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Electrical Distribution Trades Workers

Electrical Distribution Trades Workers prepare, install, repair, maintain and patrol electric power distribution networks.

Trades & constructionLicensed workANZSCO 3422
$2,731/wkMedian full-time pay
12kPeople employed
+5% ▲Growth to 2035
99%Work full time
38Median 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 3422.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

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

installing conductors and aerial equipment, and underground cables and equipmentinstalling and maintaining equipment associated with electrical supply such as transformersattending to electrical breakdown and emergenciesmaintaining poles and associated hardware, and continuity of electrical supply and street lightingconducting routine maintenance on the aerial and underground electricity supply networkconducting low-voltage switching operations
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 3422 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 600 more people in electrical distribution trades workers by 2035 ▲

The field grew 5.1% in the year to February 2026, adding about 600 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and VIC, with QLD 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 3422.More about our sources: How we check our facts
12k2025
12.1k2030 PROJ.
12.6k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most electrical distribution trades workers came through a certificate or diploma. 85% did.

A university degree is rare here: 2% 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 3422. 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

UET30621Certificate III

Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Overhead

Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector · licensed work.

See 12 providers
UET30521Certificate III

Certificate III in ESI - Transmission Overhead

Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector · licensed work.

See 8 providers
UET30821Certificate III

Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Underground

Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector · licensed work.

See 7 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 6 mapped courses
UET30621Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Overhead · 12 providers
UET30521Certificate III in ESI - Transmission Overhead · 8 providers
UET30821Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Underground · 7 providers
UET30721Certificate III in ESI - Rail Traction · 7 providers
UET40522Certificate IV in ESI - Substations · 3 providers
UET30921Certificate III in ESI - Very Remote Community Utilities · 1 provider

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

Jobs open right now

12k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

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 3422.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

NSW3.7k
VIC2.8k
QLD2k
WA1.7k
SA0.7k
TAS0.4k
ACT0.1k
NT0.1k

Occupations near this one

Close to this work but not quite it? Each one has its own page like this.