after.