Getting into a trade
Thinking about a trade but not sure where to start, or which one? Straight answers on pay, demand, the pros and cons, and how to actually get in, so you can decide with your eyes open.
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The highest paying trades in Australia
Electricians and plumbers are still the standouts: strong pay, steady demand, and a licence that protects what you can charge. But they are not the very top of the earnings tables. On the government's latest figures auto electricians and bricklayers lead the pack, and diesel mechanics on mining plant earn with the best of them, each with a catch worth understanding. Most of the fifteen trades on this site land in a fairly narrow band, and the biggest pay jumps come from getting licensed, working overtime, heading to mining or remote work, or going out on your own.
Read →The most in-demand trades in Australia
Electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning and refrigeration are the most consistently in-demand trades in Australia, alongside welding and fabrication. But here is the honest part: almost every trade on this site is in national shortage right now, so "which trade is most in demand" matters far less than which work actually suits you. A trade you stick with beats a hot trade you quit.
Read →Which trade should you do?
There is no single "best" trade, only the one that fits you. If you want the strongest mix of pay and long-term demand, electrical, plumbing and the heavy diesel side of automotive sit at the top, with auto electrical, air conditioning and refrigeration, plastering and carpentry close behind. But the right choice depends just as much on the kind of work you can see yourself doing every day, the conditions you can handle, and whether you want to work indoors, outdoors, in a workshop, a salon, a kitchen, or up a ladder. This guide compares all 15 trades on this site, and the two minute quiz at /which-trade-suits-you now covers all 15 as well.
Read →Is a trade worth it?
For a lot of Australians, yes. A trade lets you earn while you learn, finish with a nationally recognised qualification and no university debt, and move into work that is in steady demand and hard to send offshore. But it is not easy money: the apprentice years pay is low, the work is physical, and a large share of trade apprentices do not finish, so it is only worth it if the trade and the lifestyle genuinely suit you.
Read →Trade vs university: which path is right for you?
Neither path is better across the board: it comes down to the person, not the label. A trade suits you if you learn by doing, want to earn while you train, would rather not carry a study debt, and don't mind physical, hands-on work. University suits you if the career you want legally requires a degree (medicine, law, engineering, nursing, teaching) or you genuinely prefer study. Both lead to solid careers in Australia, and plenty of people end up doing a bit of each.
Read →How much do tradies actually earn in Australia?
Qualified tradies mostly earn solid, dependable money, but the trade you pick matters. Across the 15 trades on this site, electricians, diesel mechanics, plumbers and HVAC techs sit in the top band, while hairdressers and chefs start in the bottom band and build from there. What actually lands in your pocket depends on overtime, location, your licences and whether you go out on your own, and the apprenticeship years before that are deliberately lean. For the current median figures for any trade, check its Your Career occupation profile (linked below), because published numbers move every year.
Read →Women in trades: how to get started in Australia
Yes, women can and do get into every trade in Australia, and it is one of the more open moments to start. You do it the same way anyone does: land an apprenticeship with an employer, study the certificate through a TAFE or registered training provider, and get paid while you learn. How rare you will be depends entirely on the trade. In hairdressing, women are the clear majority. In commercial cookery, roughly a quarter of chefs are women. In the construction and mechanical trades, women are still only around 2 to 3 percent of the qualified workforce. So go in clear-eyed about both the support on offer and the hurdles that are still real in the male-dominated trades.
Read →Adult apprenticeships and career changing into a trade
Yes, you can start a trade apprenticeship at almost any age in Australia. There is no upper age limit, and if you are 21 or older when you sign up you count as an adult apprentice, which usually means a higher minimum wage than a school leaver gets. The honest trade-off is that you take a pay cut and spend roughly three to four years training before you earn a fully qualified wage.
Read →School-based apprenticeships explained
A school-based apprenticeship (often called an SBAT) lets you start a real, paid trade apprenticeship while you are still finishing high school, usually from Year 10 or age 15. You stay at school most of the week and spend about one day a week working and training, you get paid an award wage for the hours you actually work, and that time counts towards both your Year 12 certificate and your trade qualification. It is a genuine head start, not a shortcut, and it means carrying a job on top of your schoolwork.
Read →How to get into a trade with no experience
You do not need experience: almost every trade in Australia starts with a paid apprenticeship, where an employer hires you as a complete beginner and you learn on the job while studying at TAFE. The hard part is not qualifying, it is landing that first employer, and some trades have a much easier front door than others. Free help exists: an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider or a Group Training Organisation can match you to a job and sign you up.
