Truck Driver Salary / Wage
Salary and wage information for truck drivers is compiled regularly by analysis of Australian jobs advertised in major publications. Salaries are annual unless otherwise stated.
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations Codes (ANZSCO) are: 733111 for truck drivers (general), 733113 for furniture removers, 733114 for tanker drivers and 733115 for tow truck drivers.
Job titles and exact tasks vary in this work and examples of some occupation titles are truck driver, tanker driver, tow truck driver, tip truck driver and MR/HR/HC truck driver.
This occupation is currently not on the Australian Combined Skilled Occupation List.
The average Australian weekly full-time ordinary earnings across all occupations in mid-2018 were $1,586, giving an annual income of approximately $82,472. This was 2.6% higher than in mid-2017.*
Truck Driver Salaries / Wages in 2018
Job Title | Salary / Wage $ | Location |
---|---|---|
HC Hook Lift Driver | $30 per hour | Melbourne, Victoria |
Excavator and Truck Driver | $25 – $30 per hour | Melbourne, Victoria |
MR Truck Driver | $25 per hour | Melbourne, Victoria |
Truck Driver / Removalist | $25 – $29 per hour | Sydney, New South Wales |
MR / HR Truck Driver | 40,000 – 60,000 | Sydney, New South Wales |
Sydney Based Interstate HC & MC Truck Driver | 80,000 – 119,000 | New South Wales |
HC truck driver, quarry & asphalt cartage. | $24 – $28 per hour | Adelaide, South Australia |
Excavator operator & Skip Truck Driver | $25 – $35 per hour | Brisbane, Queensland |
Dispatch Team Member/ MR Truck Driver | $26 – $27 per hour | Brisbane, Queensland |
HR Truck Driver | 70,000 – 90,000 | Canberra, ACT |
Machine Operator / Truck Driver | 61,000 | Perth, Western Australia |
HC Truck Driver – Multi Metro Drop | $28 per hour | Perth, Western Australia |
*Source:ABS
These pages may also be of interest:
Collin says
I’m a truck driver in the US and am considering moving back to Australia to live with my family. I’m experienced here in the states but need a resource to learn the laws and terms in NSW so I can pass the test at the RTA.
Any help would be great.
Mick Newman says
There is a link to the practise exam at NSW transport. You can keep practising the test and download the complete question bank https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/driver-and-rider-licences/driver-licences/driver-licence-tests
Kezmmil says
Sorry for the long post – I’m just desperate for answers so want to give as much info as possible! My question is – if on salary – how many hours is considered ‘normal’… and do only driving hours count towards hours or all of the hours actually worked?
My husband is on a fixed salary ($60,000pa) but last fortnight was away from home for 145hours (including 3 overnight stays) … he has an MC licence driving all over central & southern qld. Loads vary greatly and include road trains and rig moves….
I am concerned that his hours far exceed what is ‘normal’ – especially for his wage – he never goes over his driving hour limits – which I’m sure is what his employer has accounted for when determining the salary …. he may only drive 8 hours in a day – but he can be away from home for 14+ hours for that 8 hour driving period ….. (loads/unloads/washingdownthe truck etc etc etc)
We never know when he will or won’t be working – the plan in the morning can change through out the day – he is often sent on overnights at a moments notice – even when he is already working for the day… He has also been told that he is expected to be ready for work by 7am every day ‘just in case’ there is a job – on days when the boss doesn’t have a load for him to haul he has them doing jobs like truck maintenance, yard maintenance or even personal jobs for the boss – and that doesn’t matter if my husband has just worked 7 days straight – the phone can ring any time – we’ve had messages as late as 11pm at night …. it’s begining to feel impossible to get any work life balance.
One day recently he was up at 3.30 in the morning, got home at 4.30pm and got the call at 6pm that he had to leave ASAP – to use the rest of his driving hours for that day (approx 3 hours) to get as far as he could on the next leg of the trip before bedding down for the night …. it just seems such unsafe practice to me …. but I’m a nurse so I always tend to look at things with different eyes to most – I’m new to being a truckers wife and my husband has never worked in this type of capacity before so we are grappling for answers atm…. please help point us in the direction of some sound information ….
Brian says
I Hope this helps you 🙂
https://www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/fatigue-management/work-and-rest-requirements/standard-hours
1024 lmb says
What should I do if I’m being underpaid? According to the list I should be earning $26-$27 ph for dispatch/delivery. At the moment I only earn $23 ph in Brisbane.
Brian says
i would suggest contacting Fair Work
they should be able to point you in the rite direction
Brian says
Can anyone tell me the going rate for Truck & Dog, tipper work around Melbourne
either before or after tax ?
Thanks 🙂
Robert Hunter says
I drive a bus in Tasmania for $22 p/h and would like to work in QLD – possibly in the mines – but the drver’s Authority (PPV here – needed to carry passengers) for each state is different and you need to LIVE in the state before you can get it.
I can’t move until I can get a job and I cannot get a job until I move – Catch 22.
Any ideas on how to move forward?
