What entry level mining jobs are there?
Entry level mining jobs are roles where the employer expects to train you, so you can start without prior mining experience. The seven below are the most common starting points. Two more groups are worth knowing about: utility and camp roles (such as cleaner and kitchen hand), and trainee operator positions where an employer runs its own training.
- General labourer / nipper: helps tradespeople and crews with tools, clean-up and materials.
- Trade assistant: works alongside a fitter, electrician or boilermaker.
- Driller’s offsider: assists a driller on a drill rig, usually with some tickets and a medical first.
- Haul truck operator (trainee): some sites train operators from scratch.
- Process plant, sampler and utility operator: support roles in processing and general site operations.
- Camp and site services (cleaner, kitchen hand): a way onto a FIFO site. Depending on who employs you, catering and cleaning staff may be covered by a different award, so check your contract.
Pay for these roles sits at the bottom of the Mining Industry Award classification structure. Our reading, which is an inference and not an official mapping, is that trade assistants, utility hands and driller’s offsiders fall between Entry level and Level 2.
| Award level | Minimum hourly | Minimum weekly (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level - Introductory | $27.53 | $1046.31 |
| Level 1 - Basic | $28.65 | $1088.71 |
| Level 2 - Intermediate | $29.67 | $1127.61 |
These are legal minimums from the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for MA000011, effective from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, including the industry allowance. They are not typical site pay. Most mine sites pay more through enterprise agreements, and we cannot verify typical figures for a specific role.
Can you get a FIFO job with no experience?
Yes. FIFO (fly-in fly-out) is a way of working, not a skill level, so entry level roles are advertised on FIFO rosters as well as residential ones. The usual route is to get a White Card (and Standard 11 for Queensland coal), pass a pre-employment medical, register with labour hire firms and be ready to mobilise at short notice. Camp and utility roles are a common way onto a FIFO site. If you are not sure what FIFO means or how rosters work, read what FIFO is and how it works.
Jobs are concentrated in particular regions. See the state guides for mining jobs in WA, mining jobs in Queensland and mining jobs in NSW.
Can you get a mining job with no experience?
Yes. Australia’s resources sector covers iron ore, coal, lithium, copper, gold and rare earths, and employers and labour hire firms recruit people with no mining experience for a range of entry level roles. Many will train you on site, and many FIFO employers cover flights, accommodation and meals, although this varies by employer.
Two tickets come up repeatedly below. The White Card is the general construction induction and is recognised in every state. Standard 11 is the Queensland coal mine induction standard, so you only need it for Queensland coal work. Compare prices on the White Card provider list and the Standard 11 provider list.
1. General Labourer / Nipper
The “nipper” is the classic entry point into mining. Your job is to assist tradespeople and operators with whatever they need: fetching tools, cleaning work areas, helping with manual tasks, moving materials, and generally keeping the work site organised and safe.
It’s physically demanding and not glamorous, but it’s the fastest way to get your foot in the door. You’ll learn how a mine site operates from the ground up, build relationships with experienced workers, and prove your reliability. Many operators, supervisors, and even mine managers started as nippers.
What you need:
- Physical fitness: you’ll be on your feet all day, often in heat
- White Card (general construction induction)
- Standard 11 (Queensland coal mines only)
- A car licence (C class minimum)
- Willingness to do FIFO or live in a regional area
Career pathway: Nipper → Trade Assistant → Operator / Tradesperson → Leading Hand → Supervisor
2. Dump Truck Operator
Haul truck operation is one of the more common ways people enter the mining industry with no prior experience. Mining companies use enormous trucks, such as Caterpillar 793s, Komatsu 930Es, and Liebherr T 264s, to move large volumes of rock and ore every shift. Many sites need plenty of operators, and some will train you from scratch.
The job involves loading, hauling, and dumping material along designated haul roads. You’ll work closely with excavator operators, follow strict traffic management plans, and conduct pre-start inspections on your machine before every shift. It’s repetitive, and the skills you develop transfer directly to other heavy plant like excavators, dozers, and loaders.
