Underground mining offers some of the highest-paying operator roles in Australia's resources sector, with experienced miners earning between $120,000 and $200,000+. The specialised nature of underground work - operating in confined spaces, managing ground conditions, and working with sophisticated equipment - means employers seek candidates with specific skills, certifications, and a proven safety record.
Your resume is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have the technical competencies, safety awareness, and underground experience that mining companies need. This comprehensive guide will help you create a resume that stands out in this competitive field.
Quick Stats
Salary Range: $120,000 - $200,000+ (experienced operators) Work Arrangement: FIFO predominant (even time rosters common) Key Requirements: Underground inductions, equipment tickets, safety training
Underground Miner Resume Example
Daniel O'Brien
Underground Development Miner
Professional Summary
Experienced underground miner with 7+ years working in development and production across gold, nickel, and copper operations in Western Australia. Skilled in operating jumbos, boggers, and trucks in decline and stoping environments. Strong safety record with zero LTIs and active participation in emergency response teams. Proven ability to work effectively in small crews while maintaining high production standards and ground support compliance.
Employment History
Underground Development Miner
Northern Star Resources, Kalgoorlie, WA
- Operate Sandvik DD422i twin boom jumbo for development headings in gold mine
- Achieve consistent advance rates of 4.5m+ per cut while maintaining profile compliance
- Install ground support including fibrecrete, mesh, bolts, and cable bolts as per ground control plan
- Member of underground emergency response team (mines rescue)
- Mentor new starters during their underground induction period
Underground Miner - Multiskilled
IGO Limited, Kambalda, WA
- Operated multiple equipment types including Sandvik LH517i bogger and TH663i truck
- Completed development, production, and backfill activities in nickel sulphide operation
- Maintained 100% compliance with ground support installation requirements
- Participated in continuous improvement initiatives reducing tramming distances by 15%
- Achieved Leading Hand classification after demonstrating leadership capabilities
Underground Nipper / Truck Operator
Byrnecut Mining, Goldfields, WA
- Commenced underground career as nipper before progressing to truck operator
- Gained experience in underground haulage and materials handling
- Completed extensive underground training including emergency response
- Developed skills in equipment pre-starts and defect identification
Education
Certificate III in Underground Mining Operations
TAFE WA, Kalgoorlie, WA
Certifications & Training
Skills
Bullet Point Assistant
1. What did you do?
2. What metric did you improve and in what time span?
3. Connect your action to your strategy.
Key Sections of an Underground Miner Resume
Professional Summary
Your professional summary should quickly communicate your underground experience, key equipment competencies, and safety credentials.
Strong Summary Elements
- +Specify underground experience (years, operation types)
- +List key equipment (jumbos, boggers, trucks by model)
- +Highlight safety record and emergency response training
- +Mention commodity types (gold, copper, nickel)
Common Weaknesses
- -Generic 'mining experience' without specifying underground
- -Missing equipment details
- -No safety record mentioned
- -Confusing surface and underground experience
Employment History Tips
Underground mining roles value specific equipment competencies and safety performance. Structure your experience to highlight:
- Equipment operated - Always specify makes and models (Sandvik DD422i, CAT R2900G, etc.)
- Activities performed - Development, production, backfill, ground support
- Achievements - Advance rates, compliance metrics, productivity improvements
- Safety contributions - LTI-free periods, emergency response involvement, hazard reporting
Be Specific About Equipment
Underground equipment varies significantly between sites. Specify whether you've operated: twin-boom vs single-boom jumbos, different bogger sizes (14t, 17t, 21t), and truck configurations. This detail matters to recruiters.
Essential Certifications
Underground mining requires specific tickets and competencies:
Core Underground Tickets
- Standard 11 Generic Mining Induction
- Underground mining induction (site-specific usually required)
- Jumbo operator ticket (if applicable)
- Bogger/LHD operator ticket
- Underground truck ticket
- Charge-up ticket / Shotfirer's licence (UG)
- Working at Heights
- Confined Space Entry
- First Aid Certificate
Skills to Highlight
Underground mining requires a unique skill set combining equipment operation, ground awareness, and safety competencies.
Essential Underground Skills
Equipment Operation:
- Jumbo drilling (face drilling, cable bolt drilling)
- Bogger/LHD operation (mucking, tramming, stockpiling)
- Underground truck haulage
- Integrated Tool Carrier (ITC) operation
- Agitator trucks / shotcrete equipment
Development & Production:
- Decline development
- Level development
- Production drilling and charging
- Stope extraction methods
- Paste/rock backfill
Ground Support:
- Mesh installation
- Split sets and resin bolts
- Cable bolting
- Fibrecrete/shotcrete application
- Ground condition assessment
Safety & Emergency:
- Mines rescue team participation
- Emergency response procedures
- Ventilation awareness
- Strata control understanding
- Self-rescuer use
Career Progression in Underground Mining
Entry Level (Nipper/Offsider)
Starting your underground career typically involves:
- Supporting development and production crews
- Learning equipment and safety systems
- Obtaining foundational tickets
- Understanding underground environment and hazards
Equipment Operator
Progress to operating specific equipment:
- Truck operator (often first step)
- Bogger/LHD operator
- Jumbo operator (specialist skill)
- Charge-up/shotfiring
Multiskilled Miner
Demonstrate versatility across:
- Multiple equipment types
- Different mining methods
- Development and production activities
- Ground support installation
Leading Hand / Shift Supervisor
Advance to leadership roles with:
- Strong operational experience
- Demonstrated safety leadership
- Crew coordination abilities
- Problem-solving skills
Resume Writing Tips for Underground Roles
Highlight Your Underground-Specific Experience
Surface and underground mining are very different environments. Make it clear:
- Your total underground experience (not combined with surface)
- Specific underground equipment (different from surface equivalents)
- Underground-specific safety training
"When I see a resume, I want to immediately know: how long have they been underground, what equipment can they operate, and what's their safety record. Everything else is secondary."
Show Equipment Versatility
The most valuable underground miners can operate multiple equipment types:
- List all equipment tickets and experience levels
- Indicate preferred equipment vs. capable of operating
- Show progression from single-skill to multiskilled
Emphasise Safety and Emergency Response
Underground operations prioritise safety given the unique hazards. Highlight:
- Mines rescue team membership
- Emergency response training
- First response qualifications
- Safety leadership examples
Underground Mining Methods Experience
If you have experience with specific mining methods, include these:
- Sublevel stoping
- Longhole open stoping
- Cut and fill
- Room and pillar
- Sublevel caving
- Block caving
- Decline development
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Strong Resume Elements
- +Specific equipment models (Sandvik DD422i)
- +Underground experience clearly separated from surface
- +All tickets listed with currency status
- +Safety record with specifics
Weaknesses to Address
- -Generic 'loader' instead of specific model
- -Mixing surface and underground experience
- -Missing ticket information
- -No mention of ground support experience
Ready to Go Underground?
A well-crafted resume showcasing your equipment competencies, safety record, and underground-specific experience will position you for success in Australia's underground mining sector.
Next Steps
- Update your resume with specific equipment models and ticket details
- Ensure all certifications are current
- Browse underground mining jobs on Resource Jobs
- Consider additional tickets to increase your versatility
Looking for more mining resume examples? Check out our guides for Mining Supervisor, FIFO & Entry-Level Mining, Boilermaker, Haul Truck Operator, and Mining Engineer roles.