Mobile Plant Operators

Mobile plant operators in this category operate specialised mobile machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified, such as cherry pickers, scissor lifts, boom lifts, telehandlers, and other elevated work platforms on construction sites, maintenance projects, and industrial facilities. They position and manoeuvre equipment safely, operate hydraulic and mechanical controls, and ensure compliance with Safe Work Australia standards and site-specific safety protocols. The role involves working independently or as part of a crew, assessing ground conditions and load capacity, and communicating with ground personnel and supervisors via radio or hand signals.

Operate hydraulic and mechanical controls of mobile plant including boom lifts, scissor lifts, cherry pickers, and telehandlers to position loads or personnel. Conduct pre-start safety checks on plant equipment including brakes, tyres, hydraulic systems, and emergency stop mechanisms. Assess ground conditions, load capacity ratings, and weather conditions before positioning and deploying plant. Position outriggers, stabilisers, and levelling systems to ensure plant stability and prevent rollover hazards. Communicate with ground personnel and site supervisors using radio, hand signals, or mobile phone to coordinate lifting and positioning operations. Load and secure materials onto mobile plant using appropriate rigging equipment and fastening methods. Navigate mobile plant across construction sites and between work locations while maintaining awareness of obstacles, personnel, and site hazards. Maintain daily logbooks and inspection records for plant servicing and mechanical faults.

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're responsible for people's safety when you're operating at height, and mistakes can kill someone. The work is weather-dependent so you'll lose days to rain or wind, which affects your pay. Certification requires ongoing training and the hours can be long and irregular depending on construction schedules.

Major projects drive demand: think new residential developments, commercial building sites, and infrastructure work. Regional areas have jobs too but they're tied to specific projects that come and go. Remote work doesn't apply to this role.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7219, 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
• Dispatch Documentationcore
• 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
• Driver and Courier Liaison
• Process Improvement Identification
• WorkCover Administration
• 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.

Last updated: 30 October 2026