What you need:
- Car licence minimum. HR/HC licence is a bonus but not essential
- White Card, plus Standard 11 if the mine is a Queensland coal mine
- Some providers offer pre-employment haul truck courses (check the provider for length and cost)
- Many employers provide on-site training at no cost to you
Career pathway: Dump Truck → Excavator Operator → Dozer/Grader → Multi-skilled Operator → Leading Hand → Supervisor
3. Driller’s Offsider
A driller’s offsider (also called a driller’s assistant or offsider) works alongside an experienced driller operating blast hole or exploration drill rigs. Your role is to handle drill rods, manage the water supply, collect samples, maintain the drill site, and assist with rig moves.
This is one of the most physically demanding entry-level roles in mining. You’ll be lifting heavy equipment, working in extreme heat or dust, and keeping up with the pace of a busy drill program. But the payoff is significant: drilling is a skilled trade in mining, and offsiders who stick with it can progress to driller roles. See the mining salaries guide for pay.
What you need:
- Excellent physical fitness. This is non-negotiable
- Manual handling awareness
- White Card, plus Standard 11 for Queensland coal mines
- Car licence (HR licence is a significant advantage)
- Working at Heights and Confined Space tickets are helpful
Career pathway: Offsider → Junior Driller → Driller → Senior Driller / Drill Supervisor
4. Trade Assistant (TA)
Trade assistants work alongside qualified tradespeople (boilermakers, fitters, diesel mechanics, electricians, and instrument technicians) in the mine’s maintenance workshop or out in the field. You’ll help with equipment repairs, component changeouts, scheduled maintenance, and fabrication work.
You don’t need a trade qualification, but having some mechanical aptitude or trade background helps enormously. People with incomplete apprenticeships, farm machinery experience, or a background working on cars and bikes do well in these roles. It’s also an excellent stepping stone if you’re considering starting a mining-based apprenticeship, as some companies offer adult apprenticeships to TAs who show promise.
What you need:
- Basic mechanical aptitude or willingness to learn
- White Card, plus Standard 11 for Queensland coal mines
- Working at Heights is commonly required
- Any trade exposure (even informal) is a major advantage
Career pathway: TA → Apprenticeship or Multi-skilled TA → Qualified Tradesperson → Leading Hand → Maintenance Supervisor
5. Process Plant Operator
Process plant operators (sometimes called “plant operators” or “processing operators”) work in the mine’s processing facility where raw ore is crushed, screened, separated, and refined. You’ll monitor equipment via control room screens, conduct field inspections, take samples, adjust chemical dosing, and respond to alarms and equipment faults.
This role suits people who are methodical, comfortable with technology, and good at following procedures. It’s less physically demanding than pit-based roles but requires strong attention to detail. Many processing plants run 24/7, so shift work (often 12-hour days and nights on a rotating roster) is common.
Mining companies frequently hire people with backgrounds in manufacturing, food processing, water treatment, or chemical handling, but complete beginners are also taken on and trained by some employers.
What you need:
- Attention to detail and ability to follow procedures precisely
- Basic computer literacy (for control room systems)
- White Card, plus Standard 11 for Queensland coal mines
- Willingness to work rotating shifts including nights
Career pathway: Trainee Operator → Process Plant Operator → Senior Operator → Control Room Operator → Processing Supervisor
6. Sampler / Field Technician
Samplers and field technicians collect geological, environmental, and process samples from various points around the mine. This might include taking drill core samples, collecting water quality samples, gathering ore grade samples from conveyor belts, or conducting environmental monitoring.
It’s a great role for people who are curious, methodical, and interested in the science side of mining. You’ll learn about geology, metallurgy, and environmental science on the job. The role involves a mix of outdoor fieldwork and basic laboratory work (logging, labelling, preparing samples for analysis).
While a science background is helpful, it’s not required. Many samplers start with no formal qualifications beyond Year 12 and pick up the technical knowledge through on-the-job training.
What you need:
- Attention to detail (accurate sample labelling and recording is critical)
- Basic numeracy and literacy
- Car licence
- White Card, plus Standard 11 for Queensland coal mines
- A science or environmental studies background is a bonus
Career pathway: Sampler → Senior Field Tech → Grade Control Tech → Geologist Assistant → Environmental or Geology roles (with further study)
7. Utility Operator
Utility operators run the support vehicles and ancillary equipment that keep a mine site functioning. This includes water trucks (keeping haul roads dust-free and safe), service trucks (refuelling and servicing heavy machinery in the pit), light vehicles, graders, and compactors.
