Railway Shunter

A Railway Shunter operates and manoeuvres railway wagons and trains within rail yards, depots, and sidings to assemble consist for despatch or break down incoming trains into individual wagons for distribution. Working under the direction of a Shunting Master or Rail Controller, they couple and uncouple wagons, position rolling stock at loading/unloading facilities, and ensure safe movement of rail assets within the yard environment.

Operate locomotive or shunting engine to manoeuvre wagons and assemble train consists according to yard instructions and train orders. Couple and uncouple railway wagons using couplers, draft gear, and coupling devices whilst ensuring safe mechanical engagement. Monitor wagon movement and positioning using lineside signals, hand signals from ground staff, radio communication, and direct observation from the locomotive cab. Inspect wagons and rolling stock for mechanical defects, brake function, and load security before and after shunting operations. Comply with rail yard safety protocols including use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), rail-specific traffic management, and Safe Work Australia guidelines. Record shunting movements, wagon numbers, consist details, and any defects or incidents in yard documentation systems and electronic logs. Communicate via two-way radio with Shunting Masters, Rail Controllers, and ground staff to receive movement instructions and coordinate train assembly. Position wagons at designated loading, unloading, or storage locations within the rail yard with precision to avoid damage to rolling stock or infrastructure.

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 need a Rail Safety Worker Certificate and possibly a locomotive driving licence, which takes months of on-the-job training before you can work independently. The work is shift-based including nights and weekends, and yards operate in all weather. Pay sits below trades level despite the responsibility, and automation of marshalling yards is steadily reducing positions.

Rail yards concentrate in major cities and regional transport hubs. Most positions are with Aurizon, Pacific National, and state rail operators. Remote work is not an option.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7129, 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
• Multitaskingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Act reliably
• Carry out railway accident investigations
• Delivery Scheduling
• Freight Coordination
• Process Documentation
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Record Management
• Stakeholder Communication
• Workload Self-Management

• 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