Diesel Fitter Apprenticeship
A Diesel Fitter Apprenticeship is a paid, nationally accredited training pathway focused on the repair, service and maintenance of diesel engines, plant equipment, machinery and heavy vehicles.
Apprentices train for around four years on the job while completing a qualification such as the AUR31520 Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Engine Technology.
Diesel fitters, also known as diesel mechanics or diesel technicians, are specialists in diesel engines and the fuel, cooling, exhaust and induction systems that support them. The trade is closely associated with mining, heavy transport, construction and agriculture, where diesel-powered equipment underpins daily operations.
It's a hands-on, technical trade with strong wages, particularly in mining and resources, and clear pathways into specialised diesel engine work or broader mobile plant mechanic roles.
What Does a Diesel Fitter Do?
Diesel fitters specialise in maintaining, repairing and troubleshooting diesel engines and the systems that connect to them. The work often involves diagnosing complex faults, recrafting parts to fit specific repairs, and overhauling engines that can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Day-to-day work can include:
- Using diagnostic equipment, including computer-based tools, to detect engine faults
- Maintaining engine cooling systems and induction or exhaust systems
- Dismantling, replacing and assembling engine components
- Testing compression ignition fuel systems and tuning diesel engines
- Maintaining fluid power systems for mobile plant machinery
- Dismantling, cleaning and assessing parts during engine bottom-end overhauls
- Conducting condition monitoring and preventative maintenance
- Working with turbochargers, injectors and emissions control systems
Depending on the host employer, diesel fitter apprentices may specialise in particular machinery, plant equipment or engine types. This could mean the haul trucks and excavators of an open-cut mining operation, the tractors and harvesters of broadacre farming, or the engines that drive long-haul road transport.
The role often overlaps with Heavy Vehicle Mechanics, but diesel fitters are specialists in diesel engines and connected systems, while heavy vehicle mechanics tend to work across a broader range of vehicle systems including electrical and HVAC.
Rikki completed her Diesel Fitter Apprenticeship with MIGAS, hosted with a large mining company in Queensland.
How Long is a Diesel Fitter Apprenticeship?
A diesel fitter apprenticeship typically takes around four years to complete.
You'll be paid to work and gain hands-on experience under qualified diesel fitters, alongside studying for a nationally accredited qualification at TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation. Common qualifications include:
- AUR31520 Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Engine Technology
- AUR31420 Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Fuel Technology
The right qualification depends on your host employer and the equipment you'll be working on.
Diesel Fitter Salary
A qualified heavy diesel fitter in Australia in 2026 typically earns between $155,000 and $175,000 per year. (Seek)
As a Diesel Fitter Apprentice, you'll usually be paid under the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award or an EBA provided by your employer. Apprentice wages step up each year of your apprenticeship. Your weekly pay depends on whether you've completed Year 12, whether you're an adult apprentice, any EBA terms, employer or host benefits, and any government support you're eligible for.
Mining and resources host employers often pay above Award rates under enterprise agreements.
Indicative weekly Award wages for a diesel fitter apprentice as at 1 July 2025, ranging from 1st year (lowest) to 4th year (highest):
- Junior apprentice, did not complete Year 12: $534.20 to $940.19 per week
- Junior apprentice, completed Year 12: $587.62 to $940.19 per week
- Adult apprentice (21 years and over): $854.72 to $982.40 per week
(Source: Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide MA000089) Rates reflect minimum Award wages. Allowances such as tool allowance and industry allowance may apply on top of these rates depending on classification and circumstances.
Skills and Requirements
Diesel fitting is a specialist trade that rewards a deep interest in engines and a methodical approach to fault diagnosis:
- Mechanical aptitude: A natural curiosity about how diesel engines and their systems work, paired with the instinct to troubleshoot when something goes wrong
- Practical skills: A genuine enjoyment of hands-on, manual work, often in workshop, yard or field environments
- Maths, science and computing skills: Modern diesel diagnostics rely heavily on data, calculations and technical interpretation
- Diagnostic ability: Identifying faults in complex fuel, electronic and mechanical systems is central to the role
- Physical fitness: The job involves lifting heavy components, working in confined spaces and standing for long periods
- No skin allergies: Daily exposure to diesel fuel, oil, grease and lubricants is unavoidable in this trade
Career Pathways After Your Apprenticeship
A diesel fitter qualification opens doors across some of Australia's highest-paying industries, including:
- Mining, resources and FIFO contracting
- Heavy diesel engine specialisation
- Road transport and trucking fleets
- Agricultural machinery
- Marine diesel engines
- Power generation (diesel gensets)
- Earthmoving and construction equipment
- Defence vehicle maintenance
- Field service technician roles
- Workshop supervision, project management and contracting
- Self-employment as a mobile diesel mechanic
Diesel fitters are consistently among the highest-earning trade specialists in Australia. The combination of technical skill, harsh working environments and the value of the equipment they maintain keeps demand high, particularly across the mining and resources sector.
Find a Diesel Fitter Apprenticeship
To get started in a Diesel Fitting Apprenticeship, visit our Jobs Board for available opportunities in this trade specialisation or other automotive apprenticeships.
Latest Apprenticeships
Quick Links
If you're looking to work on large engines and equipment, you might also consider:
View the MIGAS Jobs Board to view current automotive apprenticeships.