If you have a background in driving (trucks, buses, farm vehicles, or even just a lot of road driving experience), this is a natural fit. Many water truck and service truck operators are recruited specifically from the transport industry because they already understand vehicle handling, fatigue management, and heavy vehicle safety.
Utility roles are also a common stepping stone to larger equipment. Once you’ve proved yourself on a water truck, many employers will cross-train you onto haul trucks, dozers, or excavators.
What you need:
- Car licence minimum. HR or HC licence is a significant advantage
- Clean driving record
- White Card, plus Standard 11 for Queensland coal mines
- Fatigue management awareness
- Any heavy vehicle or truck driving experience is highly valued
Career pathway: Water Truck / Service Truck → Dump Truck → Multi-skilled Operator → Leading Hand → Supervisor
What Employers Actually Look For
When mining companies and labour hire firms are hiring entry-level workers, they care far less about your resume and far more about your attitude. Here’s what really matters:
Reliability
Mining runs 24/7 on strict rosters. Showing up on time, every time, is the single most important attribute. Unreliable workers get sent home, permanently.
Physical fitness
Many entry-level roles are physically demanding. You'll need to pass a pre-employment medical that typically includes a functional capacity assessment, hearing test, lung function test, and drug/alcohol screen.
Safety mindset
Mining is a safety-critical industry. Employers want people who take safety seriously, who speak up about hazards, and who don't take shortcuts. This matters more than skill.
Clean drug and alcohol record
Mine sites commonly conduct random drug and alcohol testing, and a positive result can mean dismissal. Check the site policy of the employer you apply to.
Willingness to work rosters
FIFO rosters like 2/1 (2 weeks on, 1 week off), 8/6, or 4/3 are widely used. You need to be genuinely willing to be away from home for extended periods.
Coachability
Employers want people who listen, follow instructions, ask questions when unsure, and accept feedback without ego. Mining is not the place for cowboys.
Transferable Skills That Help You Get Hired
You might think your background is completely unrelated to mining, but you’d be surprised. Here’s how different industries translate:
Construction and Trades
The most directly transferable background. You already understand work health and safety, you probably hold a White Card, and you’re comfortable working with tools, heavy equipment, and in harsh conditions. Tradespeople (even without completion) are often sought after.
Farming and Agriculture
Farmers are mining’s secret weapon. You’re used to long hours, harsh conditions, operating heavy machinery, fixing things on the fly, and working autonomously. Many farmers successfully transition to mining during drought or off-season periods and end up staying.
Military and Emergency Services
Discipline, fitness, ability to follow procedures under pressure, and experience working in structured environments with chain-of-command hierarchies. Ex-military and ex-emergency services personnel are often well regarded in mining. Your experience with risk management and teamwork translates directly.
Driving and Logistics
If you have an HR, HC, or MC licence, you’re already ahead of most applicants. Truck drivers, bus drivers, and logistics workers understand fatigue management, vehicle safety, and the discipline of working long shifts. Water truck and service truck roles are a natural transition.
Hospitality and Retail
This might seem like a stretch, but hospitality workers are often excellent at teamwork, working under pressure, handling shift work, and dealing with demanding situations. Mining camp accommodation and catering is a direct entry point, and from there you can transition to site-based roles.
How to Write a Mining Resume With No Experience
Your resume is the first thing a recruiter sees, and if it screams “I have no idea what mining is,” it’ll go straight in the bin. Here’s how to structure a mining resume when you have zero mining experience:
1. Lead With a Profile Summary
Two to three sentences at the top of your resume. Focus on your work ethic, physical fitness, relevant certifications, and willingness to do FIFO work. Example:
“Physically fit and reliable worker with several years of experience in construction and farm work. Hold a current White Card, Standard 11 (QLD coal), and HR licence. Seeking an entry-level mining position and happy to work FIFO rosters anywhere in WA or QLD.”
2. List Certifications Prominently
Create a dedicated “Certifications & Tickets” section near the top. Include: White Card, Standard 11, driver’s licence class, Working at Heights, Confined Space, First Aid, forklift, EWP, and anything else relevant.
