Get Into a TradeUpdated September 2026

Diesel mechanic salary in Australia

Quick answer

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.

Diesel mechanic pay has one of the widest spreads of any trade, because the same qualification covers a bloke servicing rigids in a suburban workshop and a FIFO fitter keeping haul trucks alive on a Pilbara iron ore mine. Averages hide that spread, so treat every single figure you read (including ours) as a starting point and check the live numbers at the sources.

What qualified diesel mechanics earn

The Australian Government's Your Career occupation profile for diesel motor mechanics lists average weekly earnings of $1,405, which is roughly $73,000 a year before tax, alongside a 93 per cent full time share and around 7,400 people in the occupation. That figure is an all settings average and gets updated as new data lands, so check the live profile rather than quoting an old number. Full timers in this trade also work longer weeks than the national average, and overtime is normal, so take home pay often beats the base.

The mining premium (and what FIFO costs you)

Mining is where this trade out earns most others. Heavy diesel fitters on mine sites are consistently among the best paid tradespeople in Australia: employers pay under enterprise agreements or salary packages well above award, and add site allowances, roster loadings and bonuses on top. Job ads for FIFO heavy diesel roles routinely advertise packages far above the occupation average.

The trade off is the life. FIFO means rosters away from home, camp living and long swings. Plenty of people do it for some years, bank hard and move to residential or town based roles. Go in with your eyes open: the premium pays for the time you give up.

What moves the number

•Sector: mining and heavy plant at the top, OEM dealers and fleet workshops in the middle, small general workshops lower
•Award vs enterprise agreement: EBA sites (mines, big fleets, bus operators) generally pay well above award minimums
•Overtime, call out and shift loadings: breakdown and night shift work fattens pay packets in transport and mining alike
•Location: remote and regional shortage areas pay more to attract people, and states with big mining sectors (WA, Queensland) lead
•Extra tickets: HR licence, high risk work licences, air conditioning handling and OEM certifications all add value
•Moving up: leading hand, workshop supervisor, maintenance planner and field service specialist roles all pay above the tools

Apprentice pay, explained without made up numbers

There is no single apprentice wage. Your minimum rate comes from the award or enterprise agreement covering your employer (commonly the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award in truck workshops), your year of apprenticeship or competency level, your age (adult apprentices who start at 21 or older get higher rates), and in some awards whether you finished year 12. Mining apprentices under EBAs typically earn well above award. Anyone quoting you one national apprentice wage figure is wrong: put your own details into the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool at calculate.fairwork.gov.au and get your actual minimum, including allowances.

How it compares with other trades

On raw averages, diesel mechanics sit ahead of light vehicle mechanics and roughly alongside the mid pack of trades. The comparison changes at the top end: a diesel fitter on a mining EBA out earns most electricians, plumbers and carpenters without needing to run a business to do it. If your goal is high employee wages (rather than self employment income), heavy diesel with a mining pathway is one of the strongest plays in the trades, and the shortage means you rarely hunt long for work.

Sources and official links

Straight from the source. These open in a new tab.

Diesel Mechanic Apprentice Hub How much do tradies actually earn in Australia?

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General guidance only

Answers here are general guidance to point you in the right direction - always check official sources and ask your supervisor for your specific situation.