What is a tradie in Australia?

A tradie in an Australia is a skilled, manual professional, such as a plumber, electrician or carpenter. But the Australian slang term has a more evocative meaning than a mere job description.

A tradie in Australia is a tradesman. Or, if we’re being non-sexist about it, a tradesperson.

In this sense, the meaning of tradie in Australia is much the same as the meaning of tradesman in the UK. A tradie is a skilled manual labourer, with a specialism in a certain skill.

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hammer — Tradies in Australia generally have a big toolkit.

What sort of jobs does a tradie in Australia do?

Examples of tradies would include plumbers, carpenters, joiners and electricians. This Australian slang term covers the sort of manual labour jobs that take plenty of training and specialist knowledge.

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Take Blue Mountains day tour from Sydney – with kangaroo-feeding at a wildlife park, Scenic World tickets and a Parramatta River cruise.
Snorkel or dive on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.
Do Australia’s most spectacular drive on a Great Ocean Road day tour from Melbourne.
Drive along the beach on a 4WD day tour of Fraser Island, the world’s biggest sand island.
Have a dune-top barbecue dinner and stargazing session in the shadow of Uluru.
See penguins on Phillip Island – and more native wildlife at the Moonlit Sanctuary – on a day trip from Melbourne.
Go snorkelling, sandboarding and kayaking on Moreton Island from Brisbane.
Meet gloriously cute quokkas on Rottnest Island near Perth with a ferry and bike hire package.
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However, a dry, dictionary definition doesn’t quite cover what a tradie is in Australia. The word comes with a certain romanticism. It is rarely used pejoratively, and often evokes a sense of honesty along with a down-to-earth nature.

How much do tradies earn?

Tradies in Australia can be fairly highly paid, often earning more than many university graduates. Many tradies are self-employed or run their own small business. Some work in private households, others in commercial property, others on building sites and developments.

Australian visas for tradespeople

Tradespeople from overseas are usually in high demand in Australia. They will often score highly on the Australian immigration points system and find it relatively easy to obtain a visa.

Similarly, an overseas tradesperson entering Australia on a working holiday visa is likely to find well-paid work much easier to come by than the average backpacker.

More Australian slang

slang