Trade assistant job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed trade assistants about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed trade assistants about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Physical
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Social
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a trade assistant
Trade assistants work under the supervision of a senior tradesperson and are assigned tasks throughout the workday to assist in the smooth running of a project.
So, what does a trade assistant do? The responsibilities of a trade assistant can include:
- Assisting tradespeople, contractors and operators with general labouring assistance
- Operating hand and power tools and large machinery, like forklifts
- Ensuring the worksite is clean, tidy and safe
- Cleaning tools and equipment ensuring they’re ready for use
- Following instructions from the supervisor and completing tasks within the specified timeframe
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Learning opportunities
An entry-level position as a trade assistant allows you to gain skills in several trades and become qualified for more senior roles in the industry you are working in.
Job security
Trade services is a vast occupation in Australia, and as long as we need tradespeople, we need other skilled workers to support them in their projects.
Enjoyable
If you love working with your hands in practical jobs and projects and get a kick out of seeing a job through from start to finish, a job as a trade assistant can be gratifying.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a trade assistant
According to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee, the construction industry generates over $360 billion in revenue. This vast industry has a projected annual growth rate of 2.4% in the next five years, which means more workers will be needed, and that includes those in a supporting role.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
An entry-level trade assistant job can lead to other opportunities in your industry. It could also expose you to opportunities for further study or experience to obtain a more supervisory role.
Where a trade assistant career path can lead you? Here are some different job types:
Junior
-
Trade assistant
Most common qualification:
Cert II in Construction (CPC20120) -
Pipelayer
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Civil Construction (Pipe Laying) (RII30920) -
Road construction worker
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Civil Construction (Road Construction and Maintenance) (RII30920) -
Traffic controller
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Civil Construction (Traffic Management) (RII30920)
Mid
-
Builder
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (CPC40120) -
Electrician
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820) -
Construction estimator
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) (CPC40120) -
Building inspector
Most common qualification:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50220) -
Construction site foreman
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) (CPC40120) -
Contract administrator
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building Project Support (Contract Administrator) (CPC40320)
Senior
-
Construction project manager
Most common qualification:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) (CPC50320) -
Construction manager
Most common qualification:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) (CPC50320) -
Quantity surveyor
Most common qualification:
Bachelor of Construction Management
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
The natural soft skills you can bring to a role as a trade assistant can be the difference between being ok at your job and excelling in it. These skills can be with us from birth or are sometimes developed through other jobs or life experiences.
Punctual
Many jobs you will be assisting on will be at job sites, and these can have strict work start and finish times. It is essential that you are on time to work every day and available when you are needed by senior management.
Good interpersonal skills
Being a trade assistant means working with trade professionals and other stakeholders in the business. Strong interpersonal skills are needed to achieve the best results for projects and maintain client satisfaction.
Teamwork
As a trade assistant, you may be working as part of a larger team. Being a team player, having good communication skills, and having an ability to cooperate with others is a massive advantage in this role.
Motivated
A robust motivation for physical work is essential in a role as a trade assistant. A can-do attitude goes a long way in practical projects and will make you a valued team member by senior management.
Hard-working
If you are not afraid of breaking a sweat and love to see physical work pay off, a job as a trade assistant would be perfect for you.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
Through work experience and prior training, you can gain the practical skill to be a successful trade assistant.
Technical trade assistant skills:
Technical trade skills relevant to your field of work
Occupational health and safety knowledge
Relevant documentation skills
Reporting skills
Problem-solving skills
Large machine operation
Workplace communication
How to become a trade assistant
-
Study
Accredited and nationally recognised VET courses allow you to get familiar with the ins and outs of a job as a trades assistant. For example, gaining a Certificate I in Construction (CPC10120) or a Certificate II in Construction (CPC20120) are great ways to get the base level skills and make you an attractive prospect to employers.
-
Get a White Card
A White Card is needed by anyone wishing to work on an Australian construction site. To get one, you must complete a government course through an RTO (registered training organisation).
Explore related qualifications
Studying a qualification through an RTO (registered training organisation) is an excellent way to gain some base skills and knowledge on trade support work and enhance your chances of getting a job when the time comes to apply.
White Card
A White Card is needed by anyone in Australia wishing to work on a construction site. If your trade assistant role requires you to work on a construction site or you want to be prepared for one that does, you will need to take a short course to gain the CPCCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry qualification.
Sometimes employers will organise this training for you, but other times you will need to acquire this on your own before gaining a job.
Certificate I in Construction (CPC10120)
This accredited VET course provides learners with an introduction to the construction industry, job roles within it and work expectations. The qualification covers workplace health and safety, industrial organisation structures, communication, planning, and tools and materials.
The skills achieved in this certification will assist in undertaking a Certificate II pre-vocational program or facilitate entry into an Australian Apprenticeship.
The CPCCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry White Card qualification is one of the units covered in this course.
The average duration for this course is nine months.
8 providers offer this course
Certificate II in Construction (CPC20120)
This certification provides training for skills in a range of support tasks applicable to most construction worksites.
The elective options available are often structured to allow a choice of units aligned at the Certificate III level. Once completed, it could provide partial credit in a construction industry apprenticeship.
Electric units may also include a CPCCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry White Card qualification. Check with your course provider for more information on this.
The average duration for this course is one year.
1 providers offer this course
Apprenticeships
For formal and full qualifications in a trade, you might be interested in taking on a traineeship or Australian Apprenticeship.
Each of the following recognised VET courses is available as Australian Apprenticeships:
- Cert IV in Plumbing and Services (CPC40920)
- Cert IV in Carpentry
- Cert IV in electrotechnology
Related subjects
Trade-based industries are always in need of new workers. Roles that involve hands-on work, problem-solving and keen attention to detail are available in many forms.
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Job cluster: The Artisan
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
A role that supports others in highly technical and practical trade tasks requires dedication to hard work, teamwork skills, and excellent communication. A position as a trade assistant would be suited to the career persona of The Artisan.
The Artisan is a hands-on worker that likes to see projects take shape. They are great at critical thinking and problem-solving and collaborate well with others.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a trades assistant?
A trade assistant supports other trade professionals, often in the construction, electrical, and mining industries.
What does a trade assistant do?
A trade assistant works under the supervision of a senior tradesperson and undertakes tasks to assist in trade projects.