How to get into mining in Australia

How do you get a mining job in Australia?

You can start with no mining experience. Entry level mining jobs include general labourer (nipper), trade assistant, driller’s offsider, trainee haul truck operator, process plant and camp roles, and many employers and labour hire firms train new starters on site. The usual path is to get your tickets, pass the pre-employment medical, register with labour hire firms and apply direct on company careers pages.

FIFO (fly-in fly-out) is a way of working, not a skill level, so you can apply for FIFO jobs with no experience too. Which tickets you need depends on the state: Standard 11 is the Queensland coal mine induction, Queensland coal workers have a separate health scheme, and NSW coal has its own medical requirements. Pay for the lowest award levels is set by the Mining Industry Award, and most sites pay more through enterprise agreements.

This hub links to ten guides last updated on 8 October 2026. Each cites its sources and says plainly when we could not verify a figure. Start with how to get into mining, or go straight to entry level mining jobs, what FIFO means or the state guides for WA, Queensland and NSW.