Chimney Sweep
Chimney sweeps clear soot and creosote from flues and check that a chimney is safe to use.
- Median salary*
- $59,800
3.6%vs last year, before tax
- People employed*
- 600
0.0%vs last year
- Projected growth*
- −3%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Low
- automation risk
- Average hours*
- 40/wk
matches all-jobs average
- Shortage status*
- Not in shortage
national
Most chimney sweeps work alone or in a small firm, driving between houses and small commercial buildings with brushes, rods and a HEPA vacuum. The work sits closest to general cleaning and handyman trades, but the focus is the flue itself: clearing the build-up that causes chimney fires and looking for cracks, blockages and failed flashing. Older suburbs, heritage buildings and districts where wood heating is common supply most of the work, and the busy season runs from autumn through to early spring.
How much do chimney sweeps earn?
The median full-time salary for a chimney sweep is $59,800 per annum, before tax, up $12,700 since 2018.
How a sweep is paid matters more than any hourly rate on a job ad. Many are sole traders who quote per chimney and set their own call-out fee, so earnings depend on how many jobs they fit into a day and how far they drive between them. Employed sweeps on wages, and those who pick up commercial or heritage contracts, tend to have steadier income through the warmer months.
What does a chimney sweep do day to day?
The list below is what fills most weeks; the exact mix shifts with seniority and whatever stage the current work is at.
- Sweeping flues with rotary brushes and rods, then vacuuming the loosened soot with a HEPA vacuum
- Inspecting the flue with a camera for creosote glaze, cracked tiles, blockages and bird nests
- Cleaning fireboxes, hearths and surrounds and laying drop sheets so no soot reaches the room
- Fitting or repairing chimney caps, bird screens and flashing
- Explaining what the inspection found to the homeowner and how to burn wood so less creosote builds up
What skills do chimney sweeps need?
Employers look for hand and power tool work, worksite safety management, building codes and standards, backed by Chimney sweep brushes fluency and strong customer service.
Specialist skills
- Hand and power tool work
- Worksite safety management
- Building codes and standards
- Plant and equipment operation
Software and tools
- Chimney sweep brushes
- HEPA vacuum
- Inspection camera
- Roof ladder
- ServiceM8
General skills
- Customer service
- Attention to detail
- Physical stamina and dexterity
Is the job growing?
About 600 people work as chimney sweeps in Australia, and employment is projected to decline 3% over the decade to 2035. That's a real decline, worth weighing carefully before training into the role.
How do you become a chimney sweep?
Here's the path most chimney sweeps take, step by step.
- 1Get the safety training first
There is no national licence for chimney sweeping in Australia, so the credentials employers look for are the ones that let you work safely at height. Working at heights training is a short course, and a White Card is needed if you will be on construction sites. Rules on high risk work differ by state, so check your own.
- 2Learn the craft with an established sweep
Most people start as an offsider with an existing business, learning brush sizes, flue types and camera inspection on the job. That work is paid rather than a course, and it takes a season or two to recognise the different creosote deposits and know what each one needs.
- 3Add study if you want the bigger contracts
About 34% of people working in the job hold a Certificate III/IV qualification. It matters more for commercial and heritage work, where you need to understand older flue construction and read plans rather than just work on a standard brick chimney.
- 4Buy the kit and the cover
Brushes in a range of sizes, rods, drop sheets, a HEPA vacuum, an inspection camera and a roof ladder are the core tools, and they add up quickly. Public liability insurance is essential before you set foot on a customer's roof.
- 5Set up as a sole trader
Once you have a customer base, an ABN and a working vehicle let you quote each chimney yourself and keep the full fee instead of a wage. This is the usual route to better earnings, and it also means covering your own quiet season.
Ready to apply as a chimney sweep?
Whether you're working toward becoming a chimney sweep or already are one and want a hand with the next step (sharpening your resume for ATS screening, tightening your cover letter, or knowing what you'll actually be asked at interview), here are examples grounded in this specific role, not generic templates.
What jobs can a chimney sweep move to?
Moving into Garage Door Technician typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $14,000 a year more on average.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage Door Technician Chimney sweeps bring tool use, working at heights and customer service to garage door installation and repair, with minimal extra training needed. | +$14,000 | 74% | minimal |
| Restoration Technician Chimney sweeps bring cleaning, safety inspection and customer service skills to restoration work, with a short course covering mould, fire and water damage. | +$10,400 | 55% | short course |
| Insulation Installer Chimney sweeps bring roof space, ladder and safety awareness to insulation installation, with a short course covering installation methods and materials. | +$8,800 | 61% | short course |
| Gutter Cleaner Chimney sweeps bring ladder work, roof safety and cleaning skills to gutter cleaning, with a short course covering gutter systems and height regulations. | +$5,200 | 52% | short course |
Moves are chosen from Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility, which follows income tax records between 2011-12 and 2020-21, together with entry requirements and skill overlap. A known move is one people were seen making in that data. Pay change compares median full-time pay for the two roles.
