20 in demand jobs in the SA mining sector and how much they pay

There’s never been a better time to head to the mines as job opportunities rise to record levels. From entry-level roles to senior position here’s the full wage guide.

BHP’s Olympic Dam site. Picture: Supplied

Employment vacancies in the South Australian mining and energy sectors rose to record levels in the last three months of last year and demand predicted to remain strong through 2024.

A report from the Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance says 918 jobs ads were placed by 235 companies in the resources and energy sector in the three months to December 31.

“This is the highest level of jobs advertised for this period since RESA records commenced in 2013,’’ RESA chief executive Jodie Badcock said.

“Overall vacancy trends continue to demonstrate growing workforce demand.

“We don’t expect to see any decline in the rate of demand for skilled workers across the sector.’’

SCROLL DOWN FOR SA’S MOST WELL-PAID MIND JOBS

Jodie Babcock is chief executive of Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Ms Badcock said there would likely be an “increase in the demand for jobs’’.

She said the demand was driven by mining and energy operations rather than “large volume recruitment activity aligned to a specific project’’.

There had also been a rise in commodity prices, especially in gold, iron ore, copper and uranium.

According to RESA, diesel mechanics were the most sought after trade during the survey period.

That was followed by mechanical fitters, health and safety advisers, drill fitters, mobile plant operators, boilermakers and welders, mining engineers, auto electricians, blast crew, riggers, electricians and maintenance planners.

Mining engineers and project managers were also in high demand.

Companies that were seeking new employees included mining giants BHP, Nyrstar and GFG Alliance as well as many smaller operators.

Ms Badcock said there would continue to be a skills shortage in the short term that could only be solved through skilled migrants coming to SA.

She said there was planning underway to fill gaps in the longer term but that it took between five and eight years to train a person to be able to work independently.

BHP and other miners have previously highlighted labour shortages as a key problem that needed to be addressed by governments.

A lack of employees has also been cited as a key concern by companies in the defence sector and there is an acknowledgment there is now intense competition for workers between different parts of the economy.

Last month, the Malinauskas Labor government opened the Findon Technical College, the first such college opened in SA for 50 years.

Defence company BAE is a partner in the project.

Ms Badcock also said SA was at risk of losing workers to other states.

“Interstate demand is across predominantly for trades and maintenance, plant and machinery operators,’’ she said.

“There is some demand for technical and professional roles across occupational sectors.

“This continues the challenge for SA operations to keep skilled workers in high demand occupations.’’

From entry level jobs for those looking for a new life in mines to senior position for those with years of industry experience, here is what you can expect to according to RESA salary estimates and where jobs are currently on offer.

Jodie Babcock says vacancy trends continue to demonstrate growing workforce demand. Picture: Brett Hartwig

SPECIALIST ROLES

MINING ENGINEER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $80-120k

Mid-career: $120-180k

Senior: $180k+

BHP is currently employing mining engineers to contribute to the design, optimisation, planning and scheduling of open cut or underground mine sites, to support decision-making for mine development and operation. And to build mine production plans and schedules, and co-ordinate infield execution to deliver to productivity targets

GEOLOGIST

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-110k

Mid-career: $110-150k

Senior: $150k+

Uranium company Heathgate is looking for a geologist at its mine at Beverley in the state’s far north. It says the geologist should, in part, “implement and ensure/monitor the use of correct methodologies with respect to well correlation, drill section construction and interpretation, documentation/mapping and effective communication of such information within the Geology Team’’.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-110k

Mid-career: $110-150k

Senior: $150k+

Port Pirie-based Nyrstar is advertising for a mechanical reliability engineer. The applicant must have an “undergraduate degree in Mechanical or Mechatronic Engineering’’. The role includes developing “engineering solutions to repetitive failures and all other problems that adversely affect plant operations. These problems include capacity, quality, cost or regulatory compliance issues’’.

ELECTRICIAN

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $60-90k

Mid-career: $90-120k

Senior: $120k+

Critical minerals miner Iluka is hiring an electrical technician to work at its Jacinth-Ambrosia mine on the state’s Far West Coast. Applicants must hold an electrical trade certificate. It’s an eight days on, six day off roster, with FIFO from Adelaide or Ceduna. The role includes “problem solve reliability issues using fault finding abilities’’.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $60-90k

Mid-career: $90-120k

Senior: $120k+

Heavy lifting and equipment hire group MAX is looking to hire crane operators to work in the Cooper Basin. It’s FIFO job with a 14 days on, 14 days off roster. The job description says applicants must be able to “control cranes, lifts and other equipment using standard operating procedures to ensure effective lifting of materials and safety for all personnel on site’’.

