Mining Jobs in Queensland

Queensland is Australia's second-largest mining state, with a diverse resource sector spanning coal, gold, copper, zinc and bauxite. The state's mining industry supports thousands of jobs across both surface and underground operations, with strong demand for FIFO and drive-in drive-out (DIDO) workers.

Key Mining Regions in QLD

The Bowen Basin in central Queensland is one of the world's largest coal producing regions, home to major metallurgical and thermal coal mines. Mount Isa and the North West Minerals Province host copper, zinc and lead operations — including significant underground mines. The Clermont and Moranbah areas are hubs for coal mining employment, while gold and copper projects are scattered across the Charters Towers and Cloncurry districts.

Common Roles and FIFO Arrangements

Queensland mining jobs include a mix of surface and underground roles. Open-cut coal operations employ excavator operators, haul truck drivers, shotfirers and maintenance trades. Underground hard rock mines around Mount Isa and Cloncurry hire nippers, truck drivers, bogger operators and jumbo operators. FIFO workers typically fly from Brisbane, Townsville or Cairns, with rosters ranging from 7 days on / 7 off through to 2 weeks on / 1 week off. Many Bowen Basin roles offer DIDO from Mackay or Emerald.

Major Employers

Key Queensland mining employers include BHP (coal and copper), Glencore (coal and metals), Anglo American, Whitehaven Coal and Stanmore Resources in coal, plus Newmont and Evolution Mining in gold. Underground contracting companies such as Barminco, Byrnecut and Pybar operate across the state's hard rock mines.