Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator

A crane, hoist or lift operator controls mobile and fixed lifting equipment on construction sites, mines, ports, and manufacturing facilities to move heavy loads safely and efficiently. The operator manages the equipment's mechanical and hydraulic systems, interprets load charts and rigging specifications, and coordinates with ground personnel to position loads precisely while maintaining strict compliance with Safe Work Australia standards and site safety protocols.

Conduct pre-operation safety checks on crane or hoist equipment including hydraulic systems, cable condition, brake function, and emergency stop mechanisms. Interpret load charts, weight specifications, and rigging diagrams to determine safe working loads and equipment capacity. Operate mobile cranes, tower cranes, or gantry hoists using hand signals, radio communications, or remote control systems to move loads to specified positions. Communicate with riggers and ground personnel using standardised hand signals or two-way radio to coordinate load placement and ensure safety zones are clear. Monitor load movement and equipment indicators including pressure gauges, load cells, and visual guides to detect unsafe conditions or mechanical faults. Perform routine maintenance tasks such as lubricating moving parts, checking fluid levels, and reporting defects to supervisors for repair. Comply with Safe Work Australia lifting and rigging requirements and site-specific safety inductions for each location or project. Maintain logbooks documenting equipment use, load weights, maintenance records, and any incidents or damage observed.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4). 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 certification burden is real. You'll need a High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) which requires formal training, assessments, and ongoing renewal every five years. Site inductions are mandatory for every new location. The work is also physically demanding with long hours in all weather, and mistakes cost lives: the pressure and responsibility never fully leave you.

Construction sites dominate, so jobs cluster around major cities and growth areas. Practically speaking, you need to be where building booms or mines are active. Remote work doesn't exist in this field.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7121, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Multitaskingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Dispatch Documentation
• Forklift Licence Coordination
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Record Management

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• 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.

Where our numbers come from.

What Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026