FIFO Pay Calculator

Why the yearly figure looks so big

FIFO pay looks huge next to a city wage, and part of the reason is hours. On a 2:1 roster, each swing is two weeks on site with 12-hour shifts, then a week at home. Over a year that's about 2,920 hours of work, compared with about 1,976 in a 38-hour-a-week city job. You earn more partly because you work more hours.

Casual or permanent

Casual rates are higher because they replace paid leave. A casual job has no paid holidays or sick days, and fill-in work doesn't come every rotation.

A casual rate usually carries about 25% extra, called the casual loading. To compare a casual ad with a permanent one, divide the casual hourly rate by 1.25. A $65 an hour casual plumbing rate is roughly the same as $52 an hour in a permanent job. That's about what a $151,950 permanent plumbing salary on a 2:1 roster works out to.

"Plus super" or "package"

Super is money your employer pays into your super fund, on top of your pay. "Plus super" means it's added on top of the figure in the ad, at 12% of your pay. A "package" means the super is already inside the figure. A $101,911 package is a salary of about $90,992, plus super.

Night shifts

Most rosters switch from day shift to night shift partway through a swing, so you'll usually work both. Ads pay for nights in different ways: a separate night rate, a percentage on top of the day rate, or one flat rate for every hour. If the ad gives a flat rate, nights are usually already in it.

Flights, meals and a room

Flights from your point of hire, meals on site and a room in camp are usually paid for. That's real money you'd otherwise spend, but the calculator doesn't count it. For who's hiring, see the FIFO resource list.

What does a 2:1 roster mean for pay?

A 2:1 roster means two weeks at work, then one week at home. With 12-hour shifts, that's about 2,920 hours of work and about 243 days away a year. Use the calculator to see the pay for every one of those hours.

Is casual or full-time FIFO work better paid?

Casual work pays more an hour, because the rate makes up for having no paid leave and no guaranteed work. Full-time work pays less an hour but comes with leave, sick pay and a steady roster. Run both ads through the calculator to compare what each pays a year and for every hour worked.

Do FIFO workers pay less tax?

FIFO workers pay the same tax rates as everyone else. Some allowances and deductions may apply depending on the job, so check with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or a registered tax agent. The calculator's take-home figure uses the standard rates for Australian residents.