SALARY SURVEY 2013 - Robert Walters Singapore

BRISBANEBRISBANEENGINEERING&CONSTRUCTIONBRISBANEENGINEERING&CONSTRUCTIONOurengineering&constructiondivisionrecruitsallareasofpersonnelinthedesign,EPCM,contractandconsultingindustries,fromprojectandconstructionmanagerstositeengineersandforemen.Withintheconstructionmarketwemainlycovercommercialandcivilengineering,dealingwithallnon-bluecollarroles.Intheengineeringspacewepredominantlyworkwithconsultingengineeringfirms,recruitingrolesfromengineeringmanagerstodesigndraftersinmulti-disciplinedareassuchaselectrical,mechanical,rail,environmentalandcivil.MarketOverviewThereweretwodistincttrendsintheengineeringandconstructionmarketduring2012.Forthefirstsixmonthsdemandsteadilyincreasedforstaff,particularlyinareassuchasmajorinfrastructure,marineandrail-relatedprojects.Thisactivitywasprimarilydrivenbytheresourcessector,oilandgas,aswellasminingwhereprojectsinNorthQueenslandwerestillinfullprogress.Thecommercialandresidentialconstructionsectorsremainedsteadythroughouttheyear.Therewereslightdecreasesinsalariesinthesebusinessesduetolowtenderproposallevelsandfewsignificantnewprojectsinthemarket.Inthesecondhalfoftheyear,wesawthemarkettakeadramaticchangeduetoanewQueenslandgovernmentcomingtopower.Thisledtoareductioninnewprojectsbeingreleasedwhichhadanegativeimpactonjobvolumesintheinfrastructureindustry.Demandwasgreatestintheoilandgassectorduetoanumberofinitiativesinthesebusinessesintheconstructionphaseoftheirlifecycle.Thisinvestmentledtoarapidincreaseindemandforconstructionworkerswithoilandgasbackgrounds.Wealsonotedthatsalariesinspecificareasincreasedasorganisationsbecamemoreflexibleduringtherecruitmentprocessastheysoughttoattractthebesttalent.Forexample,salariesforprincipaldesignengineersarenow$180k(comparedto$155kin2012),whileprojectmanagersarenowbeingpaid$180k(comparedto$160kpreviously).Theseincreaseswereintendedtocreateacompetitivegapinthemarketanddrawinnewtalentfromcompetingorganisations.Outlookfor2013Weexpecttoseegreaterdemandforskilledworkerswithintheoilandgassectorin2013asprojectsintheirconstructionphasecontinuetoprogress.Wealsoanticipateanincreaseddemandforstaffintherailindustrywithspecificprojects,suchastheMoretonBayraillink,alsoenteringtheconstructionphaseinlate2013.TheCrossRiverRailimprovementisexpectedtogoahead(subjecttogovernmentfunding)andthiswillfurtherstimulatetheneedforavarietyofmulti-disciplinedengineers(i.e.individualswithcivil,geotechnicalandrailexperience).Duetotheshortageofcandidatesinthesemarketsectors,weanticipatethatsalariesforcandidateswiththisspecialistknowledgewillincrease.ENGINEERING&CONSTRUCTIONROLEPERMANENTSALARYPERANNUM$AUS2012 2013PrincipalDesignEngineer $170-200k $180-220kSeniorDesignEngineer $120-150k $125-155kDesignEngineer $85-120k $85-120kProjectEngineer $145-210k $145-210kSiteEngineer $80-130k $80-130kCostControls $180-300k $180-300kEstimator $110-180k $100-175kProjectManager $160-220k $160-220kContractAdministrator $80-125k $80-120kProjectDirector $185-250k $185-250kNB:Figuresaresalariesinclusiveofsuperannuation,butexclusiveofbenefits/bonusesunlessotherwisespecified.RobertWaltersGlobalSalarySurvey2013 174