Information and Organisation Professionals

How to become a Data Engineer

Designs, builds, operationalises and maintains the systems and processes for storing, transforming and analysing datasets.

Main tasks

Builds, tests and maintains data pipelines to support analytics and data processing systems
Develops and optimises processes and tools for data extraction, transformation and loading
Identifies, designs and implements process improvements, including automating manual processing, optimising data delivery, and redesigning infrastructure for optimum scalability
Implements secure data handling and storage procedures, protects data privacy, and ensures compliance with regulations and best practices

Typical full-time pay: $131,924 a year
About 186,100 people work in this job group now, and about 235,700 are projected by 2035. (+26.7%)
Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Ways in include: Engineering degrees.

Median full-time pay is $131,924 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 27% by 2035, from about 186,100 to about 235,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Usually. 87% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04