Who works as a chimney sweep?
The typical chimney sweep is 45 years old; 95% are men, 70% work full-time, and full-timers average 40 hours a week.
- 45
- Median age
- 5%
- Female share
- 70%
- Full-time
- +0h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being a chimney sweep?
The job has a clear rhythm: quiet through summer, flat out from autumn to early spring when wood heaters are running. Days are physical and largely solitary, spent kneeling at fireplaces, up ladders and in roof spaces, with a short conversation with each customer at the end. It suits people who like working with their hands, are comfortable on a roof and do not mind getting dirty.
What people like
- The result is obvious. A flue that smoked badly when you arrived draws properly by the time you pack up, and the customer sees the difference straight away.
- You run your own day. Sole traders set their own hours and choose which jobs to take, which suits people who would rather work alone than in a crew.
- Regulars come back each year. Chimneys need sweeping every year or so, so a careful sweep builds a book of repeat customers instead of chasing new work every season.
- Older houses keep it interesting. Heritage homes and country properties have fireplaces and flues you will not see in newer housing, and no two roofs are laid out the same way.
What people find hard
- Income follows the weather. Demand concentrates in the colder months, so summer can be lean unless you add gutter cleaning, inspections or other services to fill the year.
- Dirty, physical work. Soot gets into everything, roof spaces are cramped and hot, and the work is hard on knees, shoulders and backs.
- Constant height risk. You are on ladders, on roofs and sometimes in tight roof spaces, where a slip has serious consequences, so harness and ladder discipline never relax.
- Selling the repair you found. Homeowners can be sceptical when you recommend repair work, which means showing them the camera footage and explaining plainly why the flue needs it.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ chimney sweeps?
Building cleaning, pest control and gardening services employs the largest share of chimney sweeps, followed by Residential property operators.
Top employing industries
- 1Building cleaning, pest control and gardening services
- 2Residential property operators
- 3Other construction services
- 4Heritage building maintenance
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Certificate III/IV | 34% | |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 26% | |
| Bachelor degree | 20% | |
| Year 12 or below | 20% |
Will AI replace chimney sweeps?
This is a low-exposure job. Someone still has to get on the roof, put a brush up a flue of unknown shape and size, and judge from what comes down and what the camera shows whether the chimney is safe. Booking and invoicing software and inspection cameras have changed how sweeps quote and record their work, but not the cleaning itself.
Share of typical working time by exposure level
- Flue sweeping and soot removalA rotary brush on rods loosens the deposit and a HEPA vacuum captures it, and the sweep picks the brush size and stiffness for the flue in front of them.40%low
- Flue inspection and condition reportsA camera makes it easy to show a homeowner a cracked tile or a patch of glazed creosote, but reading what the footage means is the sweep's call.25%low
- Advising homeowners on wood heating and ventilationGeneral guidance on dry wood and air settings is widely available, but working out what this particular fireplace and flue need is the part customers pay for.20%moderate
- Quoting, booking and invoicingJob management software such as ServiceM8 handles quotes, reminders and repeat bookings, which covers most of the paperwork for a one-person operation.15%moderate
Common questions about becoming a chimney sweep
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much do chimney sweeps earn?
The median full-time income for a chimney sweep is $59,800 per year before tax. What moves that figure most is whether you are employed or self-employed: sole traders quote per chimney and carry their own insurance and quiet season, while wages are steadier across the year.
How do you become a chimney sweep in Australia?
There is no national licence for chimney sweeping, so most people learn on the job as an offsider with an established business. Working at heights training is the qualification employers usually ask about, plus a White Card if you will work on construction sites.
Are chimney sweeps in demand?
Chimney sweeps are currently not in shortage, and employment is projected to decline 3% over the decade to 2035. Work is concentrated in older housing and areas where wood heating is common, so how much is available varies a lot from one suburb to the next.
Will AI replace chimney sweeps?
Automation has little reach into this job, because the work happens inside a flue of unknown shape and someone has to be there to do it. Booking and invoicing software and inspection cameras are the main changes, and they handle paperwork and evidence rather than the cleaning.
What can a chimney sweep move into?
Chimney sweeps who change trade often move into work that uses the same ladder, roof and tool skills. Garage door technician needs minimal extra training, with 74% of the skills carrying across and pay of $14,000 more, while insulation installation and restoration work are short-course moves paying $8,800 more and $10,400 more. Many sweeps instead build their own business rather than change trade, and that is usually where earnings grow.
Related roles
- Gutter Cleaner
- Restoration Technician
- Insulation Installer
- Garage Door Technician
- Gutter Cleaner
- Gardener
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