Extractive Metallurgist

An extractive metallurgist designs, develops, and optimises processes to extract and concentrate metals from ore deposits in Australian mining operations. They conduct laboratory and pilot-scale experiments, analyse mineral composition, and advise on process improvements to maximise metal recovery and minimise environmental impact. The role operates within mining, mineral processing, and metallurgical research facilities, applying chemistry, engineering principles, and regulatory compliance to transform raw ore into marketable metal products.

Design and conduct laboratory assays and metallurgical tests on ore samples to determine optimal extraction parameters and metal recovery rates. Develop and refine extraction flowsheets using techniques such as flotation, leaching, roasting, and smelting to process specific ore types. Operate and maintain laboratory equipment including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for mineral and metal analysis. Perform thermodynamic and kinetic modelling to predict process behaviour and identify bottlenecks in metal extraction circuits. Advise on process scale-up from laboratory to pilot and commercial production, anticipating changes in efficiency and material handling. Analyse ore geology and mineralogy to recommend suitable extraction methods for different deposit characteristics and metal compositions. Monitor and interpret metallurgical test work data to optimise reagent dosing, temperature, pH, and residence times in extraction processes. Evaluate environmental and safety implications of extraction processes and recommend modifications to meet Australian environmental regulations and Safe Work Australia standards.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). 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 need a chemistry or engineering degree plus years of hands-on lab work before you're trusted with real ore processing decisions. Career changers without a metallurgy background face steep retraining costs and entry-level lab roles that pay less than their previous work. The field is also tied to commodity prices, so your job security swings with global metal markets rather than steady demand.

Remote work is rare, field and lab work dominates. Very few jobs exist in capital cities outside mining zones. You'll need to relocate to where the mines operate.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2349, 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
• Chemical processescore
• Chemistrycore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Ensure compliance with environmental legislationcore
• Impact of geological factors on mining operationscore
• Interpret extraction datacore
• Metal and metal ore productscore
• Metallurgycore
• Mine safety legislationcore
• Prepare scientific reportscore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Improvement Identificationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Troubleshootcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Address problems critically
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Develop new installations
• Ensure compliance with safety legislation
• Geology
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Incident Reporting
• Mathematics
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Mining engineering
• Negotiation
• Present reports
• Process Documentation
• Reporting and Analytics
• Supervise staff
• Time Management and Prioritisation

• 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