Crushing Machine Operator

Operates, monitors, and maintains stationary industrial plant and equipment not elsewhere classified in Australian manufacturing, mining, power generation, or utility facilities. The role involves starting up and shutting down plant systems, monitoring operational parameters, recording data, and performing routine maintenance and troubleshooting to ensure safe and efficient operation within regulatory frameworks.

Monitor control panels, gauges, and digital displays to track plant performance parameters including pressure, temperature, flow rate, and output capacity. Operate control systems and automated machinery by adjusting settings, engaging mechanical or hydraulic equipment, and managing production cycles. Perform pre-operation and post-operation inspections of stationary plant including visual checks for leaks, unusual vibration, noise, or mechanical damage. Record operational data, maintenance logs, and incident reports in accordance with workplace safety and environmental compliance requirements. Respond to alarm signals and shutdown conditions by implementing emergency procedures and isolating affected plant systems. Perform routine maintenance tasks including cleaning equipment surfaces, lubricating moving parts, changing filters, and replacing worn consumables. Troubleshoot operational faults by identifying abnormal readings, consulting technical manuals, and liaising with maintenance technicians. Comply with Safe Work Australia guidelines, state-based workplace health and safety legislation, and site-specific operational procedures.

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.

You'll spend a lot of shifts just watching machines and waiting for problems. The work can be monotonous and involves early starts, nights, or weekends. You're also stuck on-site for your whole shift with no remote work options, and automation is gradually replacing operator roles in some facilities.

In reality, most work in mining regions, quarries, and manufacturing plants near major cities. Some jobs exist in regional areas where mining or aggregate crushing happens. Almost all positions are based on-site: no working from home.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7129, 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
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Cast concrete sectionscore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Improvement Identificationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Clean mixer
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• Process Documentation
• Record Management
• Workload Self-Management
• Written Communication

• 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.

Last updated: 30 October 2026