How to become a Production or Plant Engineer

Plans, directs and coordinates the design, construction, modification, continued performance and maintenance of equipment and machines in industrial plants, and the management and planning of production and plant activities.

Main tasks

• Determines and plans the layout of equipment and machines in industrial plants
• Develops and implements strategies to improve the performance and efficiency of production and plant activities
• Coordinates the construction, modification and maintenance of equipment and machines in industrial plants
• Identifies and resolves technical issues and problems in industrial plants
• May use established systems to recognise and control at-risk behaviours and situations, and support the interaction of personnel and equipment in production activities
• May manage autonomous fleets of vehicles, and identify and implement operational improvements for autonomous fleet management systems to improve efficiency, productivity and overall operations in production activities

Ways in

• University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Diploma of Industrial Electronics and Control Engineering (UEE50920)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $135,928 a year
• About 40,100 people work in this job group now, and about 49,300 are projected by 2035. (+23.1%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Industrial Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Extractive Metallurgist
• Materials Engineer
• Civil Engineer

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Production or Plant Engineer?

Ways in include: Engineering degrees; Diploma of Industrial Electronics and Control Engineering.

How much does a Production or Plant Engineer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $135,928 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Production or Plant Engineer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 23% by 2035, from about 40,100 to about 49,300 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Production or Plant Engineer?

Usually. 79% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Production or Plant Engineer?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• 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