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In 2019, AIRAH conducted a comprehensive analysis of salaries in the Australian HVAC&R industry. It is the first of its kind and has been conducted for HVAC&R professionals and practitioners across the sector.

Survey highlights:

  • In total, 491 industry professionals from every state and territory completed the survey
  • Half of those surveyed have a gross annual base salary of $100,000 or more
  • Over 10% of survey participants earn $150,000 or more
  • The state with the highest proportion of respondents with a gross annual base salary of $100,000 or more is Western Australia (58.34%) ahead of Victoria (51.31%) and Queensland (50.95%)
  • Just over 60% of those surveyed say there will be an increase in their pay and benefits over next year
  • Western Australia is the state that is most negative about the possibility of increase in pay and benefits over the next year – 50% say it will “decrease” or “no change”
  • Victoria is the state least likely to be negative on pay and benefits over next 12 months – just 30% say it will “decrease” or “no change”
  • Just over half (56%) of survey participants describe their own economic prospects over the next 12 months as “excellent” or “good”
  • Just 9% say their economic prospects are “poor” or “very poor”.

Find the results of the survey below, exclusive to AIRAH members. The initial findings were released as a six-page spread in Ecolibrium, November 2019. 

This survey will be released to the public in January 2020.

For more information on the salary survey, listen to the December 2019 episode of our AIRAH on Air podcast, featuring further insights into the findings with survey analysists Dr David Iacuone and Leigh Funston, as well as AIRAH’s CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify


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The 2019 AIRAH HVAC&R Salary Survey

This year AIRAH conducted a comprehensive analysis of salaries in the Australian HVAC&R industry.

In total, 491 industry professionals from every state and territory completed the survey.

Most responses were received from NSW (151 responses), Victoria (113) and Queensland (104).

“The data in this report provides a comparative analysis of the survey responses provided by all participants,” says Dr David Iacuone, who conducted the analysis on behalf of AIRAH.

“The data analysis also includes, where relevant, state-versus-state ‘weighted average’ figures to allow effective comparison of the survey findings.”

Please note that where the number of survey participants in a state or territory is less than 50, we have not included the weighted average data because the survey sample size in those states/ territories is insufficient to provide an effective comparison.

 

Which of the following best describes your working arrangement?
Response categories Count Per cent
I have a permanent role within the organisation I work for (whether full-time or part-time) 437 89.00%
I am self-employed and NOT working within an organisation 32 6.52%
I am an apprentice 6 1.22%
I am a contractor (i.e., I have a fixed-term contract with the organisation I work for) 5 1.02%
I am retired 4 0.81%
I am a student in full-time study 3 0.61%
I am a student working part-time or on placement year 2 0.41%
Other – I am a part time undergraduate student, full-time permanent employee 1 0.20%
Other – Semi-retired 1 0.20%
Total 491 100%

Almost 90% of the survey respondents have a permanent role within their organisation, whether it is full-time or part-time.

 

Where in Australia do you mainly work?
Response categories Count Per cent 
New South Wales 151 30.75%
Victoria 113 23.01%
Queensland 104 21.18%
Western Australia 60 12.22%
South Australia 23 4.68%
Australian Capital Territory 11 2.24%
Northern Territory 11 2.24%
Tasmania 11 2.24%
Outside Australia 4 0.81%
Not applicable 3 0.61%
Total 491 100% 

Most survey respondents (77%) are located on the eastern seaboard.

 

Do you mainly work in a capital city of a regional area?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Capital city 347 70.67%
A combination of capital city and regional area 89 18.13%
Regional area 55 11.20%
Total 491 100% 

Not surprisingly, most of the survey respondents (71%) work mainly in the capital cities of Australia.

 

Which of the following qualifications do you have?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Vocational Certificate III Air conditioning and Refrigeration 136 27.70%
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) 123 25.05%
Bachelor of Engineering (Other) 18 3.67%
Master of Engineering (Mechanical) 18 3.67%
Other 196 29.91%
Total 491 100% 

More than half of the respondents (53%) hold a Vocational Certificate III Air conditioning and Refrigeration or a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical). 

