Fitter and Turner Apprenticeship

Undertaking a fitter and turner apprenticeship will prepare you for a job manufacturing, fitting, assembling and repairing components for various plant machinery.

As a fitter and turner apprentice, you will have access to a broad range of career pathways and learn to work with all manner of tools, machinery and materials, including plastics and metals.

Work includes anything from small repairs to designing, building, and installing complete production/process lines. You will be using engineering workshop machinery including lathes, milling machines, drilling machines, power tools, hand tools and more.

A fitter and turner apprenticeship requires around 4 years of hands-on learning and the completion of a nationally accredited qualification, MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade.

A fitter and turner is a skilled tradesperson who specialises in complex fabrication and assembly tasks for the manufacturing and industrial sectors. They are heavily involved in the fabrication and installation of mechanical equipment.

The tasks that a fitter and turner undertake include:

• Interpreting diagrams, drawings, specifications, and plans to determine suitable material and sequence of operations
• Welding, cutting, and grinding of various materials
• Assembling fabricated parts
• Operating various machinery including lathes, mills, and welding plant
• Diagnosing and repairing faults with tools and machinery

Overall, an electrical instrumentation technician plays a critical role in ensuring that industrial processes are running smoothly and efficiently by ensuring that instrumentation equipment is properly installed, calibrated, and maintained.

Fitters and turners are highly skilled craftspeople and are some of Australia’s most in-demand professionals. The average qualified fitter and turner salary is between $70,000 and $90,000 in Australia, but your earning potential could be much higher depending on your industry. (Seek)

Fitter and turner apprentices are usually paid under the Manufacturing Award set by the Australian Government, and wages are determined by a number of factors including your age and previous qualification level.

Indicative wages for a fitter and turner apprentice as at 1 July 2024:

• Under 17 years of age: $516.15 to $908.42 per week

• 17 to 20 years of age: $567.77 to $949.20 per week

• Over 21 years of age: $825.84 to $949.20 per week

You may also be eligible for relevant Modern Award inclusions and host-specific benefits.

Fitter and Turner Apprenticeships are included on the Government's Australian Apprenticeships Priority List, and eligible apprentices can receive additional support payments. 

Emma completed her fitter and turner apprenticeship with MIGAS, hosted at Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at The University of Queensland. 

Fitter and turner apprentices need great attention to detail and an aptitude for working with a range of complex tools and machinery. You will need to demonstrate a few personal attributes to succeed in your trade including:

• Attention to detail
• Manual dexterity
• Normal colour vision
• Good communication skills

View our frequently asked questions for more information on Australian Apprenticeships, or learn about other Engineering Apprenticeship trade specialisations.