How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Tradesperson in Australia?

What’s the Real Cost of Hiring a Tradesperson in Australia?

Hiring a tradesperson in Australia isn’t just about the hourly wage. Between on-costs, compliance, onboarding time, and role complexity, the true cost of hiring can vary significantly.

Whether you’re hiring a plumber in Brisbane, an HVAC technician in Perth, or a fitter in regional WA, this guide breaks down what you can expect to pay and what to watch out for.

Average Hourly Rates for Trades (2025)

Here’s a breakdown of common hourly base rates for full-time, permanent tradespeople:

HVAC Technicians: $50 to $65 per hour
Electricians: $48 to $62 per hour
Plumbers: $45 to $60 per hour
Mechanical Fitters: $50 to $65 per hour
Boilermakers: $50 to $66 per hour
Civil Operators: $42 to $58 per hour

Labour hire rates for the same roles are often 20–30% higher due to built-in on-costs like superannuation, insurances, payroll, and admin.

What Impacts the Cost of Hiring Trades?

1. Location
Regional and FIFO roles typically attract higher rates due to travel, accommodation, and limited supply. Metro areas like Sydney and Perth also see competitive rates due to demand.

2. Experience and Licensing
Expect to pay more for tradespeople with ARCTick, electrical dual licenses, confined spaces tickets, and 5+ years of experience.

3. Type of Work
Reactive maintenance, after-hours jobs, or high-risk commercial work usually require higher pay than routine construction tasks.

4. Hiring Model
Hiring a permanent employee is generally cheaper in the long run than labour hire or using subcontractors, but requires a longer commitment.

Additional Hidden Costs to Factor In

Beyond the hourly rate, employers also need to consider:

Superannuation (currently 11%)
WorkCover and insurance
Payroll tax (varies by state and thresholds)
PPE, tools, uniforms
Vehicle and fuel (if supplied)
Onboarding time and productivity ramp-up
Risk of early resignation or no-shows

These factors often push the true cost of a $60/hour permanent hire closer to $75–$80/hour once everything is factored in.

Example: HVAC Technician in Perth

If you hire an HVAC technician at $60/hour, you’ll likely pay an additional $10–$15/hour in on-costs, tools, and vehicle expenses. This brings the real cost closer to $75/hour.

Labour hire alternatives may cost $85–$90/hour, but remove admin headaches, as the agency handles payroll, insurance, and compliance.

How to Reduce Hiring Costs

One of the best ways to reduce long-term hiring costs is to invest in permanent placements. While you may pay a one-time recruitment fee, you save on:

Staff turnover
Poor hires
Rehiring costs
Internal admin and onboarding

At HJ Recruitment, we focus on placing long-term, job-ready tradespeople that reduce your risk and help your team perform at its best.

How to Budget for Trades Hires

Before you hire, consider:

What is the full hourly cost after super, tools, etc.?
Can this person generate ROI quickly?
How much would project delays cost if I don’t fill this role?
Is it cheaper to hire direct or use a recruiter for speed and accuracy?

Work With a Specialist Trade Recruiter

HJ Recruitment specialises in permanent recruitment for skilled trades across Australia including electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, mechanical fitters, and more.

We help businesses in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and regional areas hire with speed and confidence.

Learn more about us
Contact our team

Final Thoughts

Hiring trades isn’t cheap but hiring wrong is even more expensive. Don’t just look at the hourly rate. Look at the full picture, from productivity and compliance to long-term retention.

If you’re ready to hire job-ready tradespeople without the stress, get in touch with the team at HJ Recruitment today.