 

How many years in total have you worked in roles that involve HVAC&R-specific activities?
Response categories Count Per cent 
2 years or less 40 8.15%
3 years 34 6.92%
4 years 12 2.44%
5 years 24 4.89%
6 to 10 years 75 15.27%
11 to 15 years 88 17.92%
16 to 20 years 47 9.57%
21 to 30 years 79 16.09%
More than 30 years 91 18.53%
Don't know/can't recall 1 0.20%
Total 491 100% 

A significant majority (62%) have worked for more than 10 years in roles that involve HVAC&R- specific activities. A third of these respondents have worked in such roles for more than 20 years. 

The survey data shows that the state most likely to have long-term participants in HVAC&R is WA where 40% of respondents have worked in the sector for more than 20 years. The state with the lowest percentage of such workers is Vic, where just 24% have worked in the sector for more than 20 years.

 

Which job titles best describes your role?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic 60 12.22%
Project Engineer 52 10.59%
Senior Engineer 52 10.59%
Project Manager 41 8.35%
Service Manager 41 8.35%
Proprietor or Owner 40 8.15%
Engineering Manager 31 6.31%
Graduate Engineer 22 4.48%
Application Engineer 17 3.46%
Principal Engineer 15 3.05%
Other 120 24.45%
Total 491 100% 

The top three responses are Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic (12%), Project Engineer (11%) and Senior Engineer (11%).

Almost a third (32.17%) of respondents describe themselves as engineers (project engineer, senior engineer, graduate engineer, application engineer or principal engineer).  A further six percent describe themselves as ‘engineering managers’.

 

What is your gross annual base salary (excluding bonuses and other benefits)?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Less than $20,000 4 0.81%
$20,000 to $29,999 1 0.20%
$30,000 to $39,999 5 1.02%
$40,000 to $49,999 2 0.41%
$50,000 to $59,999 22 4.48%
$60,000 to $69,999 44 8.96%
$70,000 to $79,999 60 12.22%
$80,000 to $89,999 47 9.57%
$90,000 to $99,999 50 10.18%
$100,000 to $109,999 58 11.81%
$110,000 to $119,999 45 9.16%
$120,000 to $129,999 45 9.16%
$130,000 to $139,999 26 5.30%
$140,000 to $149,999 16 3.26%
$150,000 to $159,999 24 4.89%
$160,000 to $169,999 7 1.43%
$170,000 to $179,999 3 0.61%
$180,000 to $189,999 6 1.22%
$190,000 to $199,999 3 0.61%
$200,000 or more 17 3.46%
Prefer not to say 6 1.22%
Total 491 100% 

More than half (50.91%) of respondents have a gross annual base salary of $100,000 or more. Over 10 per cent (12.22%) of respondents earn $150,000 or more.

The state with the highest proportion of respondents with a gross annual base salary of $100,000 or more is WA (58.34%) ahead of Vic (51.31%) and Qld (50.95%). When evaluating the state with the highest proportion of respondents with a gross annual base salary of $150,000 or more, NSW ranked first (14.56%) followed by WA (13.33%) and Qld (11.52%).

 

To what extent to you expect your pay and benefits package in decrease or increase in the next 12 months?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Decrease significantly 5 1.02%
Decrease slightly 6 1.22%
Increase slightly 257 52.34%
Increase significantly 47 9.57%
Don't know 16 3.26%
No change 160 32.59%
Total 491 100% 

Over half of the respondent cohort believe that there will be a slight increase in their pay over the next 12 months. Of significance, is that almost a third (32.59%) say there will be “no change” in the level of their pay and benefits package.

The state where respondents are most negative about the possibility of an increase in their pay and benefits package over the next 12 months is WA, where 50% percent say it will “decrease” or there will be “no change”. The state where respondents are least likely to be negative is Vic where just 30% say it will “decrease” or “no change”.

