Stevedore

A stevedore operates cargo handling equipment and supervises the loading and unloading of ships at Australian ports and maritime terminals. They work on wharf or vessel decks to move containers, breakbulk cargo, and other goods using cranes, forklifts, and specialised rigging equipment, ensuring safe stowage and compliance with port authority regulations and vessel stability requirements.

Operate ship-mounted cargo cranes or shore-based gantry cranes to load and discharge containers and general cargo from vessels. Attach and detach cargo slings, spreader bars, and rigging gear to secure loads for crane handling. Direct and communicate with crane operators using hand signals or radio to position cargo accurately on deck or in holds. Inspect cargo for damage, improper packaging, or hazardous material declarations before and after handling. Arrange and secure cargo within ship holds or on deck using lashing equipment to comply with vessel stability and stowage plans. Operate forklift trucks and pallet jacks on the wharf to move cargo between vessel and storage areas. Read and interpret cargo manifests, shipping documents, and stowage plans to identify cargo location and handling requirements. Report unsafe conditions, damaged cargo, or equipment faults to port supervisors and complete incident and near-miss reports.

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.

Your body takes a beating. Long shifts on exposed wharves mean repetitive heavy lifting, standing on moving vessel decks in all weather, and constant noise from cranes and engines. You'll need fitness certifications and hazmat training that take time to get. The work is casual in many ports, so steady income isn't guaranteed: you're often on call and tied to ship schedules, including nights and weekends.

Work is almost entirely based at active shipping terminals: no remote options. Each state has a main port doing most container traffic.

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.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Dispatch Documentationcore
• Freight Coordinationcore
• Goods Receipt Processingcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Delivery Scheduling
• Forklift Licence Coordination
• Multitasking
• Problem Solving
• Stock Counting and Stocktake
• Supplier Communication
• Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
• WorkCover Administration

• 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