3. Reframe Your Experience
You don’t need mining experience, you need to show that your existing experience demonstrates the qualities mining employers value. For each role, emphasise safety compliance, physical demands, machinery or equipment used, teamwork, reliability, and any shift work.
4. Keep It to Two Pages Maximum
Mining recruiters review a lot of resumes. Be concise. No photos, no fancy formatting, no irrelevant hobbies. Use a clean, simple layout with clear headings.
5. Register With Labour Hire Companies
Many entry-level mining jobs are filled through labour hire rather than direct hire. Register with multiple agencies, for example Hays Mining, Programmed, WorkPac, Chandler Macleod, Adecco Mining, and DT Workforce. Upload your resume to their portals, call to follow up, and be ready to mobilise at short notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are entry level mining jobs?
Entry level mining jobs are roles open to people with no prior mining experience, where the employer trains you on site. Common examples are general labourer (nipper), trade assistant, driller’s offsider, trainee haul truck operator, process plant and utility roles, and camp services such as cleaner and kitchen hand.
Can you get a FIFO job with no experience?
Yes. Entry level roles are advertised on FIFO rosters. Get a White Card (and Standard 11 for Queensland coal), pass the pre-employment medical, register with labour hire firms and be ready to mobilise at short notice.
How much do entry level mining jobs pay?
The Mining Industry Award 2020 (MA000011) sets legal minimums for the lowest classifications. From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, adult full-time and part-time rates, including the industry allowance, are $27.53 an hour ($1046.31 a week) at Entry level, $28.65 an hour ($1088.71 a week) at Level 1 and $29.67 an hour ($1127.61 a week) at Level 2, based on a 38-hour week. These are legal minimums, not typical site pay. Most mine sites pay more through enterprise agreements, and we cannot verify typical figures.
What’s the fastest way to get a mining job with no experience?
Get your White Card (and Standard 11 if you are targeting Queensland coal mines), register with several labour hire companies, and make yourself available for FIFO work in WA or QLD. If you can also get an HR licence, you improve your chances. How fast you can get job-ready depends on course availability and how quickly you can complete your medical.
How much does it cost to get mining-ready?
Prices depend on the provider. Based on the providers listed on this site (checked 6 October 2026 for White Card and 6 October 2026 for Standard 11), a White Card is $55 to $190 and Standard 11 is $595 to $900. Standard 11 is only needed for Queensland coal mines. First aid, pre-employment medicals and any licence upgrades vary by provider and clinic, so get quotes before you book. Many employers also pay for or arrange their own medicals and on-site training. Compare prices on the White Card provider list and the Standard 11 provider list.
Is FIFO worth it?
Financially, it can be. FIFO pay can differ from residential pay for the same role, depending on the employer, roster and site, and you can save on rent and living costs while on site (accommodation and meals are usually provided). The trade-off is time away from family and friends. It’s not for everyone, but for many people it’s a strong way to build savings.
Do I need to be fit to work in mining?
Yes, for most entry-level roles. You’ll need to pass a pre-employment medical and functional capacity assessment. This commonly involves lifting tests, grip strength testing, hearing and lung function tests, and a drug and alcohol screen. Requirements vary by employer. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you need to be reasonably fit and injury-free.
Can women get entry-level mining jobs?
Absolutely. The mining industry is actively working to increase female participation, and many companies have specific targets for gender diversity. Every role listed in this guide is open to anyone regardless of gender.
What age is too old to start in mining?
There’s no upper age limit, and discrimination based on age is illegal. People in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s successfully enter the mining industry. What matters is that you can pass the medical and do the job safely. Older workers often bring valuable life experience, reliability, and work ethic that younger workers haven’t developed yet.
Should I pay for haul truck training before getting a job?
It depends. Pre-employment haul truck simulation courses can give you an edge, but many employers provide full on-site training at no cost. If you’re struggling to get callbacks, a haul truck ticket from a reputable provider can help differentiate your resume. But don’t spend money you can’t afford. Many people get hired without one.
What are the best job boards for entry-level mining work?
Seek (filter by “Mining, Resources & Energy” and “entry level”), Indeed, LinkedIn, and FIFO Focus. Also check the careers pages of major miners directly: BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Glencore, Whitehaven Coal, and Yancoal. Labour hire company portals (WorkPac, Programmed, Hays) often list entry-level roles.
Find out which role suits you best
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