High-Paying Mining Jobs in Australia
Where the Six-Figure Roles Really are — and what it takes to land one.
Australian Mining Pays Well Above the National Average across almost every Role — from Entry-Level Truck Drivers to Specialist Tradespeople and Engineers. Click any Role Below for a Full Career Guide, Certificates Required, and Step-by-Step Advice on how to obtain the Role.
Mine Site Supervisor / Superintendent
Tickets / Qualifications: S1/S2/S3 statutory tickets (WA), Leadership Experience
Statutory Positions carry Legal Responsibility — Paid Accordingly.
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Underground Shot Firer / Blaster
Tickets / Qualifications: Shot Firer licence, Standard 11, Underground Induction
High-risk, Licensed work. Shortages across WA gold and Nickel underground mines.
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Mining Engineer (Underground)
Tickets / Qualifications: Bachelor of Mining Engineering, WA First Class Ticket for senior roles
Design, Ventilation, round Control — Engineering Degree Required.
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Drill & Blast Supervisor
Tickets / Qualifications: Shot Firer + Supervisory Experience
Runs the Highest-Risk Crew on Site so Paid High Accordingly.
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Advanced Rigger (Shutdowns)
Tickets / Qualifications: Advanced Rigging, Working at Heights, Confined Space
Peak Shutdown Seasons Pay Premium Day Rates for Experienced Riggers.
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Mine Site Electrician (HV)
Tickets / Qualifications: A-grade electrical, HV Switching ticket
High Voltage work on Fixed Plant — Safety-critical Premium.
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Boilermaker / Heavy Fabrication Welder
Tickets / Qualifications: Cert III Engineering (Fabrication), Pressure Welding tickets
Fixed Plant Maintenance and Shutdown work — always short.
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Auto Electrician (Mining)
Tickets / Qualifications: Cert III Auto Electrical, HV licence a plus
Autonomous Haulage fleets have created a chronic shortage.
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Geologist (Exploration & Production)
Tickets / Qualifications: Bachelor of Geology, AusIMM membership common
Gold Price is High — Exploration budgets are back.
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Dump Truck / Dozer / Grader Operator
Tickets / Qualifications: Verification of Competency (VOC) per machine
Multi-ticketed operators earn Well above single-Machine peers.
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Diesel Fitter / Heavy Duty Mechanic
Tickets / Qualifications: Cert III Mobile Plant / Heavy Vehicle
Caterpillar 793/797, Komatsu 930E Experience commands the top of the band.
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Haul Truck Operator (Autonomous & Manual)
Tickets / Qualifications: HR licence, Standard 11, Site Induction
Entry-friendly for a High Salary. 24/7 Iron Ore Operations in the Pilbara.
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FIFO Camp Chef
Tickets / Qualifications: Cert III Commercial Cookery
Best-paid hospitality work in the country, all meals and flights covered.
Read full role guide CLICK >> To Reveal More Detail →How to move up the pay scale
- Stack tickets. A truck driver with dogging, EWP, and forklift out-earns single-ticket peers.
- Chase shutdown work — 6 to 8 weeks of intense hours can add $40k+ to a year's earnings.
- Go remote or underground. Rosters get harder, pay gets much better.
- Move to Statutory Positions (supervisor, OCE) once you have the years.
Australian Mining Salary Guide
31 roles from camp attendant to company director — sort by pay, A–Z or qualifications.
