Fitter and Turner Salary in Australia

Fitter and turner salaries can vary enormously in Australia.

A fitter working standard weekday hours in a local engineering workshop might earn a very different amount from someone doing 12-hour shifts on a mine site.

Then add:

• Overtime
• Night shift
• Shutdowns
• FIFO
• Allowances
• Specialist skills

and the gap becomes even larger.

As a broad benchmark, Australian Metal Fitters and Machinists currently have median full-time earnings of around $2,606 per week before tax.

Annualised, that's roughly $135,500.

The reported median hourly earnings are around $60 per hour.

That doesn't mean every fitter and turner earns $135,000.

These occupation-wide figures include different types of fitters and machinists working across industries, experience levels and working arrangements.

But they do show just how strong the earning potential can be.

How Much Does a Fitter and Turner Earn in Australia?

A useful broad salary range for qualified fitters and turners can be somewhere around:

$80,000 to $140,000+ per year

depending on the job.

Workers in mining, shutdowns, remote work and heavy industrial maintenance can earn considerably more.

Someone working ordinary workshop hours may earn towards the lower end.

Someone working significant overtime or FIFO could push well beyond the upper end.

What Is the Average Hourly Rate for a Fitter and Turner?

Hourly rates vary significantly between employers.

As a broad national benchmark, Metal Fitters and Machinists have median hourly earnings of approximately:

$60 per hour

But this shouldn't be treated as the standard base rate for every job.

It reflects what workers are actually earning across the occupation and can be influenced by:

• Overtime
• Shift work
• Industry
• Experience
• Allowances
• Location

A local workshop position may advertise a lower base hourly rate.

A mining maintenance role could be significantly higher.

Fitter and Turner Weekly Earnings

Median full-time earnings for Metal Fitters and Machinists are approximately:

$2,606 per week before tax.

That's substantially above the median across Australian occupations more broadly.

It's also worth noting that workers in this occupational group average relatively long full-time working weeks.

So once again:

Salary alone doesn't tell the whole story.

Hours matter.

Why Do Fitter Salaries Vary So Much?

There isn't really one "fitter salary."

Two people with the same trade qualification could have completely different working arrangements.

One might work:

Monday to Friday.

Day shift.

Local workshop.

Another might work:

FIFO.

12-hour shifts.

Nights.

Public holidays.

Remote mine.

They're technically both fitters.

Their annual incomes are unlikely to look remotely similar.

What Determines a Fitter and Turner's Pay?

The biggest factors include:

• Experience
• Industry
• Location
• Shift pattern
• Overtime
• Qualifications
• Specialisation
• Employer
• Responsibilities
• FIFO or residential arrangements

Your trade qualification gets you into the occupation.

Where you take that qualification can determine how much you eventually earn.

Entry-Level Qualified Fitter Salary

A newly qualified fitter will generally earn less than someone with five or ten years of industrial experience.

You may initially be building experience across areas such as:

• Mechanical maintenance
• Machining
• Pumps
• Bearings
• Gearboxes
• Alignment
• Hydraulics
• Pneumatics

As your skills improve, you become capable of handling increasingly complicated work independently.

That tends to increase your value.

Experienced Fitter Salary

Experienced fitters can command strong salaries, particularly when they have skills relevant to industries where equipment downtime is expensive.

Useful experience can include:

• Industrial maintenance
• Fixed plant
• Mining
• Shutdowns
• Heavy machinery
• Condition monitoring
• Precision alignment
• Fault finding

Someone who can quickly diagnose and repair critical equipment can be extremely valuable.

When a production line or mine plant stops, every minute can cost money.

Workshop Fitter Salary

Workshop roles often provide the more predictable end of fitting and turning.

You may work:

• Monday to Friday
• Day shift
• Standard working weeks

These jobs can offer a better routine than FIFO or rotating shifts.

However, they may also pay less than remote or heavy industrial positions.

For many workers, that's a worthwhile trade-off.

Not everybody wants to spend half their life at a mine camp to maximise their salary.

Maintenance Fitter Salary

Maintenance fitters can earn particularly well.

Industrial facilities rely heavily on mechanical equipment.

Maintenance fitters may work across:

• Manufacturing
• Food production
• Warehousing
• Processing
• Water
• Energy
• Mining

Roles involving rotating shifts or 24-hour production facilities can pay more because of penalties and overtime.

