Stevedore
Stevedores load and unload ships at Australia's container terminals and bulk wharves, moving freight between vessel, road and rail.
- Median salary*
- $101,400
3.8%vs last year, before tax
- People employed
- 3,500
0.0%vs last year
- Projected growth
- +1.5%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Moderate
- automation risk
- Average hours
- 44/wk
+4h vs all jobs
- Shortage status*
- Not in shortage
national
Stevedoring happens on the wharf, on a roster built around shipping schedules rather than office hours. A stevedore works as part of a crew that discharges a vessel and gets the cargo onto trucks or trains, or loads it for export, which is broader than driving a single machine. Most work for a small number of stevedoring companies at the major ports, and many start as casuals before picking up a permanent roster.
How much do stevedores earn?
The median full-time salary for a stevedore is $101,400 per annum, before tax, up $20,900 since 2018.
Most stevedores are covered by enterprise agreements that set base rates and the loadings attached to shifts, so what you take home depends heavily on the roster you work. Night shifts, weekends and public holidays pay more than ordinary hours, and people who work them regularly earn above the middle of the range. Casual and labour hire work often carries a loading, but with less certainty about how many shifts you get in a month.
What does a stevedore 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.
- Lashing and unlashing containers on deck before a ship sails
- Driving gantry cranes and straddle carriers to lift containers on and off the vessel
- Directing trucks and trains around the terminal and checking container numbers against the load list
- Checking containers and cargo for damage, leaks or misdeclared goods and reporting what you find
- Working to safety, security and customs rules, including keeping clear of moving plant
What skills do stevedores need?
Employers look for plant and equipment operation, worksite safety management, warehousing and despatch, backed by Navis N4 fluency and strong attention to detail.
Specialist skills
- Plant and equipment operation
- Worksite safety management
- Warehousing and despatch
- Driving and transport operations
- Operations management
Software and tools
- Navis N4
- Tideworks Mainsail
- TBA
- Handheld radio data terminals
General skills
- Attention to detail
- Time and deadline management
Is the job growing?
About 3,500 people work as stevedores in Australia, and employment is projected to grow 1.5% over the decade to 2035. That's modest growth: demand is steady rather than booming.
How do you become a stevedore?
Here's the path most stevedores take, step by step.
- 1Finish Year 12 or a trade
The most common qualification among people doing this job is Year 12 or below, held by 47% of the workforce, so a university degree is not the usual route in. Employers look for reliable work history, physical fitness and comfort working at heights and around heavy machinery.
- 2Apply to a stevedoring company or a labour hire firm
Ports have only a handful of operators, so vacancies come up irregularly. Most people get their first shift through labour hire or as a casual, and a forklift licence or experience with heavy vehicles makes an application stand out.
- 3Complete induction and on-the-job training
New starters learn lashing and load restraint, terminal safety rules and how to read a cargo plan, usually while working alongside an experienced crew. Training is paid and happens on the wharf rather than in a classroom.
- 4Add licences as you gain experience
A forklift licence is often the first qualification people pick up, followed by a high risk work licence for gantry or bridge cranes, or dogging and rigging qualifications if you work with slung loads. Employers usually require some time on the wharf before they will put you through crane training.
- 5Move into a specialist or supervisory role
With a few years behind you, options include driving cranes full time, ship planning, or leading a crew. These roles come with more responsibility for the cargo plan and the safety of the people on the deck.
Ready to apply as a stevedore?
Whether you're working toward becoming a stevedore 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 stevedore move to?
Moving into Crane Operator typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $76,000 a year more on average.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Operator Stevedores already work with crane crews and lifting gear, and can build on that with the ticket and experience a crane operator role needs.Known move | +$76,000 | 36% | reskill |
| Bulk Materials Handling Operator Handling bulk cargo at ports gives stevedores the grounding for operating bulk materials handling plant at terminals.Known move | +$4,700 | 36% | reskill |
| Truck Driver Stevedores know port freight, container handling and load restraint, which carry across to driving containers and cargo on the road.Known move | +$500 | 22% | reskill |
| Rigger Stevedores handle lifting gear and slung loads on the wharf, giving a base for rigging work, with dogging and rigging tickets needed.Known move | −$7,800 | 28% | reskill |
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 stevedore?
The typical stevedore is 47 years old; 95% are men, 67% work full-time, and full-timers average 44 hours a week.
- 47
- Median age
- 5%
- Female share
- 67%
- Full-time
- +4h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being a stevedore?
