Twelve facts an entry level person trying to get a mining job needs to know
Essential Insights for Entry-Level Mining Jobs
Eighteen months ago, I wrote an article for Australian Mining Review outlining 15 crucial facts every new starter should know. Since then, the industry has evolved, and so has the pathway for entry-level workers. Now, in 2021, I’m updating that advice—condensing it into 12 essential points for anyone aiming to break into mining without a degree or trade.
If you’re looking for a foot in the door, the good news is that there are plenty of well-paying opportunities available. Entry-level roles exist for those with a manual car license and a solid understanding of the mining sector—positions that can lead to lucrative careers, with wages reaching $1,500 a day.
Here are the 12 things every new starter needs to know.
1. The Boom Is Still On
China’s shift toward internal circulation and its Belt and Road Initiative continue to drive demand for essential resources—particularly those needed to produce batteries and the technologies they power. As a result, hardrock mines across Australia are experiencing a surge in recruitment, with thousands of well-paid, full-time roles available in Gold, Nickel, Copper, Rare Earths, and more.
If you’re looking to break into the industry, start by searching “Underground” on Seek—you’ll see an array of job listings. The best entry-level roles include Nipper, Truck Operator, Diamond Driller Offsider, and Agi Operator positions. With proper preparation, opportunities also exist in Paste Crew and Service Crew roles.
While job ads often specify experience as a requirement, that’s more of an employer preference than a hard rule. Since 2017, experienced workers have been scarce, making it increasingly difficult to fill lower-paid crew positions with skilled candidates. This shortage has opened doors for newcomers, turning these roles into true entry-level opportunities.
2. You Have to Want the Money to Make It in Mining
Mining isn’t for the faint-hearted. Grueling 12-hour shifts, extended time away from family and friends, and physically demanding work make it one of the toughest industries out there. Without a strong financial motivation, many struggle to push through.
You don’t have to be obsessed with money—though you’ll certainly meet those who are—but having a clear financial goal is essential. Whether it’s saving for a house, launching a business, or securing financial freedom, those who enter mining with a purpose tend to stick around.
During the last nickel boom (2005-07), underground employers hired many workers from Perth’s corporate sector—people earning around $65K a year in degree-qualified jobs. They were offered $90K to drive trucks on a standard 2&1 roster (two weeks on, one week off). Tempted by the extra $25K and the extended breaks, many jumped at the opportunity. Some stayed, but most returned to their old jobs within months. The demanding hours and relentless pressure outweighed the pay rise, proving that without a deep desire for the financial reward, mining can be just too tough.
If you want to make it, you need to want the money—and have a plan for what you’ll do with it.
3. The Media Is Missing the Mark on Entry-Level Mining Jobs
When mainstream media covers mining careers, they tend to focus on roles requiring degrees or trades, overlooking the abundance of entry-level opportunities that require little to no experience. While degree and trade-based positions are valuable, they take years of training and account for only about a third of jobs in hardrock underground mining.
The real demand is for unskilled workers—roles found in the Processing Mill and the mine itself. These are the positions employers are most desperate to fill right now, and they come with minimal entry requirements.
If you have a manual car license (yes, that’s all you need to drive an underground truck), a police clearance, medical clearance, and a short training package, you already meet the basic criteria for several mining jobs. Employers are actively hiring entry-level workers for Nipper, Truck Operator, Diamond Driller Offsider, and Agi Operator roles, and with the right preparation, you can also land positions in Paste Crew and Service Crew.
Right now, companies need boots on the ground—and they’re willing to bring in newcomers to fill the gaps.
4. The Rise of Driverless Trucks in Iron Ore and Coal Mining
Automation is reshaping the mining industry, with the big three iron ore and coal operators rolling out driverless trucks across their strip mines. By establishing large exclusion zones, they’ve created controlled environments where autonomous fleets can operate safely and efficiently.
If you’re starting out in one of these mines, it’s crucial to think ahead—where do you want to be in 2–5 years? On-site earning $150K a year, or in a city office making $75K while clicking a mouse?
Take BHP as an example. Many on-site workers have heard repeated management announcements outlining plans to reduce the workforce across their iron ore operations. The current headcount of 6,000–6,500 employees is set to shrink to just 850. Similar workforce reductions are happening across their coal mines in North Queensland.
While media often highlights traineeship programs as a way into mining, these positions are extremely limited—natural attrition opens only a handful of spots each year, attracting tens of thousands of applicants.
If you want long-term stability in mining, it’s worth considering how automation will shape your future.
5. Iron Ore and Coal Traineeships Are About Cutting Costs
Traineeships in Iron Ore and Coal aren’t about skill development—they’re about lowering wages. Training someone to operate a truck takes just 3–6 weeks, and within a couple of months, most trainees are performing the full role independently. That means employers get 10 months of discounted labor, often paying less than $25 an hour.
If you’re considering a traineeship, ask yourself: Where do you want to be in 2–5 years?
Would you rather be on-site earning $150K or stuck in a city office, making $75K while clicking a mouse—still working a grueling 12-hour shift?
Thinking long-term is key when weighing your options in mining.
