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Other Machine Operators

Other Machine Operators includes a range of occupations such as Chemical Production Machine Operators, Motion Picture Projectionists, Sand Blasters and Sterilisation Technicians.

ManufacturingLicensed workANZSCO 7119
$1,554/wkMedian full-time pay
12kPeople employed
+9% ▲Growth to 2035
74%Work full time
44Median 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 7119.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

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

operates machines to produce chemical goods such as soaps, detergents, pharmaceuticals, toiletries and explosivesoperates film projection and related sound reproduction equipmentoperates sandblasting machines to clean and grind metal products and other hard surfacescleans, sterilises and packages surgical instruments and other hospital equipment, soft goods and linen in a sterilisation service facility
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 7119 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 1,300 more people in other machine operators by 2035 ▲

The field shrank 1.1% in the year to February 2026, losing about 100 workers. Most of the jobs are in VIC and NSW, 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 7119.More about our sources: How we check our facts
13.6k2025
14.1k2030 PROJ.
14.9k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

There is no single way in. 38% trained through VET, 17% hold a degree.

Both paths are common in this field. 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 7119. 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

AVI30419Certificate III

Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot)

Aviation Training Package · licensed work.

See 22 providers
HLT37015Certificate III

Certificate III in Sterilisation Services

Health.

See 12 providers
HLT47015Certificate IV

Certificate IV in Sterilisation Services

Health.

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 6 mapped courses
AVI30419Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot) · 22 providers
HLT37015Certificate III in Sterilisation Services · 12 providers
HLT47015Certificate IV in Sterilisation Services · 6 providers
FBP30822Certificate III in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing · 2 providers
AVI40422Certificate IV in Aviation (Remote Pilot-Beyond Visual Line of Sight) · 2 providers
FBP20418Certificate II in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing · 0 providers

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 7119.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

VIC4.1k
NSW3.5k
QLD2.3k
WA2k
SA1.1k
ACT0.3k
TAS0.3k
NT0.1k