Manufacturing Fitter Salary

Manufacturing remains a major employment area for fitters.

Pay can depend on:

• Type of factory
• Union agreements
• Shift structure
• Overtime
• Technical complexity

A fitter working day shift at a smaller manufacturer may earn considerably less than someone maintaining equipment at a major continuous-processing facility.

Mining Fitter Salary

Mining is one of the most attractive industries for fitters focused on maximising earnings.

Mechanical fitters are needed to maintain equipment such as:

• Crushers
• Conveyors
• Pumps
• Screens
• Gearboxes
• Processing plant

Mining work can combine:

• High base rates
• Long shifts
• Remote allowances
• Overtime
• Rostered work

That can push annual earnings well into six figures.

FIFO Fitter Salary

FIFO fitters can commonly target salaries well above ordinary metropolitan workshop earnings.

Depending on experience, roster and role, total earnings can reach:

$130,000 to $180,000+

and sometimes higher.

But be careful when comparing numbers.

A $170,000 FIFO job may involve vastly more annual hours than a $110,000 local role.

Always compare:

Salary + roster + hours + benefits

rather than salary alone.

Can a Fitter and Turner Earn $100,000?

Absolutely.

Six-figure earnings are very achievable for experienced fitters.

You may be able to reach $100,000 through:

• Strong base rates
• Overtime
• Shift penalties
• Industrial maintenance
• Mining
• Shutdowns

You don't necessarily need to work FIFO either.

Some metropolitan industrial maintenance jobs can exceed six figures once overtime and shift penalties are included.

Can a Fitter and Turner Earn $150,000?

Yes.

This level becomes more realistic in:

• Mining
• FIFO
• Shutdown work
• Remote maintenance
• Heavy industry
• Significant overtime

Experienced fitters with in-demand industrial skills can earn around this level or more.

The biggest question is usually how many hours you're working to earn it.

Can Fitters Earn $200,000?

Yes, but it isn't normal for every fitter.

Earnings around $200,000 generally require some combination of:

• High-paying mining work
• Significant overtime
• Remote rosters
• Shutdowns
• Specialist experience
• Supervisory responsibilities
• Contracting

A fitter earning $200,000 may also be spending a very large portion of the year at work.

Don't compare that directly with someone working 38 hours per week.

FIFO vs Local Fitter Pay

Imagine two hypothetical roles.

Local Fitter

$105,000

Monday to Friday

Home every night

FIFO Fitter

$155,000

2/1 roster

12-hour shifts

The FIFO role pays another $50,000.

That's substantial.

But you're also spending far more time working and away from home.

Someone focused on building savings might happily choose FIFO.

Someone with young kids might happily take the local position.

Neither choice is automatically better.

Fixed Plant Fitter Salary

Fixed plant fitters can earn particularly strong money in mining and processing.

They maintain stationary equipment such as:

• Crushers
• Conveyors
• Pumps
• Screens
• Mills
• Processing machinery

Because this equipment can be critical to production, skilled maintenance workers are highly valuable.

Fixed plant experience can become an excellent pathway into higher-paying mining roles.

Mechanical Fitter Salary

"Mechanical fitter" is one of the most common job titles you'll see.

Mechanical fitter salaries vary depending on whether you're working in:

• Manufacturing
• Mining
• Defence
• Energy
• Food processing
• Water
• Transport

Industrial experience generally gives you more options than working exclusively in a small general workshop.

Machinist Salary

Machinists may specialise more heavily in:

• Manual turning
• Milling
• CNC machining
• Precision components

Pay depends on the technical complexity of the work.

Workers with advanced CNC programming, setup and precision manufacturing skills may be particularly valuable.

CNC Machinist Salary

CNC skills can improve earning potential in advanced manufacturing.

A highly capable CNC machinist may understand:

• Programming
• Machine setup
• Tool selection
• Speeds and feeds
• Precision measurement
• Quality control

The more independently you can take a component from drawing to finished part, the more useful you become to an employer.

Shutdown Fitter Pay

Shutdown work can pay extremely well.

Industrial plants periodically stop equipment for major maintenance.

During these shutdowns, employers may need large numbers of skilled workers for relatively short periods.

Fitters can work:

• Long shifts
• Consecutive days
• Weekends
• Nights

That can generate strong short-term earnings.

