Concretor Jobs in Perth: Career Guide, Salary, and How to Get Started

Concretors are essential to every construction project in Perth — from house slabs in the suburbs to massive commercial foundations, driveways, retaining walls, and civil infrastructure. It’s hard, physical work, but the pay is strong and the demand is constant.

Here’s your guide to concretor jobs in Perth.

What Does a Concretor Do?

Concretors prepare, pour, finish, and cure concrete for construction projects. Day-to-day work includes:

Setting up formwork and boxing for concrete pours
Placing reinforcement mesh and steel (working alongside steel fixers)
Pouring and spreading concrete from agitator trucks or pumps
Screeding, floating, and trowelling concrete to achieve the required finish
Cutting control joints
Applying decorative finishes — exposed aggregate, coloured concrete, stamped patterns
Stripping formwork after curing
Operating concrete pumps, vibrators, power trowels, and finishing equipment

How to Become a Concretor in Perth

Entry-Level — Concrete Labourer

You can start as a concrete labourer with just a white card. Concrete labouring involves:

Moving materials and setting up formwork
Spreading and raking concrete during pours
Cleaning equipment and tools
General site preparation and clean-up

No formal qualification is required to start, though having additional tickets (first aid, manual handling) helps.

Apprenticeship — Certificate III in Concreting

A formal concreting apprenticeship (Certificate III in Concreting — CPC30318) takes 3 years and covers all aspects of concrete work. You’ll learn formwork construction, concrete placement techniques, finishing methods, reading plans, and safety procedures.

Apprenticeships are available through residential and commercial concrete contractors across Perth.

Experience Pathway

Many concretors learn on the job without a formal apprenticeship. Starting as a labourer and working under experienced concretors, you can develop your skills and eventually operate as a qualified concretor. However, having the formal Certificate III gives you a recognised qualification and can open more doors.

Concretor Salary in Perth

Perth Metro

Concrete labourer: $55,000 to $75,000
Concretor (residential): $70,000 to $90,000
Concretor (commercial): $80,000 to $110,000
Concretor (civil — roads, bridges, infrastructure): $85,000 to $120,000
Concrete pump operator: $80,000 to $110,000
Concrete foreman: $100,000 to $130,000

FIFO and Mining

Concretor (mining/industrial): $110,000 to $150,000
Civil concretor (remote infrastructure): $100,000 to $140,000

Subcontractor Rates

Self-employed concreting subcontractors in Perth typically charge by the square metre — $50 to $120/m² for standard slabs, more for decorative or specialised work. A busy residential concreting crew can earn well above employed rates.

Types of Concreting Work in Perth

Residential

House slabs, driveways, paths, patios, pool surrounds, retaining walls, and crossovers. Perth’s ongoing housing boom means residential concrete work is constant, particularly in growth corridors like Baldivis, Byford, Ellenbrook, and Yanchep.

Commercial

Foundations, suspended slabs, columns, core walls, and ground floor slabs for office buildings, shopping centres, schools, hospitals, and industrial facilities. Commercial concreting involves larger pours, more complex formwork, and stricter quality requirements.

Civil and Infrastructure

Roads, kerbing, footpaths, drainage structures, bridges, and retaining walls for government and infrastructure projects including Metronet. Civil concreting often involves specialised equipment and techniques.

Decorative Concreting

Exposed aggregate, honed concrete, coloured concrete, stamped patterns, and polished concrete. Decorative concretors can command premium rates, particularly for high-end residential and commercial projects.

Key Tickets and Requirements

White card — mandatory for all construction sites
First aid — expected by most employers
Manual handling — concrete work is heavy physical work
Driver’s licence — essential for getting to sites, particularly residential work spread across Perth
Truck licence (HR/MR) — useful for operating concrete trucks or transporting equipment
Forklift licence — for material handling on commercial sites
EWP ticket — for some commercial and civil work

What Makes a Good Concretor?

Concreting is one of the most physically demanding trades in construction. Once concrete is poured, the clock is ticking — you can’t stop for a break until the finish is done. Good concretors need:

Physical fitness — long days of heavy, repetitive work in Perth’s heat
Attention to detail — getting levels, falls, and finishes right first time
Ability to work under pressure — concrete waits for nobody
Teamwork — concrete pours are crew efforts
Early starts — many concrete pours begin before dawn, especially in summer, to beat the heat

Find Concretor Jobs Through Perth Trades Recruitment

Perth Trades Recruitment places concretors and concrete labourers in residential, commercial, and civil roles across Perth and WA. Whether you’re an experienced concretor looking for your next project or just starting out, we can connect you with the right employer.

Contact Perth Trades Recruitment to find concreting jobs in Perth.