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Occupations / Metal Fitters And Machinists

Metal Fitters and Machinists

Metal Fitters and Machinists fit and assemble fabricated metal parts into products, set up machining tools, production machines and textile machines, and operate machining tools and machines to shape metal stock and castings.

Trades & constructionANZSCO 3232
$2,606/wkMedian full-time pay
120kPeople employed
+7% ▲Growth to 2035
94%Work full time
40Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3232.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

studying drawings and specifications to determine suitable material, method and sequence of operations, and machine settingsfitting fabricated metal parts into products and assembling metal parts and subassemblies to produce machines and equipmentchecking fabricated and assembled metal parts for accuracy, clearance and fit using precision measuring instrumentssetting guides, stops and other controls on machining tools, setting up prescribed cutting and shaping tools and dies in machines and presses, and setting controls for textile machinesforming metal stock and castings to fine tolerances using machining tools to press, cut, grind, plane, bore and drill metalcutting, threading, bending and installing hydraulic and pneumatic pipes and lines
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 3232 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 8,800 more people in metal fitters and machinists by 2035 ▲

The field grew 0.8% in the year to February 2026, adding about 900 workers. Most of the jobs are in WA and QLD, with NSW third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3232.More about our sources: How we check our facts
123k2025
126.6k2030 PROJ.
131.8k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most metal fitters and machinists came through a certificate or diploma. 81% did.

A university degree is rare here: 3% hold one. The trade qualification is the standard way in. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 3232. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

MEM31419Certificate III

Certificate III in Engineering - Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic

Manufacturing and Engineering.

See 15 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

120k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

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Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3232.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

WA32.2k
QLD29.6k
NSW26.2k
VIC19k
SA7.5k
TAS2.6k
NT1.4k
ACT0.2k

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