Getting a job on a solar farm in Australia is open to both general labourers and trades. If you’ve got a current White Card and you’re prepared to work outdoors on a large site, you’re already close to being job ready. The rest comes down to which role suits you, what tickets that role needs, and getting your name in front of a labour hire provider that supplies solar projects.
What roles are available on solar farms?
Solar farm construction needs a mix of people. Roles range from general and civil labouring (site prep, cabling runs, fencing, general support) through to more specialised trades once the project is up and running, such as installation and electrical work. Which roles are open on a given project depends on where it’s up to: early civil works need different people to the installation and commissioning phase.
You don’t need existing solar experience to start as a general labourer. Plenty of workers move into more specialised solar roles over time, on the job, picking up new tickets and site experience as they go.
Renewables projects like solar farms sit alongside renewable energy workforce roles more broadly, so the same general approach to finding work applies across the sector: get the right basic tickets, register with a provider, and be ready to move when a role opens up.
What tickets and inductions do you need?
Anyone doing construction work in Australia, including on a solar farm, needs a general construction induction card, commonly called a White Card. It’s earned by completing the nationally recognised general construction induction training and is the baseline ticket for stepping onto almost any construction or solar site.
Beyond the White Card, some roles need more. Certain activities, like operating particular cranes, forklifts or other plant, require a High Risk Work licence for that specific equipment. Which roles need which ticket depends on the job itself, so it’s worth checking with the labour hire provider or site supervisor what’s required before you apply for a specific role, rather than assuming.
If you’re weighing up whether solar is the right sector for you, our commercial solar labour hire page has more on the kind of projects TradeConnex supplies workers to.
What does the pay look like?
Pay on solar projects depends on the role, the ticket level it needs, and the project itself, so there’s no single number that applies across the board. A general labourer and a ticketed plant operator won’t be paid the same, and rates can also move with the project and location. When you’re offered a shift or placement, the rate for that specific role is set out for you before you start, so you know exactly what you’re being paid before you say yes, rather than having to guess based on a job ad.
How do you actually get a job on a solar farm?
Most workers get onto solar projects through a labour hire provider rather than applying to the head contractor directly. That’s because the labour hire company is already supplying crews to multiple projects, so they can match you to a role as soon as one comes up, instead of you having to track down and apply to each project individually.
The practical steps:
- Get your White Card if you don’t already have one.
- Register with a labour hire provider that supplies solar and renewables projects.
- Keep your availability and any tickets up to date so you can be matched quickly when a role opens up.
The fastest way to do this with TradeConnex is to register for work so we’ve got your details, tickets and availability on file, ready to match you as solar and renewables roles come up.
