Median salary
$91,311
ANZSCO 7212 · Mobile plant operators
Earthmoving plant operator salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian earthmoving plant operator is $91,311 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $71,303 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$71,303
Fortnightly
$2,742
Tax returns
50,665
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 7212, based on 50,665 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $91,087 | $91,311 | $95,724 |
| Average (mean) | $96,998 | $94,092 | $101,281 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $earthmoving plant operator salary
| Gross salary (median) | $91,311 |
| Income tax | −$18,181 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,826 |
| Take-home pay | $71,303 |
| + Employer super | $10,957 |
See the $90,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $91,311 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Mobile plant operators
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural, forestry or horticultural plant operator | 46,608 | $39,984 |
| Forklift driver | 40,673 | $62,596 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a earthmoving plant operator earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian earthmoving plant operator in 2022-23 was $91,311, based on 50,665 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $94,092; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical earthmoving plant operator.
What is a earthmoving plant operator salary after tax?
On the median $91,311 salary for a earthmoving plant operator, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $71,303 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $2,742 per fortnight or $1,371 per week.
How much tax does a earthmoving plant operator pay?
On the median $91,311 salary, a earthmoving plant operator in FY2025-26 pays about $20,008 in total tax — $18,181 income tax plus $1,826 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 21.9%.
How many people work as a earthmoving plant operator in Australia?
50,665 Australians lodged a tax return as a earthmoving plant operator in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 7212 on their return.
What is the average vs median earthmoving plant operator salary?
Average (mean): $94,092. Median: $91,311. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical earthmoving plant operator earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).