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Excavator operator salary: how it compares to the Australian full-time average

The median full-time excavator operator salary is about $98,800 a year, above the all-occupations median but below the national full-time average of $108,352.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Where the excavator operator salary sits against the national full-time average

If you are an excavator operator or considering the trade, a natural question is how your pay compares with the average Australian full-time worker. The short answer: the typical excavator operator earns more than the median full-time worker but less than the national average. Here is what the official data shows.

The published figure: a median, not an average

The most reliable source for an excavator operator salary is the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, published by Jobs and Skills Australia. It reports the median full-time weekly earnings for Earthmoving Plant Operators (ANZSCO 7212) – the group that includes excavator operators, backhoe operators, bulldozer operators, and graders. The median is $1,900 per week, or about $98,800 a year (multiplied by 52 weeks). The median hourly rate is $45.

A median means half of full-time excavator operators earn more than that and half earn less. It is a better measure than an average for this occupation because a small number of very high or very low earners can skew an average. The ABS does not publish a separate average for excavator operators specifically, so the median is the best available benchmark.

How it compares to the national full-time average

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. That works out to about $108,352 a year. The excavator operator median of $1,900 a week is about $183 less per week, or roughly 9% below the national average.

But the excavator operator median is above the all-occupations full-time median of about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). So while excavator operators are not at the average, they are comfortably above the middle of the full-time pay distribution.

Award rates and minimums

Many excavator operators are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for this award. From the first full pay period starting on or after 24 February 2026, the award minimum rates increased by 4.75% (in line with the national minimum wage rise). The national minimum wage itself is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. Award rates for experienced excavator operators are higher than the minimum, but the median of $1,900 a week is well above both.

State-by-state variations

Full-time average earnings vary across states and territories. The national full-time average of $108,352 is a composite. Here are the state full-time averages (from the same ABS release):

  • New South Wales: about $109,658
  • Victoria: about $106,137
  • Queensland: about $106,064
  • South Australia: about $102,450
  • Western Australia: about $115,825
  • Tasmania: about $96,008
  • Northern Territory: about $103,173
  • Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090

An excavator operator earning the national median of $98,800 would be below the average in every state except Tasmania. In Western Australia and the ACT, the gap is largest. However, state-level medians for the occupation are not published, so local conditions may differ.

What about part-time and casual workers?

The median of $1,900 a week is for full-time non-managerial employees. About 94% of earthmoving plant operators work full-time, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. For all employees (including part-time and casual), the average weekly total earnings are much lower – $1,579.20 nationally, or about $82,118 a year. But that figure includes many part-time workers across all industries, so it is not directly comparable.

Putting it on the line

You can place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares with the national full-time average, medians, and minimum wage. The site uses the same ABS and Fair Work data. For a deeper look at how different occupations stack up, see the job medians page.

Summary

The excavator operator salary – as measured by the median full-time weekly earnings of $1,900 – sits above the all-occupations median but below the national full-time average. It is well above award minimums and the national minimum wage. State averages show that earnings potential is highest in Western Australia and the ACT, but the national median is a solid benchmark for the trade.

Questions

What is the average excavator operator salary in Australia?

The most recent published figure is a median, not an average. According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time weekly earnings for Earthmoving Plant Operators – the occupation group that includes excavator operators – is $1,900. That works out to about $98,800 a year before tax. The median is used because it is less affected by very high or low earners than an average.

How does an excavator operator's pay compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The excavator operator median of $1,900 a week is about $183 less per week, or roughly 9% below the national average. However, it is above the all-occupations full-time median of about $90,532 a year. So excavator operators typically earn more than half of all full-time workers, but less than the average.

What tax will an excavator operator pay on that salary?

For the 2026–27 income year, a full-time excavator operator earning $98,800 would fall into the 30% marginal tax bracket (taxable income between $45,001 and $135,000). After the tax-free threshold of $18,200, the first $26,800 is taxed at 15%, and the remainder at 30%. The Medicare levy of 2% also applies. The exact amount depends on deductions and offsets, but the combined tax and Medicare levy would be roughly $22,000–$24,000, leaving about $74,000–$76,000 after tax.

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