 

To what extent, if at all, are you satisfied with your current role?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Not at all satisfied 14 2.85%
Not very satisfied 62 12.63%
Fairly satisfied 246 50.10%
Very satisfied 169 34.42%
Total 491 100% 

Overall, the majority of the survey respondents expressed a strong satisfaction level with their current role, with 85% saying they are “fairly satisfied” or “very satisfied”.

The state where survey participants are most satisfied with their current role is Victoria, where 87% say they are “fairly satisfied” or “very satisfied”.

 

How likely, if at all, are you to change your employer in the next 12 months?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Not very likely 346 70.47%
Fairly likely 58 11.81%
Very likely 41 8.35%
Don't know 46 9.37%
Total 491 100% 

As a further reinforcement of the survey cohort’s satisfaction with their current employer, about 70% indicate they are “not very likely” to change their jobs in the coming 12 months.

Qld is the state where the greatest percentage of respondents say they are “not very likely” (71.67%) to change their jobs over the next 12 months. Victoria has the lowest level of responders saying they are “not very likely” to switch jobs over the next year (66.37%). Victoria is the state where uncertainty is highest on this question, with 13% saying “don’t know”.

 

Which one of the following best describes the sector within which you/your organisation operates?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Building services 143 29.12%
Consulting services 74 15.07%
Operations and maintenance 58 11.81%
Installation and commissioning 58 11.81%
Manufacturing 48 9.78%
Refrigeration 45 9.16%
Wholesale 16 3.26%
Education 9 1.83%
State or federal government 6 1.22%
Retail 6 1.22%
Other 28 5.72%
Total 491 100% 

The sector most nominated by survey respondents is “Building services” (29.12%) ahead of “Consulting services” (15.07%) and “Operations and maintenance” (11.81%).

 

Approximately how long have you been with your current employer?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Less than a year 56 11.41%
1 year 41 8.35%
2 years 66 13.44%
3 years 51 10.39%
4 years 30 6.11%
5 years 36 7.22%
More than 5 years 211 42.97%
Total 491 100% 

Just over half of the survey cohort have been with the same employer for five or more years.

The state with the highest proportion of respondents who have been with their current employer for five years or more is WA (66.67%). NSW is the state where survey participants are least likely to have worked with their current employer for five years or more (42.39%).

 

What is your gender?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Male 450 92.02%
Female 33 6.75%
Prefer not to say 5 1.02%
Other 1 0.20%
Total 489 99.59%

 

What age group are you in?
Response categories Count Per cent 
18–24 19 3.88%
25–34 173 35.31%
35–44 128 26.12%
45–54 91 18.57%
55+ 79 16.12%
Total 490 99.8%

Well over half of the survey respondents (61%) were aged between 25 to 44 years of age.

 

How do you view the economic prospects for the economy over the next 12 months for yourself?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Excellent 38 7.74%
Good 236 48.07%
Neutral 172 35.03%
Poor 39 7.94%
Very poor 6 1.22%
Total 491 100%

Over half (56%) of the cohort consider the economic prospects for the economy as they will impact on the individual to be either “excellent” or “good”.

Survey participants in WA are the most pessimistic about the prospects for the economy as they will impact on the individual, with just 37% rating them “excellent” or “good”. This contrasts with Queensland, where 65% say the economic prospects are “excellent”’ or “good”.

 

How do you view the economic prospects for the economy over the next 12 months for your organisation?
Response categories Count Per cent 
Excellent 63 12.83%
Good 228 46.44%
Neutral 156 31.77%
Poor 42 8.55%
Very poor 2 0.41%
Total 491 100%

Encouragingly, 59% of respondents describe the economic prospects for their organisation as “excellent” or “good”.

The state where respondents are most upbeat about the economic prospects of their organisation is NSW, where 67% say the prospects are “excellent” or “good”. Survey participants in WA are the most negative on this question, with just 37% saying their organisation’s economic prospects are “good” or “excellent”.

 

Economy as a whole
Response categories Count Per cent 
Excellent 11 2.24%
Good 147 29.94%
Neutral 201 40.94%
Poor 119 24.24%
Very poor 13 2.65%
Total 491 100%


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For information on the 2022 version of the Salary Survey, please visit airah.org.au/ss22