How to become a Rail Engineer
Plans, designs and develops rail tracks and support structures for rail systems to enable safe and optimised operations.
Main tasks
- Designs, plans and develops rail tracks and rail system infrastructure, and forecasts the cost of rail projects
- Identifies suitable rail routes to develop effective and sustainable rail systems that meet the needs of clients and communities
- Analyses issues or faults in rail systems and provides advice on suitable engineering solutions
- Ensures building work on rail projects complies with existing safety standards and regulations
Ways in
- University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
- TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Rail Signalling (UEE41223)
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $115,284 a year
- About 76,300 people work in this job group now, and about 92,300 are projected by 2035. (+21%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Rail Engineer?
Ways in include: Engineering degrees; Certificate IV in Rail Signalling.
How much does a Rail Engineer earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $115,284 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Rail Engineer a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 76,300 to about 92,300 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Rail Engineer?
Usually. 84% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Rail Engineer?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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