Mechanical Fitter Salary: Where It Sits on the Australian Salary Index
See how the typical mechanical fitter salary compares to the national average using the Salary Index. Based on official data from Jobs and Skills Australia and Fair Work.
A mechanical fitter's median full-time earnings sit around index 125, well above the national line of 100, though award minimums are lower.
What is a mechanical fitter salary?
A mechanical fitter fits and assembles fabricated metal parts, sets up machining tools, and maintains equipment. It's a skilled trade under ANZSCO 3232, covering fitters, fitter-turners, and metal machinists. The keyword "mechanical fitter salary" asks where this role's pay sits against the Australian salary index.
Where the pay sits on the index
The national line (index 100) is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time non-managerial earnings for Metal Fitters and Machinists at $2,606 per week. That annualises to $135,512. That gives an index of about 125. That means a typical mechanical fitter earns roughly 25% more than the full-time adult ordinary-time benchmark.
But that median hides a wide spread. The Manufacturing Award (MA000010) sets minimum rates for engineering/manufacturing employees. For a C10 classification (level V) pays $940.90 per week (index 45). So the award floor is much lower, but most tradespeople earn above it. Fitters in mining (industry index 154.7) often earn above the median. The median itself is already above the national line.
Industry and location effects
Industries matter. Mining index 154.7; manufacturing index is not separately given but likely around the all-industries average. A mechanical fitter in Western Australia (state index 106.9) or Queensland (106.9) may earn more than one in Tasmania (88.6). The industries page shows how industry shifts the index.
How the index works
The Salary Index compares yearly gross pay to the national line. If a mechanical fitter earns $135,512, divide by $108,352 and times 100 = 125. That's a quick way to see where any figure sits. The how the index works page explains the calculation.
Award and super considerations
Awards set minimums, but many fitters are covered by enterprise agreements or individual contracts. Super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026 on earnings up to $270,830. Tax on $135,512 (2026-27) would be about $30,000 plus 2% Medicare, leaving roughly $100,000 take-home. But that's a rough estimate; see pay guides for award-specific rates.
Caveats
The median figure is for full-time non-managerial adult employees. Part-time share is 6%, female share 4%. Median age 40. Average full-time hours 50 per week, which is higher than the all-occupations average of 44. That longer hours may partly explain the higher weekly earnings. Hourly median is $60, compared to $47 for all occupations.
Summary
A mechanical fitter salary typically sits around index 125, well above the national line. Award minimums are much lower, but actual earnings reflect industry, location, and experience. The Salary Index helps benchmark any pay figure against the Australian average.
FAQs
What is the average mechanical fitter salary in Australia? According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for Metal Fitters and Machinists is $2,606, annualised to $135,512. That's index 125.
How does the award rate compare? The Manufacturing Award minimum for a C10 engineering employee is $940.90/week, index 45. Most fitters earn above award.
What factors affect mechanical fitter pay? Industry (mining pays more), location (WA, QLD higher), experience, overtime, and enterprise agreements all play a role.
Questions people ask
What is the average mechanical fitter salary in Australia?
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for Metal Fitters and Machinists (which includes mechanical fitters) is $2,606. That works out to about $135,500 a year before tax. On the Salary Index, where 100 is the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352, that median sits at roughly index 125. Keep in mind this is a median for full-time non-managerial adult workers; actual salaries vary by industry, experience, and location.
How does the award rate for a mechanical fitter compare to the national line?
The Manufacturing Award sets minimum weekly rates for classifications like C10 engineering/manufacturing employee at $940.90/week (index 45. The national line is 100 108,352. So the award floor is much lower, but most tradespeople earn well above award.
What factors push a mechanical fitter salary above the national line?
Industry is a big one. Mining has an index 154.7, so fitters in that sector often earn above the median. Other factors: overtime, shift work, and enterprise agreements. The median already sits at 125, so many are already above the national line.