Driller salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a driller is $151,200 per annum, before tax, up $32,000 since 2018.
What a driller takes home moves with the roster and the site more than with the job title. Remote and offshore work, night shifts and site allowances lift total earnings, while exploration drilling tied to a commodity downturn can mean gaps between contracts. The rig you can run, from a small exploration unit to a large blast hole or offshore rig, also sets what a site is willing to pay.
Roles that pay more than driller
The largest typical pay rise is $26,200 a year, moving into Crane Operator.
- Crane Operator+$26,200/yr
How to negotiate a higher driller salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time driller salary is $151,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Plant and equipment operation and Worksite safety management tend to command a premium over general driller experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Crane Operator pays a typical $26,200 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Driller salary questions
How much do drillers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a driller is $151,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is driller pay rising or falling?
The median driller salary is up $32,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than driller?
Crane Operator pays a typical $26,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to driller.