The downside is that shutdown work can be inconsistent.

You may earn excellent money during a busy period and then have gaps between projects.

Casual Fitter Rates

Casual fitters generally receive higher hourly rates than permanent employees.

That's partly because casual loading compensates for things permanent employees usually receive, such as:

• Paid annual leave
• Paid personal leave

A casual rate can therefore look extremely attractive.

But don't compare it directly with a permanent hourly rate without considering the value of leave and job security.

Permanent vs Casual Fitter Pay

Suppose you have:

Permanent role

$48 per hour

plus paid leave

versus

Casual role

$60 per hour

The casual role looks obviously better.

But you need to consider:

• Annual leave
• Sick leave
• Job security
• Guaranteed hours
• Shutdown periods

If you're constantly working, casual can be financially attractive.

If work dries up for six weeks, things look different.

Contract Fitter Rates

Contract fitters can potentially earn strong hourly or daily rates.

Contractors may be used for:

• Shutdowns
• Projects
• Specialist maintenance
• Temporary labour shortages

Higher rates can compensate for reduced security and benefits.

Experienced workers with strong reputations can move between contracts and earn very well.

Does Overtime Make a Big Difference?

Yes.

Overtime is one of the biggest reasons actual fitter earnings can move far above a basic salary.

If your workplace regularly offers:

• Saturday work
• Sunday work
• Extended shifts
• Call-outs

your annual income can rise quickly.

For some fitters, overtime alone adds tens of thousands of dollars to annual earnings.

Shift Work Can Increase Pay

Facilities operating around the clock may employ fitters across rotating shifts.

You could work:

• Days
• Afternoons
• Nights

Shift penalties can increase your effective hourly rate.

This is why 24-hour manufacturing and processing plants can offer attractive earnings without requiring FIFO.

Night Shift Fitter Pay

Night shift commonly attracts additional penalties depending on the workplace agreement or award.

That makes night work financially appealing.

The downside is your sleep.

Some people tolerate nights extremely well.

Others become nocturnal zombies after approximately four shifts.

The extra money needs to be worth it for you.

Weekend Work

Weekend penalties and overtime can also significantly increase earnings.

A fitter who regularly works Saturdays and Sundays can earn considerably more than someone on standard weekday hours.

Again, more money usually means giving the employer more of your time.

Public Holidays

Industrial facilities don't necessarily stop because it's Christmas or Easter.

If production continues, maintenance staff may still be required.

Working public holidays can attract higher rates depending on your employment arrangements.

Those shifts can be lucrative.

Whether the money is worth missing Christmas lunch is another question.

Call-Outs

Maintenance workers may sometimes be placed on call.

If something breaks outside normal hours, you may be called into work.

Depending on your agreement, this can involve:

• On-call allowances
• Minimum call-out payments
• Overtime

Experienced maintenance fitters who can respond to critical breakdowns can earn significant additional income.

How Much Do Apprentice Fitters Earn?

Apprentices earn less than qualified tradespeople because they're still completing their training.

Apprentice wages generally increase as you progress through your apprenticeship.

Your exact pay can depend on:

• Award
• Enterprise agreement
• Age
• Year of apprenticeship
• Previous schooling
• Employer

Apprentice wage structures can change, so it's better to check the current applicable rate rather than relying on an old figure you found online.

Adult Apprentice Fitter Pay

Adult apprentices may have different minimum wage arrangements from younger apprentices.

If you're starting fitting and turning later in life, check the award or enterprise agreement covering the job.

Don't assume you'll automatically receive the same rate as a 17-year-old first-year apprentice.

Apprentice Overtime

Apprentices can potentially earn additional money through:

• Overtime
• Shift work
• Penalties

depending on their employment arrangement.

Industrial apprenticeships can therefore sometimes pay considerably better than people expect.

This is particularly true once apprentices move into later years and become increasingly useful to the business.

Mining Apprentice Fitter Pay

Mining apprenticeships can be particularly competitive.

A mining apprentice may have access to:

• Stronger wages
• Site allowances
• Rostered work
• Additional benefits

depending on the employer.

The appeal isn't only apprentice pay.

You're also finishing your apprenticeship with mining experience already on your resume.

That can be extremely valuable once you're qualified.

Does Location Affect Fitter Pay?

Yes.

