Where are the mining jobs in WA?
In two regions. The Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) statistics digest for 2024-25 puts on-site mining employment at 134,009 FTEs, close to the 2023-24 record of 135,978. By commodity, iron ore was the largest on-site employer (65,496 FTEs), gold second (35,672), then lithium (9,337) and alumina and bauxite (6,550).
| Region | On-site FTEs, 2024-25 | Main commodities (DMPE) |
|---|---|---|
| Pilbara | 70,659 | Iron ore. East Pilbara 38,366, Ashburton 21,386, Karratha 6,295, Port Hedland 4,612. |
| Goldfields-Esperance | 34,657 | Gold and nickel. Laverton 7,401, Kalgoorlie-Boulder 6,685, Leonora 6,514, Coolgardie 5,461. |
The Pilbara is iron ore country: DMPE records the region’s mineral sales at about $122.8 billion in 2024-25, of which iron ore was $119 billion. The Goldfields-Esperance region recorded about $25.7 billion, of which gold was $21.8 billion and nickel $2.1 billion.
Do not read every commodity as growing. The same digest records nickel sales of $1.3 billion, the lowest since the 1990s, against record gold sales of about $29 billion. What is open today depends on the employer, so check the careers pages below.
Who are the major employers in WA?
The companies below state, on their own websites, that they operate in Western Australia. We checked each site on 8 October 2026. This is a starting list from our company directory, not a ranking and not a list of who is hiring.
| Company | Operations stated on its own site | Careers page |
|---|---|---|
| Hancock Iron Ore | Iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. | Careers |
| Rio Tinto | Western Australian operations listed include Tom Price, Marandoo, Yandicoogina and Brockman, plus the Dampier and Cape Lambert ports. | Careers |
| Capricorn Metals | Karlawinda Gold Project, 65 km south-east of Newman in the Pilbara. | Careers |
| Northern Star Resources | Kalgoorlie Production Centre, Yandal Production Centre and Pilbara Operations listed; it says its mines are in Western Australia and Alaska. | Careers |
| Genesis Minerals | Leonora Operations and Laverton Operations listed. | Careers |
| Regis Resources | Duketon Operations, in the North Eastern Goldfields. | Careers |
| Mineral Resources | Onslow hub, Pilbara hub and Wodgina listed among its operations. | Careers |
| Bellevue Gold | Describes its project as a Western Australian gold project. | Careers |
Our company data holds head office locations only, not where each company operates. These companies are headquartered in Perth, but we have not confirmed their WA operations from their own sites, so treat the location as an HQ, not a mine site: Fortescue, IGO, Iluka Resources, Liontown Resources, Lynas Rare Earths, PLS Group, Ramelius Resources, South32, Westgold Resources. Large global miners such as BHP also operate in WA; we left them out of the table because we could not confirm their WA sites from their own pages.
What tickets do you need for a WA mining job?
There is no Standard 11 in WA. Standard 11 is Queensland’s coal mine induction standard. In WA, regulation 675BA of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 says the mine operator must make sure that, before a worker starts at the mine, the worker is given information, training and instruction on the general mining operations, systems of work, safety procedures and tasks required of them. Regulation 675BB requires persons conducting a business or undertaking to make sure workers are competent. In practice the operator or contractor sets the induction and any tickets. We did not find a state-run equivalent of Standard 11, which is not the same as proving none exists, so confirm with your employer.
Many roles also ask for licences or tickets that are not state-specific. Browse the tickets and certificates directory for what each involves, and see our Standard 11 guide if you may also work in Queensland coal. Check pay against award rates with the salary calculator.
Is Perth where the mines are?
No. Perth is the hub, not the mining location. Mining employment in the DMPE digest sits in the Pilbara and Goldfields regions listed above. FIFO workers typically fly from Perth to those regions. A 2013 parliamentary committee report described large-scale migration to Perth, Brisbane and towns such as Mackay for FIFO and drive-in drive-out work, and that source is dated. Flights, rosters and accommodation are arranged by the employer, so see our FIFO guide.
How do you apply for a mining job in WA?
Apply on the employer’s own careers page. These links come from our company data:
- Hancock Iron Ore careers
- Rio Tinto careers
- Capricorn Metals careers
- Northern Star Resources careers
- Genesis Minerals careers
- Regis Resources careers
- Mineral Resources careers
- Bellevue Gold careers
- Fortescue careers
- South32 careers
- IGO careers
- PLS Group careers
- Liontown Resources careers
- Westgold Resources careers
- Ramelius Resources careers
- Iluka Resources careers
- Lynas Rare Earths careers
If you have no experience, start with our guide to mining jobs with no experience.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the mining jobs in WA?
Mostly in the Pilbara (iron ore) and the Goldfields-Esperance region (gold, nickel and lithium). The WA Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration counted 134,009 full-time-equivalent on-site mining workers in 2024-25, with iron ore the largest employer at 65,496 and gold second at 35,672. Perth is where most FIFO workers start from, not where most mines are.
Do I need Standard 11 to work in a WA mine?
No. Standard 11 is a Queensland coal mine standard. In WA, the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 require the mine operator to give each worker information, training and instruction on the mine's operations, systems of work and safety procedures before they start. We did not find a state-run equivalent of Standard 11, so ask your employer what it requires.
Can I get a WA mining job with no experience?
Some entry roles exist, but there is no promise of one. Pilbara and Goldfields employers take on trainees, trade assistants and camp staff, and each sets its own requirements. See our guide to mining jobs with no experience, then apply through the employer's careers page.
Is mining hiring in every WA commodity?
Not equally. The 2024-25 statistics digest records record gold sales of about $29 billion, but nickel sales of $1.3 billion, the lowest since the 1990s. Check the employer's own careers page for what is open now rather than assuming a commodity is hiring.
Do most WA miners fly in and fly out from Perth?
Many do. A 2013 House of Representatives committee report described large-scale movement of workers to Perth, Brisbane and Mackay for FIFO and drive-in drive-out jobs. That report is old, so treat it as background, not a current headcount. Rosters and flight arrangements are set by each employer.
Sources
Last updated 8 October 2026. Facts on this page come from the sources below.
- WA Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration: Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2024-25 (PDF)
- House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia: Cancer of the bush or salvation for our cities? (2013)
- WA legislation: Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, regulations 675BA and 675BB (text read as at the 14 November 2024 consolidation)
FTE means full-time equivalent: the digest defines it as 2,000 hours a year on operating sites, excluding administrative locations. It is a measure of work done, not a count of people or open jobs. We do not quote job vacancy numbers or salaries on this page.
Where to next
- Mining jobs with no experience Entry roles and how to apply.
- FIFO meaning and rosters What fly-in fly-out work involves.
- Mining salaries in Australia Award minimum rates and how pay is set.
- Mining tickets and certificates What employers ask for, with providers.
- Salary calculator Work out pay from award rates.
- Standard 11 induction Queensland coal, for comparison.
Not sure where to start?
Take the free career quiz to see which mining roles suit you and which tickets they usually ask for.
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