| Role | Seniority | FIFO Package | Residential / DIDO | Quals Needed | Tickets & Qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company Director / CEO (ASX Miner) | Executive | $900k – $4.0M | $900k – $4.0M | Very High | Degree plus MBA or CA/CPA, GAICD, 20+ years industry leadership |
| General Manager — Operations / Site GM | Executive | $400k – $750k | $380k – $700k | Very High | Engineering or Geoscience degree, WA/Qld Statutory Quarry or Mine Manager ticket, 15+ years |
| Registered / Statutory Mine Manager | Management | $320k – $550k | $300k – $500k | Very High | Mining Engineering degree, First Class Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency |
| Mining Manager / Operations Manager | Management | $280k – $450k | $260k – $420k | Very High | Engineering degree, statutory ticket, Cert IV Leadership, 10+ years |
| Maintenance Manager | Management | $240k – $380k | $220k – $350k | Very High | Mechanical/Electrical degree or trade plus Diploma, asset management experience |
| Shutdown / Turnaround Manager | Management | $230k – $360k | $200k – $320k | High | Trade plus project management, Cert IV WHS, Heights, Confined Space, Gas Test |
| Production / Mining Superintendent | Management | $220k – $340k | $200k – $310k | High | Engineering degree or extensive operations background, statutory supervisor tickets |
| Senior Mining Engineer | Technical | $200k – $320k | $185k – $290k | Very High | Mining Engineering degree, RPEQ or Chartered status, Vulcan/Deswik proficiency |
| Electrical Supervisor / HV Switching Coordinator | Supervisory | $190k – $300k | $175k – $270k | Very High | Electrical trade, unrestricted Electrical Licence, HV Switching, Cert IV Frontline |
| Senior Geologist (Production) | Technical | $180k – $280k | $165k – $255k | Very High | Geology degree, MAIG/AusIMM membership, 8+ years mine geology |
| Drill & Blast Supervisor | Supervisory | $175k – $260k | $160k – $235k | High | Shotfirer's Licence, Explosives Licence, Cert IV Frontline Management |
| Maintenance Supervisor | Supervisory | $170k – $250k | $155k – $225k | High | Heavy Diesel or Electrical trade, Cert IV Leadership, isolation authority |
| Production Supervisor / Shift Supervisor | Supervisory | $160k – $240k | $145k – $215k | High | Statutory supervisor certificate, Cert IV Frontline Management, operator background |
| HSE / Safety Advisor | Technical | $140k – $220k | $125k – $195k | High | Cert IV or Diploma WHS, ICAM investigation, Cert IV Training & Assessment |
| Heavy Diesel Fitter (Mobile Maintenance) | Trade | $140k – $210k | $120k – $175k | High | Cert III Mobile Plant Technology, Standard 11, Heights, Confined Space |
| Mine Electrician | Trade | $140k – $205k | $125k – $180k | High | Cert III Electrotechnology, A-Grade Licence, HV Switching, Standard 11 |
| Boilermaker / Structural Welder | Trade | $130k – $200k | $110k – $165k | High | Cert III Engineering Fabrication, welding tickets, Heights, Confined Space |
| Dragline Operator (Qld Coal) | Operator | $150k – $200k | $145k – $190k | Moderate | Coal Board Medical, Generic Induction, site VOC on dragline |
| Shutdown Trade Assistant / Rigger | Trade | $120k – $190k | $100k – $155k | Moderate | Dogging, Basic/Intermediate Rigging, EWP, Heights, Confined Space, Gas Test |
| Mine Surveyor | Technical | $130k – $185k | $115k – $165k | High | Surveying degree or Diploma, Authorised Mine Surveyor registration |
| Excavator / Loader Operator | Operator | $120k – $170k | $105k – $145k | Moderate | Standard 11, HR licence preferred, site VOC on machine class |
| Drill Operator (Production Drilling) | Operator | $115k – $165k | $100k – $140k | Moderate | Standard 11, HR licence, site VOC, Shotfirer pathway optional |
| Processing Plant Operator | Operator | $110k – $160k | $95k – $140k | Moderate | Standard 11, Confined Space, Gas Test, Cert III Process Plant Operations |
| Graduate Mining Engineer | Technical | $110k – $150k | $100k – $140k | High | Mining Engineering degree, Standard 11 |
| Haul Truck Operator | Operator | $100k – $150k | $90k – $130k | Low | Standard 11, HR licence commonly required, site VOC |
| Water Cart / Light Vehicle Operator | Entry Level | $85k – $120k | $75k – $105k | Low | HR licence, Standard 11, police clearance |
| Production Trainee / Operator Traineeship | Entry Level | $90k – $115k | $80k – $105k | Low | Standard 11, driver's licence, pass medical — no experience required |
| Tyre Hand / Wash Bay / Fuel Farm Attendant | Entry Level | $80k – $110k | $70k – $95k | Low | Standard 11, White Card, physical capacity assessment |
| Utility / General Hand | Entry Level | $70k – $95k | $62k – $82k | Low | Standard 11, White Card, police clearance, medical |
| Kitchen Hand / Camp Catering | Entry Level | $65k – $88k | $58k – $75k | None | Food Safety Handling desirable, police clearance, medical |
| Camp Attendant / Housekeeping | Entry Level | $65k – $85k | $58k – $72k | None | Police clearance and medical only — no tickets required |
Indicative ranges only, current for 2026 and expressed in AUD per annum. Always confirm rates, roster and allowances in writing with the employer before accepting an offer.