Earnings can vary between:

• Major cities
• Regional areas
• Remote towns
• Mining regions

Remote employers may need to offer additional compensation to attract workers.

At the same time, some metropolitan industrial areas have large numbers of employers competing for experienced tradespeople.

Your exact skill set matters just as much as postcode.

Fitter Salaries in Western Australia

Western Australia has major demand for mechanical trades across:

• Mining
• Resources
• Processing
• Heavy industry

Perth can provide both local industrial jobs and FIFO opportunities.

For fitters wanting to move into mining, WA offers a large employment market.

Fitter Salaries in Queensland

Queensland also has major mining and resources opportunities.

Fitters can work across:

• Coal
• Minerals
• Processing
• Heavy industry
• Manufacturing

Roles can be:

• FIFO
• DIDO
• Residential

depending on the location.

Fitter Salaries in New South Wales

New South Wales provides opportunities across:

• Manufacturing
• Mining
• Transport
• Infrastructure
• Industrial maintenance

Coal mining regions can offer particularly strong salaries for experienced mechanical trades.

Fitter Salaries in Victoria

Victoria has a large manufacturing and industrial maintenance market.

Fitters can work across:

• Food production
• Warehousing
• Manufacturing
• Transport
• Utilities

There may be fewer traditional FIFO mining opportunities than in Western Australia or Queensland, but metropolitan industrial maintenance can still pay extremely well.

Which Industries Pay Fitters the Most?

Higher-paying opportunities commonly appear in:

• Mining
• Oil and gas
• Heavy industry
• Energy
• Shutdown maintenance
• Remote projects

But the highest salary isn't always automatically the best job.

A stable manufacturing position five minutes from home can be better for your life than chasing another $30,000 on a terrible roster.

How Can a Fitter Increase Their Salary?

There are several ways.

You can:

• Build industrial experience
• Learn fixed plant
• Move into mining
• Work shutdowns
• Take shift work
• Develop machining skills
• Learn CNC
• Build fault-finding ability
• Gain supervisory experience
• Move into specialist maintenance

The strongest earning growth often comes from becoming harder to replace.

Learn Fault Finding

Anyone can replace a component when somebody tells them exactly what's broken.

The more valuable worker is often the person who can figure out:

why the machine stopped in the first place.

Strong mechanical fault finding is extremely valuable.

This becomes particularly important in industries where downtime costs thousands of dollars per hour.

Build Fixed Plant Experience

If mining interests you, fixed plant experience is useful.

Skills around:

• Conveyors
• Crushers
• Pumps
• Gearboxes
• Bearings
• Alignment

can transfer well into mining maintenance.

You don't necessarily need to start your career on a mine site.

Relevant industrial experience can help you get there later.

Get Shutdown Experience

Shutdown work can expose you to:

• Large industrial plants
• Different equipment
• Major maintenance projects
• Multiple employers

It's also useful experience for workers wanting to move into mining and resources.

Once you've worked several large shutdowns, your resume can start looking significantly more relevant to major industrial employers.

Move Into Mining

For fitters focused primarily on earnings, mining is one of the clearest pathways.

Once you've built relevant experience, you can target:

• FIFO maintenance
• Residential mining
• Fixed plant
• Processing plants
• Shutdowns

The income jump from local workshop work can be substantial.

Consider Even-Time FIFO Rosters

Don't automatically choose the job with the highest advertised salary.

Consider the roster.

For example:

A $160,000 2/2 job may provide far better value than a $180,000 2/1 position if lifestyle matters to you.

You're giving up much less of your year.

Experienced FIFO workers often care as much about the roster as the pay rate.

Develop CNC Skills

If you prefer machining, advanced CNC skills can improve your value.

Modern manufacturing employers need people who can do more than simply press cycle start.

Skills involving:

• Setup
• Programming
• Tooling
• Process improvement
• Inspection

can help you move into better-paid technical positions.

Move Into Supervision

Experienced fitters can progress into:

• Leading hand
• Supervisor
• Workshop supervisor
• Maintenance supervisor

These positions can increase salary and reduce some of the physical workload.

The trade-off is that you become responsible for:

• People
• Scheduling
• Safety
• Performance

Congratulations.

You've swapped some spanners for meetings.

Maintenance Planner Salary Potential

Fitters can also move into maintenance planning.

