How Much Do FIFO Jobs Pay

FIFO pay in Australia varies by role, experience, and roster, but it’s often higher than similar city jobs because you’re working long shifts in remote locations and may receive extra pay through penalties, overtime, and site allowances. Your total earnings are usually a mix of a base rate plus the hours you work on swing—so the “real pay” depends on the roster and conditions, not just the advertised hourly rate.

At Techforce Personnel, we speak with FIFO job seekers every day and help candidates compare FIFO job opportunities across Australia. This guide is written for you—so you can understand what drives FIFO wages and how to estimate your likely earnings before you accept a role.

What FIFO Pay Actually Includes?

What Determines FIFO Pay in Australia?

If you want a realistic idea of what you could earn, focus on the factors that move FIFO pay up or down:

• Role and skill level (entry-level vs experienced vs specialist)
• Industry (mining, shutdowns, construction, oil and gas)
• Site type (open-cut, underground, processing plant)
• Roster structure (2:1, 1:1, 8:6, etc.)
• Shift length (10–12 hour shifts are common)
• Overtime rules and penalty rates (how they’re calculated)
• Remoteness and demand (hard-to-fill sites may pay more)
• Employment type (casual, contract, permanent)

If you’re comparing two roles, the roster and overtime structure will often matter more than a small difference in hourly rate.

FIFO Pay by Role Category (What Job Seekers Usually See)

Because pay differs across employers and sites, it’s more useful to compare role categories and what typically drives pay within each one.

1) Entry-Level and Support FIFO Roles

If you’re trying to get your first FIFO role, you might see opportunities in:



• utilities (housekeeping, cleaning, kitchen hand)
• camp services and catering support
• entry-level site support roles (project dependent)

These roles often have lower base rates than trades, but your total weekly pay can still be solid because of long shifts and consistent swings.

What lifts pay here: roster hours, weekend penalties, and consistency of swings.

2) Operators and Production Roles

Operations roles can include:

• production operators
• dump truck operators (often experienced roles; some trainee pathways site dependent)
• drillers offsider and drilling roles
• some underground production roles (site dependent)

These jobs can pay well because sites run 24/7 and shifts may include nights, weekends, and overtime depending on project demand.

What lifts pay here: experience, tickets, site type, and shift penalties.

3) Trades and Maintenance Roles

Trade and maintenance roles are a major part of FIFO across Australia, including:

• heavy diesel fitters / mobile plant mechanics
• electricians (including specialised roles depending on the site)
• boilermakers and welders
• mechanical fitters and fixed plant maintenance

Qualified trades and in-demand skill sets often attract higher rates, particularly at remote sites or on projects that need fast turnaround.

What lifts pay here: qualification level, scarcity of the skill, breakdown work, and overtime.

4) Shutdown and Project Work

Shutdowns are short, intense maintenance windows where sites bring in extra labour to complete work quickly. These roles often feel “high paying” because they involve:



• long hours
• tight deadlines
• heavy overtime
• project urgency

What lifts pay here: overtime volume and penalty structures. Many job seekers find shutdown periods produce their biggest pay weeks.

How Rosters Affect Your Take-Home Pay?

Your roster is one of the biggest drivers of FIFO pay because it controls how many paid hours you complete in a cycle.



Common FIFO rosters include:

• 2 weeks on / 1 week off (2:1)
• 1 week on / 1 week off (1:1)
• 8 days on / 6 days off
• 4 days on / 3 days off

Generally, longer swings mean more hours and higher total earnings—however, they also mean more fatigue and more time away from home. If you’re new to FIFO, you may prefer starting with a roster that feels sustainable while you adjust.

Do FIFO Jobs Cover Flights, Accommodation, and Meals?

Most FIFO roles include site-provided accommodation and meals, and many include flights (depending on the contract and employer). This matters because your living costs can be lower while you’re on swing.



Many sites provide:

• camp accommodation
• meals at the mess
• flights arranged by the employer (role dependent)
• facilities such as laundry and gym (site dependent)

For you, this can be a financial advantage—especially if your goal is to save money—because your day-to-day expenses can be reduced during work blocks.

What You Should Ask So You Know Your “Real” FIFO Pay?

Before you accept a FIFO offer, make sure you understand what you’ll actually earn in practice. Ask:



• Is it hourly or salary?
• How many hours per day, and how many days per swing?
• What are the penalty rates for nights/weekends/public holidays?
• How is overtime calculated and when does it start?
• Are there site allowances or other loadings?
• Are flights, accommodation, and meals included?
• Is the role casual, contract, or permanent?
• Is the roster fixed, or can it change?

These answers will give you the clearest view of your true earning potential.

The Takeaway: How Much Do FIFO Jobs Pay?

FIFO pay in Australia varies widely, but it’s usually higher than comparable metro roles because your earnings combine a base rate with long roster hours and additional loadings like overtime, penalties, and allowances. If you want to compare FIFO jobs properly, look beyond the headline hourly rate and focus on roster structure, hours, and the pay rules that affect your take-home income.

Explore FIFO Roles with Techforce Personnel

If you’re weighing up FIFO opportunities and want clarity on what’s realistic for your background, Techforce Personnel can help. With recruitment agencies in Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, and Newcastle, we support FIFO job seekers across Australia and can help you compare roles based on your experience, tickets, roster preferences, and earning goals.