Underground nipper jobs
What the work involves, what employers ask for, the rosters seen in real ads and which companies hire for underground nipper jobs. Every item links to the page it came from.
Last checked 10 October 2026. Requirements and rosters vary by employer and site, so read each job ad before you apply.
What the job involves
A Barminco (Perenti) entry-level ad combines the role with truck driving: 'working as an underground truck driver and nipper'. The nipper side is 'Working offside the Jumbo Operator, assisting with the installation of bolts and mesh for ground support'. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comA BHP Nickel West (Leinster) nipper ad, now closed and archived, describes the job as moving equipment and drill steel to the face in a light vehicle or IT loader, keeping drives clear, helping the service crew with scaling and pre-starts, and making sure jumbo operators have what they need. The ad says the role is a training ground towards Operator or Driller. Archived ad, not a live vacancy.
Source: work180.comA NES Fircroft expression of interest for 'Service Crew / Nippers' lists vent bags, poly pipe, air and water services, and pumps and sumps as the work. Being an offsider on a jumbo is highly regarded. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: nesfircroft.comBarminco's separate Service Crew ad (underground services, not named as a nipper role) covers installing, maintaining and repairing air, water and pump lines, vent bags, firing lines, comms cables and cable bolts, plus operating an ITC and assisting the Charge Up crew. Nippers are often grouped with service crew in ads. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.com
What employers ask for
Manual driver's licence
Barminco asks for 'A current manual Australian driver's licence'. The archived BHP Leinster ad asked for a 'Valid Manual AU Driver's License' and called it 'This is a non-negotiable.' Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comAustralian working rights
Barminco lists 'Full Australian working rights'. The archived BHP ad asked for Australian citizenship or permanent visa status. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comNational Police Clearance
Barminco asks for 'A National Police Clearance issued within the last three months'. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comPre-employment medical
The archived BHP Leinster ad required candidates to be able to undergo a medical examination. The Barminco Service Crew ad also lists a medical and a drug and alcohol screen. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: work180.comUnderground experience (varies by ad)
Barminco says 'No underground mining experience? That's okay' and offers training to people with the right attitude. The NES Fircroft ad instead asks for 'Previous underground hard-rock mining experience'. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comWorking at Heights ticket
The Barminco Service Crew ad requires a 'Current Working at Heights ticket.' and the NES Fircroft ad says the candidate 'must have Working at Heights ticket'. Entry-level Barminco nipper ad does not list it. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.com
Rosters seen in ads
Barminco entry-level underground truck driver and nipper ad: 'Can commit to remote, rostered work on a 2:1 roster'. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comBarminco Service Crew ad (related role, not a nipper title) lists rosters of '8/6-7/7, 14/14, and 14/7' with FIFO options in WA. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comNES Fircroft service crew and nippers expression of interest: FIFO from Brisbane on a 7/7 roster, contract with temp to perm. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: nesfircroft.comNorthern Star 'Operator - Nipper' ad: 7/7 on 12-hour shifts, permanent, but based in Kalgoorlie as a residential role, not FIFO.
Source: careers.nsrltd.com
Work out days on site and days home for any roster with the roster calculator.
Who hires for underground nipper jobs
Barminco (Perenti)
Entry-level underground truck driver and nipper ad, Perth, posted 19 September 2026, 2:1 roster. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comBHP Nickel West (Leinster)
Nipper role advertised as '7/7 Leinster FIFO from Perth'. The page is a closed archive and does not explain the roster. Archived ad, not a live vacancy.
Source: work180.comNorthern Star Resources
'Operator - Nipper' at the Kalgoorlie operations (Fimiston, Mount Charlotte, Kanowna Belle, South Kalgoorlie). Residential in Kalgoorlie, not FIFO. The page shows no posting date.
Source: careers.nsrltd.comNES Fircroft (recruiter)
Expression of interest for service crew and nippers, FIFO from Brisbane. Asks for 'Previous underground hard-rock mining experience'. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: nesfircroft.comTechforce Personnel (recruiter)
SEEK listing 'Underground Nippers, Service Crew and Paste Crew', Perth WA, casual, 'Even Time Rosters'. Job ad seen 10 October 2026.
Source: au.seek.com
Good to know
Nipper is not always a stand-alone job. The Barminco ad pairs it with operating underground dump trucks to haul ore and waste, and completing pre-start checks on equipment and vehicles.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comSome nipper jobs are not FIFO. The Northern Star 'Operator - Nipper' role is based in Kalgoorlie on a residential basis.
Source: careers.nsrltd.comThe archived BHP Leinster ad described the nipper role as a training ground towards an Operator or Driller role.
Source: work180.com
Pay
We keep pay on a separate page so every figure sits next to its source. Underground miner salary.
Before you apply
What we could not verify
We looked for these and did not find a primary source, so they are not stated above.
- Nipper pay: deliberately not stated.
- Whether Evolution Mining, Northparkes, BHP Olympic Dam, Byrnecut or MACA currently advertise nipper roles: ads seen were closed or only search snippets, so not cited.
- Gold Fields Granny Smith nipper listing was expired with no roster or duties shown.
- Techforce Personnel listing shows only a short summary, not full duties or requirements.
- Northern Star nipper ad shows no posting date and the duties were not captured.
- BHP Leinster roster meaning of '7/7' not explained on the archived page.
- No government source specific to nippers (no nationally defined qualification found).
Underground nipper jobs: questions answered
Do I need underground experience to become a nipper?
It depends on the ad. Barminco's entry-level ad says no underground mining experience is okay and that it can provide training. The NES Fircroft ad asks for previous underground hard-rock experience. Read each ad.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.comWhat does a nipper do underground?
Based on the archived BHP Leinster ad: moves equipment and drill steel to the face, keeps drives clear, helps the service crew with scaling and pre-starts, and makes sure jumbo operators have what they need. Barminco's ad adds working offside the jumbo operator on bolts and mesh.
Source: work180.comDo I need a manual driver's licence?
Both the Barminco ad and the archived BHP Leinster ad ask for a manual driver's licence. BHP called it non-negotiable.
Source: work180.comIs a nipper job always FIFO?
No. Northern Star's 'Operator - Nipper' is a residential Kalgoorlie role. Barminco, NES Fircroft and the BHP Leinster ad were FIFO.
Source: careers.nsrltd.comWhat checks do employers run before hiring a nipper?
The Barminco ad asks for full Australian working rights and a National Police Clearance issued within the last three months. The archived BHP ad required a medical examination.
Source: jobs.perentigroup.com