Blacksmith
A blacksmith heats, shapes, and finishes metal components using traditional and modern forging techniques in a workshop or industrial setting. They hand-forge items such as decorative ironwork, tools, architectural fittings, and bespoke metal pieces to customer specification or heritage restoration standards.
What this job is
A blacksmith heats, shapes, and finishes metal components using traditional and modern forging techniques in a workshop or industrial setting. They hand-forge items such as decorative ironwork, tools, architectural fittings, and bespoke metal pieces to customer specification or heritage restoration standards. Work involves operating furnaces, anvils, and hand tools to achieve precise dimensions and finishes while managing workplace safety and material waste.
Are employers advertising this role?
Fewer than 50 vacancies were advertised nationally in the latest month. The numbers are too small to draw a reliable trend.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Heat ferrous and non-ferrous metals in forges or furnaces to precise temperatures to achieve workable malleability. Strike heated metal stock against anvils using hammers and hand tools to shape components to specification. Measure and mark metal blanks using callipers, rulers, and marking gauges before and during forging. Operate oxy-acetylene torches and cutting equipment to cut, prepare, and trim metal stock. Perform heat treatment cycles (annealing, tempering, quenching) to achieve desired hardness and brittleness in finished pieces. Forge welds joint sections by heating to critical temperature and hammering surfaces together to create solid bonds. File, grind, and dress forged surfaces using hand files, grinding wheels, and finishing tools to achieve smooth finishes and tolerances. Apply protective coatings such as oil, paint, or rust inhibitors to finished pieces for durability and aesthetic presentation.
Who does this now
About 240 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3)
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation were generally able to find suitable applicants in 2025. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation-ready qualification as:
Completing this qualification will provide the skills and knowledge to undertake this occupation. Further training and experience may be required to meet specific industry requirements including licensing and registration.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Requirements
The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.
The honest hard part
Work is physically demanding and repetitive, with real risks of burns and hand injuries despite safety gear. Pay is modest and work is often project-based rather than steady employment. Most work goes to people building their own client base or working in heritage restoration, which requires years to establish. The craft market is small and seasonal.
Where the jobs are
In reality, work clusters around heritage restoration sites, rural areas needing farm and gate work, and tourist destinations with artisan markets. Most blacksmiths run small workshops or sole trades rather than working for large employers, so jobs depend on building local reputation and client networks rather than applying to advertised positions.
Skills
- Advise horse owners on farriery requirementscore
- Attach horseshoescore
- Attention to Detailcore
- Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
- Carry out post hoof-trimming activitiescore
- Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
- Control animal movementcore
- Drop hammer typescore
- Inventory Trackingcore
- Make farrier tools and suppliescore
- Operate furnacecore
- Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
- Prepare equid hoovescore
- Problem Solvingcore
- Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
- Risk Identificationcore
- Team Collaborationcore
- Tend drop forging hammercore
- Time Managementcore
- Verbal Communicationcore
- Workload Self-Managementcore
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Customer Needs Assessment
- Ensure equipment availability
- Forging processes
- Goal Setting and Planning
- Hydraulic fluid
- Hydraulic press parts
- Maintain hydraulic forging press
- Perform test run
- Process Improvement Identification
- Quality standards
- Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
- Remove inadequate workpieces
- Remove processed workpiece
- Supplier Communication
- Troubleshoot
- Types of metal
- Wear appropriate protective gear
- Written Communication
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
- ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.
Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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