Understanding the machine operator salary in Australia
If you work as a machine operator or are considering the role, you probably want to know what the pay looks like as a yearly salary, a weekly wage and an hourly rate. This page uses the latest official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Fair Work to give you a clear picture. While the ABS does not publish a specific median for machine operators, the Manufacturing Award provides minimum rates that apply to many workers in this occupation.
Award minimums for machine operators
Most machine operators in manufacturing are covered by the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010). The award sets minimum weekly and hourly rates for different classification levels. The entry-level classification is C14, with a minimum weekly rate of $978.10 for full-time adult employees (38 hours). That works out to $25.74 per hour.
As you gain skills and move up the classification structure, the rates increase. For example:
- C13 / V2: $1,004.90 per week ($26.44 per hour)
- C12 / V3: $1,029.10 per week ($27.08 per hour)
- C11 / V4: $1,062.90 per week ($27.97 per hour)
- C10 / V5: $1,119.10 per week ($29.45 per hour)
These are the minimums. Many employers pay above the award rate, especially for experienced operators or those in high-demand industries. The award also includes allowances for shift work, overtime and specific tasks.
How machine operator pay compares to the national average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings across all occupations averaged $2,083.70 per week. That’s about $108,352 per year before tax. This is the figure we use as the line on this site.
A machine operator on the C10 award rate of $1,119.10 per week earns about $58,193 per year – roughly 54% of the national full-time average. However, many machine operators earn more than the award minimum. The ABS does not publish a median for this specific occupation (Jobs and Skills Australia lists median weekly earnings as N/A for Machine Operators not covered elsewhere). For context, the overall full-time median earnings in Australia are about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100.
If you want to see where your own pay sits against the national average, you can place a salary on the line.
Reading your machine operator salary as a year, week and hour
The on-site tool accepts a yearly salary before tax and shows you the equivalent weekly and hourly figures based on a 38-hour week. It also shows how far your pay is from the national full-time average. Here’s how the award rates translate:
- C14: $978.10/week → $50,861/year → $25.74/hour
- C13: $1,004.90/week → $52,255/year → $26.44/hour
- C12: $1,029.10/week → $53,513/year → $27.08/hour
- C11: $1,062.90/week → $55,271/year → $27.97/hour
- C10: $1,119.10/week → $58,193/year → $29.45/hour
Remember that these are minimums. Actual pay can be higher due to experience, enterprise agreements, or individual contracts. Overtime and penalty rates can also boost your take-home pay significantly.
State and territory variations
Full-time average earnings vary across Australia. The ABS data for May 2026 shows:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80/week (~$109,658/year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10/week (~$106,137/year)
- Queensland: $2,039.70/week (~$106,064/year)
- South Australia: $1,970.20/week (~$102,450/year)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40/week (~$115,825/year)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30/week (~$96,008/year)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10/week (~$103,173/year)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20/week (~$119,090/year)
Machine operators in Western Australia, for example, may earn more due to the mining and resources sector. You can explore states and territories for more detail.
Where to find more information
If you want to compare machine operator pay with other occupations, check our job medians page. For industry-specific data, see industry medians. Our guides explain how to interpret award rates and enterprise agreements. And if you’re curious about how the national average is calculated, read how the figures are set.
Key takeaways
- The median machine operator salary is not published, but award minimums provide a floor.
- Entry-level machine operators under the Manufacturing Award earn at least $978.10 per week.
- The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week – a useful benchmark.
- Use the on-site tool to see your own salary as a year, week and hour, and how it compares to the line.
For more about this site and how we present salary data, visit About this site.