Reinforced Plastic and Composite Production Worker

A reinforced plastic and composite production worker operates machinery and performs manual tasks in the manufacture of fibreglass, carbon fibre, and other composite materials used in automotive, marine, aerospace, and construction industries. They prepare moulds, lay up reinforcement materials, apply resins, operate curing equipment, and finish composite parts according to specifications and quality standards.

Prepare moulds and release agents for layup operations, ensuring surfaces are clean and properly treated. Lay up reinforcement materials such as fibreglass cloth, mat, or carbon fibre into moulds by hand or using applicators. Apply resin systems including polyester, epoxy, or vinyl ester using brushes, rollers, or spray equipment while maintaining correct ratios. Operate resin transfer moulding (RTM) and vacuum infusion equipment to distribute resin through reinforcement layers. Monitor curing times and temperatures in autoclaves or ovens according to material specifications and process documentation. Remove cured composite parts from moulds using demoulding tools and techniques without causing damage to the part or mould. Trim, sand, and finish composite edges and surfaces using sanders, grinders, and cutting tools to meet dimensional tolerances. Inspect finished composite parts for defects such as porosity, delamination, wrinkles, or resin starvation using visual assessment and measuring instruments.

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 deal with chemical exposure daily: resins, solvents, and fibreglass dust irritate skin, eyes, and lungs even with PPE. The work is physically demanding and repetitive, causing shoulder and back strain. Pay caps out around mid-skilled manufacturing wages with limited progression unless you move into supervision or design roles.

Remote work is not viable for this hands-on manufacturing role.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7115, 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
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Managementcore
• Active Listening
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Goods Receipt Processing
• Process Improvement Identification
• Stock Counting and Stocktake
• Verbal 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