Earthmoving Labourer

An earthmoving labourer assists equipment operators and tradespeople on construction, mining, and civil engineering sites by performing manual and semi-skilled tasks related to earth movement, site preparation, and material handling. They work under supervision, operating basic plant and hand tools, maintaining site safety standards, and supporting larger-scale excavation and compaction operations across Australian mining, construction, and infrastructure projects.

Operate basic earthmoving equipment such as bobcats, compactors, and vibrating rollers under supervision to prepare and compact soil, gravel, and aggregate materials. Load and unload trucks, excavators, and other plant with soil, rock, gravel, and demolition waste using hand tools and basic mechanical means. Grade and level ground surfaces using rakes, shovels, and levelling guides to achieve specified slopes and finishes required by the site engineer. Conduct pre-start safety checks on hand tools, compaction equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with Safe Work Australia standards. Assist in site establishment by clearing vegetation, removing obstacles, and marking out work areas in line with site plans and survey pegs. Operate jackhammers, pick axes, and pry bars to break up hardened soil, rock, concrete, and asphalt for removal or excavation. Maintain drainage systems on site by digging trenches, laying pipes, and ensuring proper water flow to prevent site flooding and erosion. Monitor excavation progress and report hazards such as unstable ground, struck utilities, or environmental concerns to the site supervisor.

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.

Your body will take a beating. This is heavy manual labour in all weather: digging, lifting, operating vibrating equipment, and swinging jackhammers. Repetitive strain injuries, back problems, and joint damage are real risks. The work is also weather-dependent, so hours can be unpredictable. Pay tends to be modest unless you progress to equipment operator or supervisor roles.

Regional Australia has steady demand because major projects are spread across mining areas. Remote work doesn't apply: you're on-site every day.

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
• Dispatch Documentation
• Inventory Tracking
• Multitasking

• 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 Earthmoving Labourer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026