Wool Classer

A wool classer inspects and grades raw wool fleeces in shearing sheds, woolstores, or processing facilities according to Australian wool industry standards. They assess fibre characteristics such as micron count, colour, length, and contamination levels, then sort and separate wool into commercial grades for sale and processing. This role ensures wool meets buyer specifications and maximises the value of wool consignments for producers and traders.

Assess wool fleece micron count and fibre diameter using tactile evaluation and measurement instruments to determine grade classification. Inspect fleeces for colour variation, yellowing, and discolouration that affects marketability and grade placement. Identify and remove vegetable matter, seeds, and other contamination from wool samples before grading. Evaluate wool staple length and strength characteristics to classify according to Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) standards. Sort fleeces into commercial grades and lots based on fibre quality, yield potential, and market specifications. Prepare wool for sale by recording grade classifications, weights, and lot descriptions for auction catalogues or direct buyer transactions. Use wool classing equipment including microscopes, tension testers, and measurement tools to verify fibre characteristics. Communicate with producers and woolstore managers regarding grade outcomes and recommendations for fleece handling to minimise fibre damage.

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 wool industry is shrinking and volatile. You'll depend on shearing seasons and export markets you can't control. Pay is modest for skilled work, there's repetitive hand and eye strain from grading hundreds of fleeces daily, and automation is slowly replacing classers. Training takes time but jobs are scarce outside peak season.

Most work is in woolstores and shearing sheds in rural areas, not cities. Jobs follow the sheep, so you'll need to relocate to farming country and accept seasonal work patterns.

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.

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• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
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• Precision engineering
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• 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