Fitting and turning is the trade behind every other trade — the people who make and repair the machinery everyone else uses. It’s also one of the most under-recognised skill shortages in Australian manufacturing.
Which award covers you
Fitters and turners generally sit under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award (MA000010) in the engineering stream, classified as Apprentice stage 1 through 4.
Here are the actual Fair Work minimums for a manufacturing apprentice:
| Stage | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice — stage 1 | $14.97 | $568.86 |
| Apprentice — stage 2 | $17.95 | $682.10 |
| Apprentice — stage 3 | $22.44 | $852.72 |
| Apprentice — stage 4 | $26.33 | $1,000.54 |
These are the general manufacturing stream rates for a full-time apprentice who started after 1 January 2014 and did not complete Year 12, including the tool allowance, as at 3 August 2026. Completing Year 12 and starting as an adult apprentice both lift these figures, so check your own on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Mining, rail and resources employers frequently operate under enterprise agreements paying well above award, and maintenance fitters on mine sites are among the better paid tradespeople in the country.
Fitting and turning are two skills in one trade
Turning is machining — producing components to tolerance on lathes and mills, working to engineering drawings, measuring to hundredths of a millimetre. Fitting is assembly and maintenance — installing, aligning and repairing mechanical plant, bearings, shafts, gearboxes and hydraulic systems.
Most fitters and turners lean one way. Production machining suits people who like precision and repeatability; maintenance fitting suits people who like diagnosis and variety. Maintenance generally pays better because breakdowns don’t wait and the work can’t be offshored.
CNC didn’t replace the trade, it split it
Modern machining runs on CNC, and a machinist who can program as well as operate is worth considerably more than one who only loads parts. G-code, CAM software and setup capability are the differentiators.
Manual machining survives precisely where CNC doesn’t pay: one-off components, repairs, oversized work and reverse engineering a part that no longer has a drawing. That’s a genuinely valuable niche, and fewer people can do it every year.
Precision measurement is the underrated skill
Micrometers, verniers, dial indicators, bore gauges and increasingly CMM work. Knowing how to measure accurately — and understanding tolerance, fit and surface finish from a drawing — is what separates a machinist from someone who operates a machine. It’s also the skill that transfers into quality and inspection roles later.
Where it leads
Maintenance fitting in mining and resources, shutdown work, toolmaking, hydraulics and pneumatics specialisation, CNC programming, quality inspection, and moving into supervision or reliability engineering. The trade also transitions well into automation and robotics maintenance, which is a growth area.
Toolmaking in particular is a recognised step up — making the jigs, dies and moulds that production depends on — and it commands a premium.
The hazards
Rotating machinery, swarf, coolant dermatitis, noise, and metal dust. Machine guarding and isolation procedures exist because lathes and mills remove fingers and worse. Lockout and tagout discipline during maintenance work is not optional.
Your qualification
The trade qualification is MEM31422 Certificate III in Engineering — Mechanical Trade, typically four years, covering machining, fitting, assembly, drawing interpretation and measurement.
How to check your exact rate
Use the Fair Work Pay Calculator with MA000010, your stage, Year 12 status and adult apprentice status. If an enterprise agreement covers your site, that sets your pay instead — worth checking, because the gap can be substantial. The Fair Work Ombudsman helpline is 13 13 94.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a fitter and a turner?
Turning is machining components to tolerance on lathes and mills. Fitting is assembling, aligning and maintaining mechanical plant. The trade covers both, and most people specialise over time.
Do fitters and turners earn well?
Award rates are moderate, but maintenance fitters on mining and resources enterprise agreements are among the better paid tradespeople in Australia.
Is CNC making the trade obsolete?
No — it’s shifted it. Programming and setup skills are now the differentiator, and manual machining remains valuable for repairs and one-offs.
What is toolmaking?
Making the jigs, dies, moulds and fixtures that production relies on. It’s a recognised specialisation above general machining and pays accordingly.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Award rates change annually on 1 July. Check the official source and your state authority before acting.
Related guides
Get one email a week with the stuff that actually matters — entitlement changes, pay updates, and the guides tradies actually bookmark. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.