The rhythm of the job follows the ships, so shifts rotate through nights, weekends and public holidays, and the pace lifts sharply when a vessel is alongside and the terminal wants it turned around. Between ships there is maintenance, training and waiting. People who enjoy it tend to like working outdoors with heavy machinery and a tight crew, and to be comfortable with a roster that changes week to week.
What people like
- Machinery that does the heavy lifting. Straddle carriers and gantry cranes move containers weighing tens of tonnes, and being at the controls of equipment that size is a large part of the appeal.
- A shift has a visible result. A ship's cargo plan is either discharged or it isn't, so you can see exactly what the crew achieved by the end of a shift.
- Working in a small crew. Wharf crews are tight and the work depends on everyone watching out for each other, particularly around moving plant and on deck.
- Days off during the week. Rosters that include nights and weekends usually come with days off when most people are at work, which suits some people better than a standard week.
What people find hard
- Nights, weekends and public holidays. Ships don't observe public holidays, so the roster rotates through all of them, and the body clock takes a while to adjust to switching between day and night shifts.
- Weather on the wharf. Wind and rain are part of the job, and high winds stop crane work altogether, which can mean a shift is stood down or reshuffled at short notice.
- Waiting around the schedule. When a berth is delayed or a ship is late, hours can drag. The work comes in bursts rather than at an even pace.
- Lashing is hard on the body. Unlashing containers on deck is repetitive, physical work with your hands above your head, and it adds up over a long shift.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ stevedores?
Transport, Postal and Warehousing employs the largest share of stevedores.
Top employing industries
- 1Transport, Postal and Warehousing
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Year 12 or below | 47.4% | |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate III/IV | 37.2% | |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 5.7% | |
| Bachelor degree | 3.7% | |
| Postgraduate | 0.7% |
Will AI replace stevedores?
Stevedoring sits in the middle range for automation. Terminal operating systems such as Navis N4 and Tideworks Mainsail plan where every container sits on a ship and handle the tracking and paperwork that used to be done by hand, and cranes at newer terminals run remotely or automatically. Lashing, cargo inspection and the physical work of securing a load on deck still need people on the wharf, and so does the judgement that comes with working around moving plant.
Share of typical working time by exposure level
- Lashing and unlashing containersTwistlocks and lashing rods are still handled by hand on deck, and no system has replaced the person who checks each one is secure before the ship sails.30%low
- Driving gantry cranes and straddle carriersSome automated terminals run straddle carriers without a driver and cranes from a remote control room, but most Australian ports still have an operator in the cab.30%moderate
- Checking container and cargo documentationThe terminal operating system now matches container numbers to the load list automatically, so the handheld terminal work is mostly confirming exceptions rather than entering data.20%high
- Directing truck and rail movements on the wharfRostering and slot allocation are largely handled by software, but someone still has to marshal trucks at the gate and keep the rail sidings running to schedule.20%moderate
Moves least exposed to AI
These career moves from stevedore work are rated low for AI exposure:
- Crane Operator
Some skill overlap (36%), reskill to get there, and a low automation-risk profile.
- Rigger
Some skill overlap (28%), reskill to get there, and a low automation-risk profile.
Common questions about becoming a stevedore
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much do stevedores earn?
Full-time stevedores earn a median of $101,400 per year before tax. Most are covered by enterprise agreements, so shift loadings, overtime and penalty rates for nights and weekends mean actual earnings vary with the roster you work.
How do you become a stevedore?
Most people start through a stevedoring company or a labour hire firm, often as a casual, and learn the job on the wharf. A forklift licence or experience with heavy vehicles helps you get a first shift, and crane or rigging qualifications come later once you have time on the job.
Are stevedores in demand?
Stevedores are currently not in shortage, and employment is projected to grow 1.5% over the decade to 2035. Because the workforce is small and the number of port operators is limited, most openings come from people leaving the job rather than from new positions being created.
Will AI and automation replace stevedores?
Terminal operating systems such as Navis N4 and Tideworks Mainsail already plan container movements and handle the tracking that used to be done on paper, and cranes at newer terminals can be run remotely. Lashing, inspecting cargo and securing loads on deck still need people, so the change is gradual and varies between ports.
What can stevedores move on to?
Crane operating is a common next step, paying $76,000 more, and it builds directly on the lifting work you already do with wharf cranes. Bulk materials handling at other terminals is a nearby option, and truck driving uses the same knowledge of port freight and load restraint, with pay that is $500 more. Experience with lashing and slung loads also opens up rigging work for those willing to pick up the licences.
What are the hours like?
Stevedores average 44 hours a week full time, but the hours arrive as shifts on a rotating roster that follows shipping schedules. You should expect nights, weekends and public holidays to come around regularly, often with limited notice of changes.
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