CCCampCareer

Fitter (General)

Construction & Skilled Trades

Shortage Now

Shortage

States / territories with a shortage signal

NSWShortage
VICShortage
QLDShortage
WAShortage
SAShortage
TASShortage
NTShortage
ACTShortage

Why this shortage: Long training gap

Snapshot

Median salary

A$129,300

Full-time annual

People employed

68,500

Estimated workforce

Shortage signal

Shortage (national)

Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.

Visa pathways

CSOL listed (verify visa)

Verify on HomeAffairs

What you actually do

Fits and assembles metal parts and subassemblies to fabricate production machines and other equipment.

Specialisations

Diesel Fitter-MechanicDrill FitterFitter-MachinistFitter-MechanicLocomotive MaintainerMaintenance FitterMechanic (Diesel and Heavy Earthmoving Equipment)Stationary Plant Mechanic

Scope note: Car, bus, truck and other vehicle diesel engine mechanics are excluded from this occupation. Car, bus, truck and other vehicle diesel engine mechanics are included in Occupation 351433 Diesel Technician.

Read official OSCA description

Skills & main tasks

Official main tasks

  • Reads and interprets engineering drawings and specifications
  • Measures and fits metal components using hand tools, power tools and machines
  • Prepares and configures machine tools for specific jobs, and ensures correct fixtures, settings and tools are applied
  • Assembles metal parts and subassemblies according to engineering specifications
  • Fits fabricated metal parts into products and assembles metal parts and subassemblies to produce machines and equipment
  • Repairs and maintains machines and equipment by replacing or repairing faulty parts
  • Operates machines and equipment to fabricate metal components
  • Tests and adjusts machines and equipment to ensure proper functioning

Where people work

State / territory distribution

WA
27.1%
QLD
26.2%
NSW
25.7%
VIC
12.1%
SA
5.6%
TAS
2%
NT
1.1%
ACT
0.2%

Highest education

Share of workers

Certificate III / IV76.4%
Year 127%
Advanced diploma / diploma5.2%
Year 10 and below4.7%
Year 112.2%
Bachelor degree2.1%
Postgraduate0.5%

Education & work pattern

Part-time

7%

Female rate

2%

Median age

39

2030 & 2035 employment outlook

to 2030

+3%

3,643 projected jobs

to 2035

+7%

8,872 projected jobs

WiseWiseAffiliate link

Moving abroad to study?

Pay tuition and send money home at the real exchange rate with Wise.

Open a free Wise account

Credentials & Pathway

OSCA skill level 3

A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.

Official VET pathways

Certificate III in Engineering - Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic

Occupation ready

Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade

Occupation ready

Real jobs right now

Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & more
See all job ads on SEEK

Current vacancy signal

QLD · May 2026

829

ACT · May 2026

12

VIC · May 2026

385

NT · May 2026

43

SA · May 2026

207

NSW · May 2026

596

Where could this career take you?

Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Fitter (General).

Explore this career on Maps

Regional demand

Largest employment base

#1 Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday

5,973 estimated employed

  1. 1

    Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday

    5,973 employed

    QLD

    -2.74%

    year on year

  2. 2

    Perth - South East

    5,972 employed

    WA

    -2.64%

    year on year

  3. 3

    Perth - South West

    5,627 employed

    WA

    +1.37%

    year on year

  4. 4

    Perth - North West

    5,315 employed

    WA

    +4.92%

    year on year

  5. 5

    Perth - North East

    3,675 employed

    WA

    -5.65%

    year on year

AiraloAiraloAffiliate link

Need a local eSIM when you arrive?

Stay connected from day one with an affordable Airalo eSIM — 200+ countries covered.

Get your eSIM

Possible next career moves

Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.

2020–2021

Workers in this occupation

29,805

Moved in from another occupation

2,865

Moved to another occupation

2,210

Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.

  1. 1
    Fitter and Turner

    225 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +7% · +1CSOL listed

    3

    points

  2. 2
    Diesel Technician

    170 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +8% · +1CSOL listed

    3

    points

  3. 3
    Miner

    65 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +6% · +1

    3

    points

  4. 4
    Maintenance Planner

    60 observed moves

    No shortage +12035 +12% · +2CSOL listed

    3

    points

  5. 5
    Automotive Technician (General)

    55 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +8% · +1CSOL listed

    3

    points

Data status

Classification
OSCA 332231
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.

SearchCompareMy planSign In