Home Scaffolder Salary
Scaffolder salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a scaffolder is $91,000 per annum, before tax, up $19,200 since 2018.
What you earn moves with the licence classes you hold, because intermediate and advanced scaffolders can build more complex structures and attract higher rates. Mining, shutdown and large civil projects usually pay above general residential building, and overtime, site allowances and enterprise agreements lift the total further. The figure above covers full-time workers, so it sits well clear of what a casual on a small job takes home.
Roles that pay more than scaffolder
The largest typical pay rise is $86,400 a year, moving into Crane Operator.
- Crane Operator+$86,400/yr
- Concreter+$23,900/yr
- Rigger+$2,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher scaffolder salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time scaffolder salary is $91,000; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Scaffolders are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Worksite safety management and Hand and power tool work tend to command a premium over general scaffolder experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Crane Operator pays a typical $86,400 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."
Scaffolder salary questions
How much do scaffolders earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a scaffolder is $91,000 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is scaffolder pay rising or falling?
The median scaffolder salary is up $19,200 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than scaffolder?
Crane Operator pays a typical $86,400 a year more and draws on similar skills to scaffolder.