Read →The real pros and cons of a trade career
A trade can be a genuinely good career. You get paid while you train, you finish with a nationally recognised qualification and no big student debt for the training, and licensed trades like electrical and plumbing pay well above the average wage. The honest trade-offs: the pay is low for the first year or two, the work is hard on your body over a lifetime, and roughly 4 in 10 people who start a trade apprenticeship do not finish it. It suits someone who likes hands-on work and can push through a tough first couple of years.
Read →The best trades for the future in Australia
On demand, pay and long-term security, the standout trades in Australia are electrical, plumbing, air conditioning and refrigeration, and diesel mechanics, with carpentry, welding and auto electrical not far behind. Nearly every one of the 15 trades on this site has appeared on the national shortage list in recent years, so there is no wrong answer for jobs. The real question is which one you can actually stick out for three to four years, because the best trade for the future is the one you will not quit in year one.
Read →Electrician salary in Australia
A qualified electrician in Australia earns solid money, with the government's Your Career profile putting median full-time pay for electricians at around $2,191 a week (roughly $114,000 a year) before tax. What you actually take home depends on your state, your experience, overtime and site allowances, whether you specialise, and whether you run your own business or chase mining and FIFO work. Those figures are a guide only and move over time, so always check the current numbers.
Read →Plumber salary in Australia
A qualified plumber in Australia earns solid money, with full-time workers taking home somewhere around $1,894 a week according to the Australian Government's Your Career and Jobs and Skills Australia (a guide figure that shifts over time, not a fixed fact). What you actually pocket depends on your experience, your state, how much overtime you chase, whether you specialise, and whether you work for a boss, go out on your own, or head to the mines.
Read →Carpenter salary in Australia
A qualified carpenter in Australia earns around $1,760 a week (roughly $91,500 a year) at the median, according to Jobs and Skills Australia figures shown on the Your Career profile. What you actually take home depends on your experience, your state, overtime and site allowances, whether you specialise or run your own business, and whether you take on mining or FIFO work. Treat any single figure as a guide only, as it changes over time.
Read →Mechanic salary in Australia
A qualified light vehicle motor mechanic in Australia earns around $1,405 a week full time before tax, going by the Your Career profile, though that is a guide only and shifts over time. What you actually pocket comes down to your experience, your state, overtime and allowances, whether you specialise, and whether you run your own shop or chase mining and resources work.
Read →Welder and boilermaker salary in Australia
A qualified welder, boilermaker or metal fabricator in Australia typically earns somewhere around $1,750 to $1,800 a week full-time, which works out to roughly $90,000 a year, going off Jobs and Skills Australia and the government's Your Career profile. What you actually take home swings a fair bit with your state, your overtime, the allowances on your site, and whether you chase mining or FIFO work. Treat any single number as a guide, not a set rate, because these figures come from survey data and get updated over time.
Read →Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic salary in Australia
A qualified air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic in Australia earns above the average for the trades, with government figures pointing to median full-time pay of about $1,618 a week before tax (roughly $84,000 a year) as a guide that updates over time. What you actually take home depends on your experience, your state, overtime and site allowances, whether you specialise or run your own business, and whether you chase mining, resources or FIFO work. As an apprentice you earn a training wage set by your award that rises each year, so check your exact minimum on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Read →Painter and decorator salary in Australia
A qualified painting trades worker earns around $1,000 a week full-time on the government's Your Career and Jobs and Skills Australia figures, which is a bit under the all-jobs median of roughly $1,230 a week and works out near the low-to-mid $50,000s a year. What you actually take home depends on your state, overtime and site allowances, whether you specialise or chase mining and resources work, and above all whether you stay on wages or run your own business. Treat the figure as a guide only, as it is a broad median that updates over time and does not count overtime or self-employed earnings.
Read →Bricklayer salary in Australia
A qualified bricklayer in Australia earns solid money for a trade on the tools. Jobs and Skills Australia, which feeds the government's Your Career profile, puts median full-time earnings at around $2,300 a week, roughly $120,000 a year, though that is a guide only and updates as new survey data comes through. What you actually pocket depends on your experience and speed, your state, overtime and site allowances, and whether you work for a boss or run your own crew.
Read →Tiler salary in Australia
The government's occupation profile for wall and floor tilers currently publishes no reliable median wage, because so many tilers are self employed or on piece rates. Qualified tilers on commercial EBAs and good subcontractors generally do well, and apprentice pay is set by the award, your year and your age: check the Fair Work Pay Calculator for your exact rate.
