How to become an Asbestos Removalist
Identifies, safely removes and disposes of asbestos found in buildings, building materials such as tiles, flooring panels and ceiling sheets, and other structures through the use of containment enclosures and specialised equipment such as airless sprayers and injection equipment.
Main tasks
- Identifies the presence and type of asbestos in buildings and in building materials, pipes, boilers and other structures
- Sets up containment enclosures and safety measures to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres during removal
- Operates specialised equipment such as airless sprayers and injection equipment, to safely remove and seal asbestos in secure containers for safe disposal, ensuring no leakage of asbestos fibres
- Cleans the site after asbestos removal using specialised vacuum cleaners and other cleaning tools to ensure that there are no residual asbestos fibres
- Conducts air monitoring and clearance testing to ensure the area is safe for reoccupation after asbestos removal
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate II in Construction (CPC20120); Certificate III in Demolition (CPC30420)
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $95,004 a year
- About 73,000 people work in this job group now, and about 77,700 are projected by 2035. (+6.4%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Asbestos Removalist?
Ways in include: Certificate II in Construction; Certificate III in Demolition.
How much does an Asbestos Removalist earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $95,004 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is an Asbestos Removalist a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 73,000 to about 77,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become an Asbestos Removalist?
Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate II in Construction; Certificate III in Demolition.
Will AI change the work of an Asbestos Removalist?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04