Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$109,500
Full-time annual
People employed
3,700
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Regional shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Operates a range of earthmoving plant to excavate, level, compact and shape earth and other materials to assist with building roads, rail, water supply, dams, treatment plants and agricultural earthworks.
Alternative titles
Construction Plant Operator (General)
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Maintains and operates a range of earthmoving plant to excavate, level, compact and shape earth and other materials
- Loads, transports and unloads materials using earthmoving plant and equipment
- Performs routine pre-start checks, maintenance, minor repairs and adjustments on earthmoving plant and equipment
- Monitors and reports any faults or malfunctions of earthmoving plant and equipment
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
10%
Female rate
3%
Median age
49
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+1%
587 projected jobs
to 2035
+4%
2,090 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 4
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing may be required.
Official VET pathways
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Civil Construction
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Civil Foundations
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Trenchless Technology
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Drilling Operations
Specialised training
Certificate IV in Well Servicing Operations
Specialised training
Diploma of Drilling Operations
Specialised training
Certificate III in Rural Operations
Transferable skills
Certificate III in Construction Crane Operations
Transferable skills
Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations
Transferable skills
Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations
Transferable skills
Certificate III in Underground Coal Operations
Transferable skills
Certificate III in Gravedigging, Grounds and Maintenance
Transferable skills
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
397
ACT · May 2026
11
VIC · May 2026
127
NT · May 2026
31
SA · May 2026
115
NSW · May 2026
235
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Earthmoving Plant Operator (General).
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Logan - Beaudesert
1,320 estimated employed
- 1
Logan - Beaudesert
1,320 employed
QLD
+12.53%
year on year
- 2
Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
1,316 employed
QLD
+7.78%
year on year
- 3
Wide Bay
1,246 employed
QLD
-2.73%
year on year
- 4
Western Australia - Wheat Belt
1,233 employed
WA
+9.41%
year on year
- 5
Melbourne - South East
1,194 employed
VIC
+0.34%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
34,230
Moved in from another occupation
4,510
Moved to another occupation
2,915
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
3
points
- 2
3
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 741231
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate. A missing CSOL flag is not a finding of visa ineligibility; check the current Home Affairs list.