6. Outdated Job-Seeking Strategies Won’t Work Anymore
Many people still rely on methods that helped secure mining jobs during past booms, but times have changed. One common mistake is taking a three-day dump truck course, hoping it will open doors. While this worked briefly 25 years ago when Iron Ore mines first started mass hiring, it no longer holds value.
In hardrock underground mining, these courses don’t impress employers—they simply signal a lack of understanding about how mine ticketing operates. If you’re aiming for an underground role, the only official requirement is a manual car license.
For surface jobs, however, a Heavy Rigid (HR) license is preferred. Knowing the right qualifications for each role can save you time and money—and get you hired faster.
7. Hardrock Mining Uses State-Based Systems, Not a National One
Unlike other industries, hardrock mining operates under state-specific systems rather than a national framework. This is because the states own the minerals within their borders and are unwilling to cede control to the federal government. As a result, each state enforces its own regulations—including non-transferable site-based tickets.
For example, under the WA Mining Act & Regulations (considered world-class practice), all ticketing is site-specific. Every mine you work on will require you to complete their ticketing process, meaning each time you move to a new site—even with the same employer—you’ll need to re-sit the tickets again.
Many people mistakenly believe “Mining tickets” sold under the RII competencies apply to hardrock mining. In reality, these qualifications belong to the national system used in Queensland’s coal industry and the Oil & Gas sector. The hardrock industry does not use this system, though media coverage often overlooks this distinction, creating opportunities for providers to sell training products to uninformed job seekers.
Understanding the correct pathway for your mining career can save you time, money, and frustration.
8. Misinformation About Australian Mining Is Everywhere
A lot of online information about mining in Australia is misleading—or outright wrong. One persistent myth on the east coast is that you need a confined space ticket to work in a hardrock underground mine. In reality, the only place requiring this ticket on a hardrock underground gold mine is the processing mill, specifically for scrubbing the inside of tanks.
This is shutdown work—short-term maintenance that’s never a full-time job. Plenty of people put their hand up for these roles, but once you start in shutdown work, transitioning into a proper mining job can be challenging for several reasons.
Understanding the facts about entry requirements will save you time, effort, and unnecessary costs.
9. Transitioning from a Utilities Job to a Mining Job Isn’t as Easy as It Seems
Many websites and Facebook pages promote Utility jobs as the ideal way to “get your foot in the door” for a mining career—but in reality, it almost never works that way.
Mines enforce strict policies to prevent staff poaching, with rules like the six-month off-site requirement before switching employers being commonplace. These restrictions make direct moves from utility roles into mining positions incredibly difficult.
This practice has been around for decades—I remember when it first started in the late ’90s at Telfer.
Understanding industry hiring dynamics will save you from chasing pathways that lead to dead ends.
10. The S11 Is Only for Queensland Coal Mines—Not Hardrock Mining
The S11, often marketed as a “General Induction,” is only required for coal mines in Queensland. It holds no value in New South Wales, where the coal industry mandates its own separate induction process.
Despite this, some training providers are selling the S11 in Perth as a “General Safety Induction,” misleading job seekers unfamiliar with how mining qualifications work. The lack of media coverage on this issue allows these providers to exploit misinformation, leading many to believe the S11 is necessary for all mining jobs in Australia or that it will impress employers with its “safety component.”
The reality? Hardrock employers value workers who understand how their specific mine operates. Safety isn’t about holding the right paperwork—it comes from doing the job correctly within a site’s established protocols. A Queensland coal induction won’t help in hardrock mining, and I don’t know of any hardrock mines that require an S11.
Instead of boosting your chances, listing an unnecessary S11 on your resume simply signals to hardrock employers that you don’t understand their industry—and often results in your application being discarded early.
11. New Starters Can Expect to Earn $380–$450 a Day
Entry-level workers in hardrock underground mining typically earn between $90K–$110K per year, depending on the company and role. Jobs such as Nipper, underground Truck Operator, and Diamond Driller Offsider all fall within this pay range, offering a strong financial start for those entering the industry.
As you gain experience and move up through the crew, the earning potential rises dramatically. Mid-tier positions pay around $200K per year, while top-tier crew jobs surpass $300K annually. No matter where you begin, mining provides a clear pathway to high earnings for those willing to climb the ranks.
12. Most Mining Jobs Are Reserved for Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents
Around two-thirds of mining jobs are classified as unskilled labor by the Australian government, meaning they must be filled by Australian citizens or permanent residents—overseas workers aren’t eligible for these roles.
Employers typically specify this requirement in their job ads, often placing it at the bottom of the listing. Some, like Byrnecut, make it even more prominent, displaying it at the top in bold lettering.
Only degree-qualified and trade-based positions allow employers to recruit from overseas. For anyone looking to enter the industry locally, understanding these restrictions can save time and ensure realistic job expectations.
Post-Covid employers, due to hiring shortages have stretched their hiring to include Working Holiday Visa holders, but from 2025 the endearance by employers of these Visa holders appears to be waning, with most of these Visa holders having to move to a mining town to secure a role.
If you’re ready to take the plunge into hardrock underground mining, Underground Training’s Workready and DIY Intro to Underground Mining packages provide everything you need to get noticed by employers and secure a job. The choice comes down to how much support you want—whether you prefer a guided approach or a more independent path to success.
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