Dogger
A dogger slings loads for cranes and directs the crane operator as loads are lifted and moved, making sure each lift stays within safe limits.
What this job is
A dogger works with crane operators on construction, mining and industrial sites. They choose and attach the right slings and lifting gear to a load, check that the load is within the crane's lifting capacity, and direct the crane operator by hand signals or radio as the load is lifted, moved and set down. Doggers also help with rigging and dismantling cranes and winches. In Australia, dogging is high risk work, and you need a high risk work licence for dogging from your state or territory work health and safety regulator.
Are employers advertising this role?
Rising, up 14.9% over 5 years
Counted across a group of similar roles. These are three-month rolling averages of online job advertisements, not filled positions.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Check slings, chains, shackles and other lifting gear before use and set aside anything damaged. Work out the weight of a load and choose the right lifting gear for it. Attach slings and hooks to loads so they are balanced and secure. Make sure each lift stays within the crane's rated capacity. Direct the crane operator using hand signals, whistles or a two-way radio, especially when the operator cannot see the load. Keep people clear of the area under and around a suspended load. Help rig, set up and dismantle cranes and winches. Record lifts and report hazards or faulty equipment to the supervisor.
Who does this now
About 810 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4)
Registration or licensing may be required.
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 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 honest hard part
You are responsible for loads weighing tonnes moving above and around other workers, so a mistake can cause serious injury or death. You'll be outdoors in all weather, often at heights or on busy sites, and the work is physical. Work follows construction and project cycles, so jobs can end when a project finishes.
Where the jobs are
In practice, work concentrates in the big construction markets in capital cities, and on mining and resource projects in regional areas. Most jobs are on-site and can't be remote. Work follows project cycles, so you may move between sites or travel to regional projects.
Skills
- Active Listeningcore
- Attention to Detailcore
- Check compatibility of materialscore
- Dispatch Documentationcore
- Incident Reportingcore
- Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
- Problem Solvingcore
- Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
- Risk Identificationcore
- Stakeholder Communicationcore
- Team Collaborationcore
- Time Management and Prioritisationcore
- Verbal Communicationcore
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
- Carpentry
- Continuous Learning and Upskilling
- Freight Coordination
- Quality Assurance and Checking
- Workload Self-Management
- 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: 10 October 2026
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