MINING SUPERVISOR

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $80-120k

Mid-career: $120-160k

Senior: $160k+

SRG Global, a mining drill and blast operation, is advertising for a site supervisor to be based in Whyalla. “This position is residential in Whyalla on an eight days on and six days off roster. This is a long-term project for SRG Global having been the drilling and blasting contractor onsite since 2013,’’ the ad says.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-110k

Mid-career: $110-150k

Senior: $150k+

BHP is looking for a an applicant with a “geotechnical, environmental or civil engineering’’ degree to help manage its tailings management system at its Carapateena mine. That person will “develop and refine tailings plans, monitoring and systems that will achieve regulatory compliance’’. The roster is “four days on; three days off, on site at Carrapateena’’.

SAFETY OFFICER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

ESS is looking for “safety professionals’’ to join its Olympic Dam team. Salaries start at $125,000 and applicants need a minimum cert IV in work, health and safety. Part of the job is to “monitor the implementation of operational safety, health, environment and QA policies and programs undertake incident investigations and reporting’’.

MINE SURVEYOR

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

BHP is looking for a surveyor at its Prominent Hill mine, an hour’s flight from Adelaide. The roster is eight days on, six days off. “As the mine surveyor, you will be responsible for co-ordinating and scheduling survey activities associated with the mining operation. This role requires strong communication skills, the ability to work under pressure, and a passion for improving mine safety,’’ BHP says.

PROCESS ENGINEER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-110k

Mid-career: $110-150k

Senior: $150k+

TRADE CAREERS

DRILLER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $80-120k

Mid-career: $120-160k

Senior: $160k+

FORACO Australia, an exploration drilling contractor, is advertising for exploration driller assistants and offering between $100,000 and $125,000 a year. In the ad it says “it’s preferable that candidates have exposure to the drilling industry, understanding the physically demanding nature of 12 hour shifts outdoors, in remote locations, and at times in extreme environmental conditions’’.

AUTO ELECTRICIAN

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

BHP is looking for auto electricians to provide auto-electrical maintenance support to the mobile fleet maintenance work team and / or the drill fleet team.

DIESEL MECHANIC

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

Logistics company Qube works within the mining sector and is looking for heavy diesel mechanics in SA. “The main focus of this role will be helping keep our modern fleet of American and European prime movers, and all mechanical equipment operational and serviced, maintained and repaired as needed in accordance with workshop and site requirements,’’ it says.

FITTER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

Pybar Services is hiring a Raisbore fitter to work the Carrapateena mine on a 14 day on, 14 day off roster. “In order to be considered for this position you will need to be able to demonstrate current or previous underground mining experience,’’ it says.

BOILERMAKER

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

UGL is advertising for a boilermaker at Olympic Dam. Can be either FIFO or live in Roxby Downs, with 7 night shift, seven day shift, 7 days off roster. “The project team undertakes lifting, fabrication, fitting, equipment operation, welding and civil tasks for these structural, mechanical and civil project work,’’ UGL says.

INSTRUMENTATION ELECTRICIAN

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

GR Production Services is looking for an E&I technician to work in the Cooper Basin. It’s a two week on, two week off job. “Reporting to our maintenance manager and client team leaders these roles are primarily responsible for executing preventive maintenance activities for oil and gas facilities and field assets in the Cooper Basin area,’’ it says.

ELECTRICIAN

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

Westlake Contracting is looking for a number of electricians to work across remote mine sites in SA. Both long and short-term positions are available. “Positions will be FIFO from Adelaide and/or Port Augusta or Ceduna on various roster patterns.’’

NDT TECHNICIAN (NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING)

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $70-100k

Mid-career: $100-130k

Senior: $130k+

Applus Pty Ltd is hiring a NDT Technician specialising in Eddy Current for a 15/13 roster in Moomba. The job includes “performing NDT including MT/PT and specialising in ET and ensuring compliance with applicable standards and client policies’’.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENIST

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $80-110k

Mid-career: $110-150k

Senior: $150k+

BHP is looking for an occupational hygienist for its SA copper division. The role would be based in Adelaide, but some site visits would be required. You will also advise on occupational hygiene, health and safety matters in the workplace that potentially impact human health from environmental and work-related sources,’’ BHP says.

AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION TECHNICIAN

Annual wages:

Entry-level: $60-90k

Mid-career: $90-120k

Senior: $120k+