Fencer

A fencer constructs, repairs, and maintains fences and associated structures using timber, metal, or composite materials on residential, commercial, and agricultural properties throughout Australia. The work involves site preparation, measuring and cutting materials, installing posts and panels, and finishing work to comply with local council regulations and Australian Standards. Fencers work independently or as part of small teams, often in varied weather conditions and across different terrain types.

Measure and mark fence line boundaries using tape measures, string lines, and pegs to establish accurate post positions. Excavate post holes by hand auger, power auger, or spade to depths compliant with AS/NZS 1170.2 wind load standards. Install timber or steel posts into holes using concrete footings or concrete spikes, ensuring vertical plumb and appropriate spacing. Cut timber or metal materials to length using hand saws, circular saws, or angle grinders for panels, pickets, and rails. Attach palings, panels, or mesh to posts using nails, screws, bolts, or welding equipment depending on material type. Fit and secure gates, hinges, latches, and hanging hardware to fence frames. Apply timber treatments, stains, or paint finishes to protect fencing materials from weathering and decay. Inspect existing fences to assess damage and determine repair or replacement 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.

Your back and knees will cop a hammering. You're digging post holes in all weather, lifting heavy materials, and bending constantly. By your 50s, many fencers struggle with chronic joint pain. The work is also weather-dependent, so income can be patchy during rainy periods. You'll need to build your own client base or rely on contractors for steady work.

Fencing work concentrates in outer suburbs and regional areas where new housing estates and rural properties drive demand. Practically, work dries up in remote areas. Most fencers operate as sole traders or work for small local contractors rather than large companies, so jobs are scattered across your region.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 8213, 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.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Check compatibility of materialscore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Carpentry
• Delivery Scheduling
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Incident Reporting
• Invoicing and Billing Administration
• Negotiation
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• 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 Fencer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026