10 coal mining jobs paying more than $150,000 a year in 2022

Forget law and medicine, if you want to make big bucks in Queensland, go into mining. Here are 10 jobs paying more than $150,000 a year plus free meals and travel.

There are 10 jobs in Central Queensland paying more than $150,000 a year plus free meals and travel. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

There’s never been a better time to be a coal miner in Central Queensland, with salaries for skilled workers now advertised at more than $150,000 a year.

Labour shortages and record coal prices means companies across the Bowen Basin are desperate for workers and willing to shell out big bucks to get them.

A diesel fitter floating between sites can expect to pull in between $160,000 to $216,000, while a dragline operator with BHP can book $90 an hour on a casual rate.

ABS Data on employee earnings released on December 14 shows mining far outstrips other industries, with median earnings of $2497 per week, up from $2341 in August 2021, a 6.6 per cent increase.

An operator walks past a dump truck at the Caval Ridge coal mine near Moranbah, Central Queensland. Picture: Dan Peled

Across all industries, by contrast, median employee earnings are $1250 per week, which means 50 per cent of all employees in the country earn less than $1250 a week.

Alongside mining’s enormous salaries are a range of attractive benefits, such as 7/7 rosters, free meals and fly-in fly-out options.

Seek data and company portals in just the past two weeks show dozens of job ads for workers paying more than $150,000 a year.

Diesel fitters – $160,000-$216,000

East Coast Diesel Service, a contract maintenance and labour hire firm, has put the call out for diesel fitters promising $160,000 to $216,000 for qualified workers.

The 10 positions on offer are for various mine sites across the Basin, including Goonyella.

The company wants an immediate start with flat hourly rates of $70 per hour plus super.

It is also offering utes for fitters going between sites and FIFO, Dido, and BiBo options.

Underground operators – $150,000-$200,000

PIMS Group has put the call out for underground operators at the Millennium mine, promising between $150,000 to $200,000 a year according to Seek.

PIMS operates the mine on behalf of MetRes, a joint venture between M Resources and Stanmore.

Alongside the fat pay packet, PIMS is offering a 7/7 roster, free meals and accommodation while on roster and subsidised boots and glasses.

Dragline operators – $90.01 an hour for casual and $86 for permanent

Labour hire firm Workpac will offer suitable dragline operators $90.01 an hour on casual rates to work on BHP mines.

“You will be an experienced Dragline Operator with the ability to operate equipment such as Marion 8050s,” the company states.

Caval Ridge's Dragline 18

“You will be working in a busy and productive Overburden Department working a 7/7 rotation roster

A permanent position pays $86.41 an hour.

The company also offers Dido and FIFO options from Brisbane and Cairns.

Accommodation and meals are provided.

Mine deputies – $200,000+

Mine deputies are charged with maintaining safety at the coalface and Fitzroy is offering big bucks for deputies to work at the Carborough Downs and Ironbark No. 1 mines.

An exact salary figure is not clear but this job shows up on Seek in the $200,000+ bracket and most deputies across mining earn more than $200,000 a year.

Fitzroy is also offering a range of other attractive features, such as 7/7 rosters, 12 per cent super paid on all hours, performance bonus schemes, subsidised health insurance, on-site physiotherapy and accommodation assistance.

Experienced longwall miners – $200,000

Experienced longwall miners can also expect to book about $200,000 with Fitzroy, according to Seek’s salary brackets.

Workers can choose to live in Moranbah or choose DiDi and FIFO options with accommodation provided in Moranbah or Coppabella while on shift.

Longwall mining at North Goonyella mine 160km west of Mackay in Queensland's Bowen Basin. Mining. Coal.

The job also offers subsidised gym and sporting club membership, on-site physiotherapy appointment, a 7/7 roster, subsidised health insurance and performance bonuses.

Dozer operators – $150,000

A dozer operator at BHP’s Goonyella mine can expect to take home more than $150,000 a year.

“Opportunities are currently available for competent and experienced multiskilled operators to fill available positions in Autonomous Haulage Prestrip,” the advertisement states.

Auto electricians – $150,000

Thiess is calling for auto electricians for its Curragh North operation and will pay more than $150,000 to get them.

The job calls for workers to perform general servicing, repair and maintenance of mobile mining equipment.

The company is offering 7/7 rosters, 12 hour shifts and bus-in bus-out options from Yeppoon, Rockhampton and Mackay.

It also offers a $5000 “refer a mate” bonus.

Operator maintainers – $159,000

Labour hire firm Workpac is advertising for an operator maintainer for Peabody’s Coppabella Mine.

“You will be working as an operator maintainer within the CHPP department,” the company states.

“You will be operating a D10 or D11 dozer working a 7/7 roster days and nights with meals and accommodation provided.”

Mining engineers - $200,000+

If you have a university degree that fits with the mining industry, you can also make massive amounts of money.

A mining engineer at Anglo American’s Aquila underground mine can expect to take home more than $200,000 a year according to Seek.

The Aquila mine is part of Anglo’s Capcoal complex. Picture: Supplied

“As the Mining Engineer, you will co-ordinate mine planning activities and be accountable for delivery of business plan and monthly operating plan mine planning inputs,” a job posting from mid December states.

The company also offers subsidised accommodation, a Monday-Friday roster and Dido and FIFO options.

Dozer operators – $68.15 an hour for casual and $65.43 for permanent

Workpac will pay dozer operators handsome wages to work at BHP’s Saraji mine.

The company is also offering a 6/6 roster, residential, Dido and BiBo options from Rockhampton and Mackay.

“You will be operating dozers CAT D10/D11 T & R Models at Saraji in the pre strip department, working a 6/6 roster (3D/3N),” the company states.

Originally published as 10 coal mining jobs paying more than $150,000 a year in 2022