Read →Plasterer salary in Australia
The government occupation profile for plasterers lists median full time earnings of about 1,841 dollars a week, with wide variation because so much of the trade runs on square metre piecework. Apprentice pay has no single figure: it depends on the award, your year and your age, so check the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Read →Cabinet maker salary in Australia
The Australian Government's Your Career profile lists average earnings for cabinetmakers around $1,216 per week before tax, with Jobs and Skills Australia showing a median of about $1,400 per week for the occupation group. Apprentice pay is set by your award, year and age, so check your own number with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Read →Diesel mechanic salary in Australia
The government's Your Career profile lists average earnings for diesel motor mechanics of about $1,405 a week (around $73,000 a year), but that is an average: mining and FIFO heavy diesel roles pay far more, and overtime moves the number a lot. Apprentice pay is set by your award, year and age, so check it on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Read →Auto electrician salary in Australia
The government's Your Career profile lists average weekly earnings of $1,888 for qualified automotive electricians, roughly $98,000 a year before tax, with heavy vehicle and mining roles paying well above that. Apprentice pay depends on your award, year and age: check it at the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Read →Hairdresser salary in Australia
The Australian Government's Your Career profile lists average earnings for hairdressers at around $1,121 per week, below the all-jobs average, but commission, a strong client book, chair rental and ownership push many well past the base. Apprentice pay is set by the Hair and Beauty Industry Award: check your exact rate on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Read →Chef salary in Australia
Jobs and Skills Australia lists median full-time earnings for chefs at $1,423 per week (May 2025 data), with real pay shaped heavily by penalty rates, seniority and venue type. Apprentice pay is set by your award, year and age: check it with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Read →Electrician courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The qualification is the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820), delivered through an apprenticeship at TAFE or an electrical RTO. Costs range from fee-free to a few thousand dollars depending on your state.
Read →Plumbing courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The core qualification is the Certificate III in Plumbing (CPC32420), done as an apprenticeship through TAFE or a plumbing industry RTO. Many states currently make it fee-free for apprentices.
Read →Carpentry courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
You need the Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220) through an apprenticeship, with pre-apprenticeship Cert II options at most TAFEs. Apprentice fees are subsidised or free in most states right now.
Read →Mechanic courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The qualification is the Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology (AUR30620), delivered through TAFE or automotive RTOs during your apprenticeship. Fee-free training covers it in several states.
Read →Welding courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
Most welders qualify through the Certificate III in Engineering, Fabrication Trade as an apprenticeship, with short welding tickets available separately. TAFEs and engineering RTOs deliver it in every state.
Read →Air conditioning and refrigeration courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The trade qualification is the Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32225), plus the ARC refrigerant handling licence. It is delivered through TAFE and specialist RTOs as an apprenticeship.
Read →Painting courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The qualification is the Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (CPC30620) through an apprenticeship at TAFE or a construction RTO, and it is subsidised or fee-free for apprentices in most states.
Read →Bricklaying courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
You qualify through the Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying (CPC33020) as an apprenticeship, with pre-apprenticeship Cert II options at TAFE. Apprentice fees are low or free in most states.
Read →Tiling courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The qualification is the Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling (CPC31320) through an apprenticeship. Fewer TAFEs run it than the bigger trades, so check which campuses in your state actually deliver it.
Read →Plastering courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
Dry wall plasterers do the Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining (CPC31220) and solid plasterers the Certificate III in Solid Plastering (CPC31020), both as apprenticeships through TAFE or construction RTOs.
Read →Cabinet making courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The qualification is the Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology (MSF30322), delivered as an apprenticeship through TAFE and furnishing industry RTOs in every state.
Read →Diesel mechanic courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
Most diesel mechanics qualify through the Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology (AUR31120) or Mobile Plant Technology (AUR31220), through TAFE, dealer programs or mining industry RTOs.
Read →Auto electrician courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The qualification is the Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology (AUR30320), delivered through TAFE and automotive RTOs as an apprenticeship, with EV units becoming a common add-on.
Read →Hairdressing courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The qualification is the Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416), done as a salon apprenticeship with TAFE or a private academy, or as a full-time course. Apprenticeship is the cheaper, earn-while-you-learn route.
Read →Chef and cookery courses in Australia: Cert III, costs and where to study
The trade qualification is the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30821), delivered as a kitchen apprenticeship through TAFE or a hospitality RTO, or as a full-time course if you pay your own way.
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