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Chemical, Gas, Petroleum and Power Generation Plant Operators

Chemical, Gas, Petroleum and Power Generation Plant Operators control the operation of chemical production equipment, pump gas and oil from wellheads, refine and process petroleum products, and operate boilers, turbogenerators and associated plant to generate electrical power.

Trades & constructionLicensed workANZSCO 3992
$3,532/wkMedian full-time pay
7,116People employed
+9% ▲Growth to 2035
97%Work full time
48Median 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 3992.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

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

controlling equipment performing continuous and batch processes to process chemicals and natural gas, manufacture refined petroleum products, and blend petroleum base stocks to produce commercial fuels, lubricating oils and asphaltcontrolling the preparation, measuring and feeding of raw material and processing agents such as catalysts and filtering media into plantpatrolling and inspecting equipment to ensure proper operation and setting operating controls on equipmentanalysing samples and readings and recording test datacontrolling records of production, quantities transferred and details of blending and pumping operationschecking equipment for malfunctions and arranging maintenance
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 3992 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 900 more people in chemical, gas, petroleum and power generation plant operators by 2035 ▲

The field shrank 12.7% in the year to February 2026, losing about 1,000 workers. Most of the jobs are in QLD and VIC, with WA 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 3992.More about our sources: How we check our facts
9.5k2025
9.9k2030 PROJ.
10.4k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most chemical, gas, petroleum and power generation plant operators came through a certificate or diploma. 68% did.

A university degree is rare here: 10% 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 3992. 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

PMA30120Certificate III

Certificate III in Process Plant Operations

Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining.

See 21 providers
PMA40116Certificate IV

Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology

Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining.

See 13 providers
PMA20116Certificate II

Certificate II in Process Plant Operations

Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining.

See 6 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 11 mapped courses
PMA30120Certificate III in Process Plant Operations · 21 providers
PMA40116Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology · 13 providers
PMA20116Certificate II in Process Plant Operations · 6 providers
UEP30322Certificate III in ESI Generation · 4 providers
UEP50122Diploma of ESI Generation · 4 providers
UEP40122Certificate IV in ESI Generation · 3 providers
UEP40622Certificate IV in Wind Power Generation · 2 providers
FBP40522Certificate IV in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing · 1 provider
UEP40422Certificate IV in ESI Generation Maintenance (Fabrication) · 0 providers
UEP40522Certificate IV in ESI Generation Maintenance (Mechanical) · 0 providers
UEP40322Certificate IV in ESI Generation Maintenance - Electrical Electronics · 0 providers

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

Jobs open right now

7,116 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 3992.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

QLD2.9k
VIC1.6k
WA1.3k
NSW1k
SA0.6k
NT0.2k
TAS0.1k
ACT0.1k