Grader Operator

A grader operator controls and manoeuvres a motor grader to level, shape, and compact earth and aggregate materials on construction sites, roads, and civil engineering projects. They operate the blade, scarifier, and other attachments to achieve specified grades and profiles while maintaining safety standards and responding to site supervision.

Operate motor grader controls to lower, raise, angle, and articulate the blade for grading and levelling earthworks. Interpret engineering plans and site markings to establish correct grade levels and cross-slopes. Adjust blade pitch, angle, and offset to achieve specified surface finishes and drainage profiles. Monitor blade depth using depth gauges and GPS-guided grading systems to maintain tolerances. Manoeuvre grader across uneven terrain using throttle, steering, and differential lock controls. Operate scarifier attachments to break up compacted soil and aggregate before grading. Perform pre-start and end-of-shift inspections including fluid levels, tyre condition, and hydraulic function. Communicate with spotters and site supervisors using two-way radio regarding blade positioning and site hazards.

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.

You'll be doing physically demanding work in all weather, often on dusty or muddy sites with long hours during busy project phases. The real trade-off is that while the work is skilled, your pay ceiling is modest compared to supervisory roles, and you're competing with workers who've been doing this for years. Automation and GPS-guided systems are changing the skill requirements.

Jobs are site-based and not remote. Regional areas often have steadier work during infrastructure booms but less variety when projects finish.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7212, 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
• Delivery Scheduling
• Dispatch Documentation
• Process Documentation
• 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.

Last updated: 30 October 2026