Drainer

A drainer installs, maintains, and repairs drainage systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings across Australia. They work with pipes, fittings, and associated equipment to ensure effective removal of wastewater and stormwater, complying with the National Construction Code and local plumbing regulations. The role involves diagnosing drainage faults, clearing blockages, and performing preventive maintenance on underground and above-ground drainage networks.

Install drainage pipework using materials such as PVC, cast iron, concrete, and clay to code specifications and slope requirements. Locate and mark drainage lines using inspection cameras, line tracers, and ground surveys before excavation. Excavate trenches and prepare foundations for pipe laying, ensuring appropriate depth and gradient for drainage flow. Connect drainage pipes to sanitary fittings, stormwater outlets, and municipal sewer systems using appropriate jointing methods. Test installed drainage systems using water tests and smoke tests to identify leaks and ensure compliance with the National Construction Code. Clear blockages in drainage lines using mechanical clearing equipment, high-pressure water jets, and chemical treatments. Inspect drainage systems using CCTV camera equipment to diagnose faults, assess pipe condition, and locate obstructions. Install grease traps, septic tanks, and stormwater detention systems in compliance with local council 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.

You'll spend a lot of time in trenches, sewers, and under buildings dealing with human waste and stagnant water. The work is physically demanding, often dirty, and exposes you to health hazards like bacterial infections and toxic gases. Getting your Certificate III or IV takes time and money upfront, and you'll need to stay current with building codes. Pay can plateau once you're qualified.

In practice, work concentrates in major metro areas where building density and new construction are highest. You'll find steady work in growing outer suburbs and regional centres during construction booms, but work can dry up in quiet periods. Most jobs are on-site and not remote: you go where the pipes are.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3341, 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.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Check water pressurecore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Invoicing and Billing Administration
• Process Documentation
• Record Management
• Supplier Communication
• 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.

What Drainer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026