How to Hire an Apprentice in Australia (2026)
Most tradies underestimate both the cost and the payoff of hiring their first apprentice. Year 1 will cost you roughly $35,000 — wages, super, WC insurance, supervision time, and TAFE. Year 3 is where it pays back. Here's the honest guide to finding one, registering properly, claiming what the government owes you, and not making the most common mistakes. Check our tradie licences and training too — your apprentice will need a White Card before they step on site.
Top 3 Channels for Finding an Apprentice
All 6 Recruitment Channels Compared
| Platform / Channel | Cost | Best For | Apprentice Focus | Government Subsidy Help | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEEK | ~$300/ad | Max reach, all states | ✓ | ✗ | Post a Job → |
| Indeed | Free (basic) | Budget-conscious hiring | ✓ | ✗ | Post Free → |
| AASN (Gov) | Free | Mandatory registration + subsidies | ✓ Required | ✓ Yes | Register Now → |
| Skilled 365 | Varies | Trades-specific listings | ✓ | ✗ | Post a Job → |
| Sidekicker | Pay per shift | Casual trade labour (temp) | ✗ Not apprentice | ✗ | Find Workers → |
| Scout Talent | Custom | Scaling tradie business ATS | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More → |
Prices indicative. Verified April 2026 — check platforms for current rates.
Each Channel Reviewed
SEEK is Australia's dominant job board and for apprentice hiring, there is nothing with comparable reach. A well-written SEEK ad will attract applicants you'd never reach through word of mouth. The key is writing an ad that's honest — what the job actually involves, what the pay is, what you offer as an employer. Vague ads attract vague applicants.
For apprentice ads specifically, mention the suburb, the trade, whether you do residential or commercial, what vehicle they'll travel in, and what a typical day looks like. Apprentices apply to 20 ads at once — give them a reason to pick yours. SEEK's ad targeting is excellent for reaching school leavers and people actively looking for a trade entry point.
Pros
- Largest applicant pool in Australia
- Strong targeting for trade apprentice roles
- Includes application management tools
- Reaches both active and passive job seekers
Cons
- Cost per ad (~$300) adds up for multiple rounds
- Volume of applications can include weak candidates
- Requires time to screen applicants properly
This isn't optional. Every apprenticeship in Australia must be registered through an AASN. The AASN registers the Training Contract, ensures compliance, and — critically — helps you access government incentive payments. The Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program offers meaningful wage subsidy payments for priority trade occupations (most electrical, plumbing, and construction trades qualify).
Many tradies leave government money on the table simply because they didn't register properly or didn't follow up with their AASN about entitlements. The AASN is free to use (government-funded) and their job is literally to help you navigate this. Use them early, ask about every available payment, and stay in contact throughout the apprenticeship if anything changes.
Pros
- Mandatory registration — can't skip this
- Free to use
- Handles Training Contract registration
- Unlocks all government incentive payments
- Provides ongoing support throughout the apprenticeship
Cons
- Variable service quality across different AASN providers
- Can feel bureaucratic — persistence required
Indeed's free job posting makes it an easy companion to SEEK. You'll typically get fewer applications than SEEK but at zero cost, the ROI calculation is easy. Indeed's algorithm is particularly good at surfacing to job seekers who've recently searched for entry-level trade roles. For metro-area hirers, Indeed free often delivers 5–15 credible applications — more than enough to find a good fit without paying $300 to SEEK if budget is tight.
Pros
- Free to post basic ads
- Strong with younger, digitally-active applicants
- Easy application process increases response rates
Cons
- Lower volume than SEEK for trade roles
- Free ads deprioritised vs sponsored listings
Skilled 365 is a trades-focused job board that caters specifically to the construction and trade sector. While the total applicant volume is lower than SEEK or Indeed, the quality of trade-specific applications can be higher because the platform self-selects for people serious about a trade career. Worth using as a supplementary channel, particularly for regional areas or specialist trades.
