Plastics Technician

A Plastics Technician operates and maintains plastic processing equipment in manufacturing facilities, monitoring production runs to ensure quality standards and product specifications are met. They perform routine maintenance, troubleshoot equipment faults, and may assist with material preparation, mould setup, and quality testing of plastic components. The role requires knowledge of plastic materials, processing methods such as injection moulding or extrusion, and workplace safety protocols specific to chemical handling and machinery operation.

Operate injection moulding machines, extrusion equipment, or thermoforming presses by setting temperature, pressure, and cycle parameters according to production specifications. Monitor production runs for defects, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality, using visual inspection and calibrated measurement tools such as calipers or go-no-go gauges. Prepare moulds and dies for production by cleaning, checking alignment, and installing them in processing equipment. Mix and prepare plastic materials including polymers, additives, and colour compounds, measuring quantities and loading material hoppers. Perform preventive maintenance tasks on equipment including lubrication, seal replacement, and inspection of hydraulic and electrical systems. Diagnose and troubleshoot equipment malfunctions by checking sensor readings, observing operational symptoms, and reporting faults to maintenance engineers. Conduct quality tests on finished components including hardness testing, tensile strength assessment, and dimensional verification against specifications. Record production data including batch numbers, cycle times, material usage, and scrap rates in manufacturing logs or digital systems.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). 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.

The work is repetitive and physically demanding with limited career progression. You'll spend 8-hour shifts watching machines and checking parts, often in hot, noisy factory conditions. Pay caps out relatively quickly once you've completed your cert, and moving up to supervisor or engineer roles requires further study. Automation is steadily replacing basic machine-minding roles, so job security depends on your factory staying competitive.

Most are in automotive parts, packaging, and consumer goods factories. Very few positions offer remote work. Regional centres with plastic extrusion plants have some openings, but opportunities are fewer and wages typically lower than metro areas.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3999, 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
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Process Improvement Identificationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Adjust engineering designs
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• ERP and Inventory Systems
• Inventory Tracking
• Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
• Report Writing
• Research and Analysis
• Supplier 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