Your trade background is valuable because you understand:

• Jobs
• Tools
• Parts
• Labour
• Equipment access
• Realistic timeframes

Planning roles can provide strong salaries while allowing experienced tradespeople to move away from physically demanding work.

Technical Sales

Another less obvious career path is technical sales.

Industrial suppliers need people who understand products such as:

• Bearings
• Pumps
• Gearboxes
• Tools
• Lubrication
• Machinery

A fitter who understands customers' equipment can move into:

• Sales
• Account management
• Product specialist roles

Some positions offer strong salaries plus bonuses or commissions.

Can You Make More Running Your Own Business?

Potentially.

Experienced fitters may eventually start businesses providing:

• Mechanical maintenance
• Machining
• Field service
• Shutdown support
• Equipment repair

The earning ceiling can be significantly higher than being an employee.

So can the risk.

You're now responsible for:

• Customers
• Equipment
• Insurance
• Staff
• Cash flow
• Finding work

It's no longer simply about being good with machinery.

Salary Isn't Everything

This is particularly important in fitting.

You might compare:

$115,000 local

with

$165,000 FIFO

and assume the second job is obviously better.

Maybe it is.

But consider:

• Annual working hours
• Travel
• Nights away
• Roster
• Family
• Overtime
• Commute
• Job security

Sometimes an extra $50,000 is absolutely worth it.

Sometimes you'd happily pay $50,000 to sleep in your own bed.

Compare Hourly Earnings

Annual salaries can hide how much you're actually working.

Try estimating your annual rostered hours.

Then calculate:

Total annual earnings ÷ annual hours worked

This lets you compare jobs more realistically.

You may discover the lower-paying role actually gives you much better value for your time.

Consider the Entire Package

Salary is only one part of compensation.

Look at:

• Superannuation
• Bonuses
• Overtime
• Allowances
• Paid travel
• Flights
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Vehicle
• Tools
• Training
• Leave

A slightly lower base salary with excellent benefits might be the better deal.

Is Fitting and Turning a High-Paying Trade?

It certainly can be.

The trade provides access to industries with strong earning potential, particularly:

• Mining
• Heavy industry
• Manufacturing
• Resources

You're maintaining equipment businesses depend on to make money.

That gives skilled fitters real value.

Is Fitting and Turning Worth It for the Money?

If you enjoy mechanical work, the earning potential is a major advantage.

You can start as an apprentice.

Become a qualified tradesperson.

Then choose between:

• Local workshops
• Industrial maintenance
• Shift work
• Shutdowns
• Mining
• FIFO
• Supervision

That flexibility means you can often adjust your career as your priorities change.

Maybe you chase mining money in your twenties.

Then later take a local maintenance job when you'd rather be home every night.

The qualification stays useful either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a fitter and turner earn in Australia?

Australian Metal Fitters and Machinists currently have median full-time earnings of around $2,606 per week before tax, although individual salaries vary considerably by experience, industry and working arrangement.

What is the hourly rate for a fitter and turner?

Median hourly earnings across Australian Metal Fitters and Machinists are around $60 per hour. Actual base rates can be lower or higher depending on the job.

Can fitters earn $100,000 a year?

Yes. Six-figure salaries are achievable for experienced fitters, particularly in industrial maintenance, mining, shift work and roles involving overtime.

Can fitters earn $150,000 a year?

Yes. Mining, FIFO, shutdown and remote maintenance positions can push fitter earnings towards $150,000 or higher.

Can fitters earn $200,000?

Some experienced fitters can reach this level through highly paid mining work, contracting, overtime, shutdowns or supervisory roles, but it isn't typical of every fitter position.

Do FIFO fitters get paid more?

FIFO fitters can earn considerably more than local workshop workers, although they may also work longer hours and spend substantial time away from home.

What type of fitter earns the most?

Mining, fixed plant, shutdown and specialised industrial fitters can be among the higher earners. Supervisory and contracting pathways can increase earning potential further.

Do maintenance fitters earn good money?

Yes. Maintenance fitting can offer strong salaries, particularly in large industrial facilities operating rotating shifts.

Does overtime increase fitter salaries much?

It can. Regular overtime, weekend work, shift penalties and call-outs can add substantially to annual earnings.

Are fitter and turners paid well compared with other jobs?

Generally, yes. National occupation data shows full-time Metal Fitters and Machinists earning substantially above the median full-time earnings across all Australian occupations.