Pros
- Trade-specific platform — relevant applicants
- Less noise than general job boards
Cons
- Smaller total reach than SEEK or Indeed
- Less brand recognition among school leavers
Sidekicker isn't an apprentice platform — it's an on-demand labour hire marketplace for casual and temp workers. The relevance here is that finding a good apprentice takes time (4–12 weeks from ad to start date), and in the meantime you still have jobs to get done. Sidekicker lets you fill labour gaps quickly without a long hiring process. Some tradies also use it to trial potential longer-term hires before committing.
Pros
- Fast access to casual trade labour
- Good for filling gaps during recruitment
- Can trial workers before hiring
Cons
- Not for apprentice hiring — different product
- Casual rates are higher than permanent employment
Scout Talent is an applicant tracking system (ATS) and recruitment platform that makes sense once you're hiring multiple roles and can't manage applications from a Gmail inbox. If you're a tradie business that's grown to 10+ staff and is regularly hiring tradies, apprentices, and admin, Scout Talent's structured hiring workflow — job ads, screening questions, pipeline tracking — saves significant time and improves hire quality.
Pros
- Structured hiring workflow for scaling businesses
- Built-in job ad posting to multiple platforms
- Applicant tracking and screening tools
Cons
- Overkill for single-hire tradie businesses
- Monthly subscription cost
💡 The year 3 payoff: A third-year electrical or plumbing apprentice running their own jobs under your licence is delivering close to qualified tradesperson output at apprentice wages. The ROI calculation on a 4-year apprenticeship is strongly positive — but only if you invest the supervision hours in years 1 and 2. The tradies who hire apprentices and complain they "don't pay back" are usually the ones who dumped them on grunt work and never trained them properly.
Ready to hire your first apprentice?
Start with SEEK for the ad, register with your AASN the day they accept the job, and use payroll software that handles Modern Awards to get the Award rate compliance right from day one.
Post Your Apprentice Ad on SEEK →Also register at australianapprenticeships.gov.au to unlock government incentive payments
Direct Comparisons
Side-by-side breakdowns for the toughest decisions.
In-Depth Reviews & Guides
Full breakdowns of every tool we've tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
In year 1, plan for approximately $35,000 in total cost — roughly $18,000–$22,000 in wages (Award rate for a first-year apprentice varies by trade, typically $10–$14/hr), plus superannuation, workers compensation insurance, and your own supervision time. Government incentives under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program can offset $5,000–$15,000 over the apprenticeship, but the year-1 net cost is real. The return typically comes in years 3–4 when a productive third-year apprentice delivers close to tradesperson output at apprentice wages.
An AASN is a government-funded organisation that helps employers and apprentices navigate the apprenticeship system. They register the Training Contract, help you access wage subsidies and incentive payments, and provide ongoing support. Using an AASN is mandatory — you must register your apprentice through one within a set timeframe of starting employment. They're free to use; the government funds them entirely. Visit australianapprenticeships.gov.au to find your local provider.
The Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program offers wage subsidies and incentive payments for eligible apprenticeships in priority occupations — most trades qualify. Incentives include commencement and completion payments. The amounts change with government policy — check current rates at australianapprenticeships.gov.au or ask your AASN provider. As of 2026, tradies hiring in priority trade occupations can access meaningful incentive payments across a 4-year apprenticeship. Don't assume you'll receive these automatically — actively track and claim them via your AASN.
SEEK is the highest-reach platform for apprentice recruitment. Write a specific, honest ad — suburb, trade, residential or commercial, typical day, pay rate. Indeed is free and strong for younger applicants. Your local TAFE trades coordinator is also worth calling — they often know students actively looking for employers. Word of mouth still accounts for a significant proportion of placements in tight-knit trade communities, so tell your suppliers, clients, and colleagues you're looking.
Yes. Sole traders can hire apprentices in Australia. You need to hold the relevant trade licence in your state, have capacity to provide proper supervision and training, and register the Training Contract through an AASN. Some states have additional requirements. The key practical consideration is whether you can genuinely provide the variety of work and supervision quality required — a very small sole trader doing only one type of job may struggle to meet training plan requirements. Discuss with your AASN provider before committing.