Drainage, Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer

A drainage, sewerage and stormwater labourer performs manual and semi-skilled work in the installation, maintenance, and repair of drainage, sewerage, and stormwater systems across residential, commercial, and industrial sites in Australia. Working under the direction of licensed plumbers or drainage contractors, they excavate trenches, lay pipes, install fittings, and clear blockages whilst adhering to workplace safety standards and relevant Australian Standards (AS/NZS 3500 for plumbing and drainage). They handle tools, materials, and equipment on construction and maintenance sites, often in challenging environmental conditions.

Excavate trenches and pits for drainage and sewerage pipe installation using hand tools and mechanical excavators, following site plans and depth specifications. Lay drainage and sewerage pipes (PVC, concrete, clay, or cast iron) in prepared trenches, ensuring correct gradient and alignment to AS/NZS 3500 standards. Install pipe fittings, junction boxes, inspection chambers, and cleanouts, securing them with appropriate bedding materials and backfill. Clear blocked drains and sewers using plungers, drain rods, water jets, or high-pressure cleaning equipment. Compact and backfill trenches with sand, gravel, or soil in layers, testing compaction levels to meet Australian Standards. Assist licensed plumbers with connection of drainage systems to property boundaries and council stormwater systems. Identify and mark utilities (electricity, gas, water, telecommunications) before excavation using Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) registers and hand tools. Conduct site inspections for stormwater drainage, noting water flow issues, erosion, or pipe deterioration and reporting findings to supervisors.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). 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 work is repetitive (trenching, laying pipe, backfilling) and your body takes a beating. If you're older when you switch careers, the physical toll catches up fast.

Regional areas have work but less of it. Most roles are site-based and not remote. Work follows housing construction cycles and council infrastructure budgets in each state.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 8211, 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
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Multitasking
• Process Improvement Identification
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Stakeholder 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.

What Drainage, Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026