Regards
Chris says
Go up there, change your license to Qld, get any HR/ MR job you can (very easy as there’s a national shortage of truck drivers include Qld, Gold Coast & Brissie mainly). Apply for the H clearance (passenger bus etc), should be within about a month. Then start applying. Stay in the truck job until you secure the job you want. It’s a slow process to get hired, even if you are a top candidate, from application to induction expect 4-6 weeks wait. Almost all of the mining companies interview in Brisbane, or by skype. Expect at least a long phone interview first, then a face to face, likely a 3rd confirmation interview with paperwork to get started. Serco are probably the best place to start as they have lots of airport/ mine shuttle contracts. If you are partnered, be sure to mention your partner’s attitude to you working FIFO being supportive.
Michael Mills says
I am considering trying to get a working VISA for Australia. I am a Class
A truck driver & pull a 53 foot trailer averaging 80-105 thousand pounds (36287 kilo – 47627 kilo) with experience both in city & over the road driving.
Would it be hard to find work in Australia? Preferably Brisbane or Perth. I lived in Exmouth, WA for 4 years & really miss Australia.
Michael Musumeci says
so true i drive delivering air freight from plane to clients.
working 60 to 80 hours a week and putting up with clowns jumping in front of me, leaving three meters of room to stop. not just P drivers at least three times a day less on weekends, $25 on contract shame everyone but the drivers is making money. 1500 for 60 hours less tax no holiday or sick pay.
HR driver
Brian Fisher says
hello folks, am wondering if it would be hard to find work for my 2year working holiday visa ro Australia from scotland. i have a class 1 full license (in uk thats 44tonnes) and what kind pay is on offer in Australia. comoared with here i uk. hourly/ salaried. i gave up being a head chef 3 years ago to drive trucks. i currently pull logs and from time to time pull agricultural equipment and building equipment.
Thanks for all info. this is kind of try before you buy. see what would be like before you move. thanks bri.
Brian Neill says
This truck company rip me off, they paid me 192.00 hours for five week on Base Salary but I did over time 331.30 hours for five weeks they own me but they won’t pay me so what I can do
wayne says
Are you running a log book if so then by law you have to leave them there copy out of your log book, so by doing this you have a copy of your hours and km traveled in the day, so this can prove or disprove your clam of overtime and it depends on if your getting paid for the first hundred or so km then hourly rate there after the agreed set first km, there are a lot of variables’ in the jobs description
wayne says
Then go to the fair trading or the ACCC or legal action
Michael Maitland says
Get in contact with the fair wage people and put your case to them. If he is on the wrong wage, they will sort it out for you. Have had to use them twice.
I hope this helps
John says
bus drivers in Adelaide approx 60000-65000 per year… I drive there and I am happy.
Chelsea says
Could someone please explain to me why my partner receives an hourly pay rate of $19 as a truck driver in Adelaide, full-time, minimum of 38hrs a week…? – he has his HC license, just switched trucks from smaller to much larger (per tonne that is), I believe he is classed as a delivery driver.
He works really hard (his job can be a bit demanding at times, he’s even made/told to do many things that are definitely not in his job description) Everyone that works for this company has been told, specifically, that there will be no pay rises at least for that year …that was announced at the beginning of the year!, and for no one to ask for a rise.. Another worker mentioned that they were all being paid ‘country rates’ due to the main/head office being located in country Victoria. Now surely that’s not right..??
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!?!!
Thankyou, I sincerely hope that someone sees this, reads it and can possibly assist me or direct me to someone or a business/service(s) of any type that deal with these matters, as my partner is not part of any union and we simply cannot live on his salary alone especially with a three year old, and despite me receiving a part-time wage, we still can’t make ends meet.. That amount of money coming in just does not pay the bills 🙁
Jim says
Yeah I hear you that’s 1980’s money, and it stinks, can’t pay the bills on that.
Dan says
That pay rate is pretty low, I would suggest looking for a driving job with a different company.
I live in Sydney, have my hc license, and get paid $30/hr plus bonuses driving a tipper semi trailer
Dave says
To the $19 per hour post, this is basically a Courier rate, paid for multiple drop couriers/ delivery driver, it is unfortunately different to a truck driver. You may want to check what the job description is. But many food service / distribution companies like do tend to pay a higher rate based on the size of vehicle being driven. That is in Qld anyway.
Aviv says
Adelaide is the only city in australia in which ppl have to work for peanuts. Considering his experiences he must not earn less than 80.000$ annually
Sean De Robillard says
Is he with a fully licensed company that pays “on the book’s” and not cash in hand? As many companys that pay cash in hand are often quite dodgy and looking for more profit themselves as they don’t have to pay as much tax, and can underpay workers for jobs that are often stem so far from the original job description. I suggest getting as much experience as possible and finding a honest and team based company.
Ross says
Go to the Fair Work Ombudsman as the rate for HC is $26.40/hour
Michael Maitland says
Get in contact with the fair wage people and put your case to them. If he is on the wrong wage, they will sort it out for you. Have had to use them twice.
I hope this helps
Ezw995 says
i agree with u bro
Mik1081 says
which is the same as we were earning 10 years ago and now we have to spend at least an extra half day on the road cause of the new fatigue laws,which were a change for the better.I say if you want to implement change get out and do the job first,it may look good on paper but in the real world it aint.