FIFO Electrician Jobs: Pay, Rosters and What to Expect

FIFO electrical work is one of the more lucrative directions you can take your electrical career in Australia.

Mining companies, contractors and remote operations need qualified sparkies to install, maintain and repair the enormous amount of electrical equipment required to keep sites running.

The trade-off is pretty obvious.

Instead of heading home after work each day, you're flying to a remote site and living there for days or weeks at a time.

For some electricians, the money and extended time off make it well worth it. For others, the FIFO lifestyle gets old pretty quickly.

Here's what you should know before making the jump.

What Is a FIFO Electrician?

FIFO stands for fly-in, fly-out.

Rather than permanently living near a remote workplace, employees fly to the site at the beginning of their roster and return home when their swing finishes.

FIFO is particularly common throughout Australia's mining and resources industry because many operations are hundreds of kilometres from major population centres.

Electricians can be employed directly by mining companies or by contractors providing electrical, maintenance and construction services to mine sites.

What Does a FIFO Electrician Do?

FIFO electricians can perform a huge range of work depending on the site and position.

Typical responsibilities can include:

• Electrical maintenance
• Fault finding
• Testing electrical equipment
• Repairing electrical systems
• Working on motors and pumps
• Maintaining processing equipment
• Electrical installations
• Switchboard work
• Preventative maintenance
• Plant shutdowns
• Maintaining site infrastructure
• Inspecting electrical systems

Some jobs focus heavily on fixed plant and industrial equipment.

Others might involve maintaining the electrical infrastructure around accommodation camps, workshops and other site facilities.

There are also FIFO construction roles where electricians work on new mining projects, expansions and major upgrades.

Where Do FIFO Electricians Work?

FIFO electricians are employed throughout Australia's resources industry.

A large concentration of opportunities can be found in mining regions across:

• Western Australia
• Queensland
• New South Wales
• South Australia
• Northern Territory

Western Australia is particularly well known for FIFO because of the scale and remoteness of its mining industry.

Depending on the role, you could be working at an iron ore mine, gold mine, coal operation, processing facility or another resources project.

How Much Do FIFO Electricians Earn?

There's no single FIFO electrician salary.

Pay can vary significantly depending on the employer, roster, site, experience required and whether you're working in maintenance, construction or a specialised position.

FIFO electricians can often earn considerably more than electricians working standard metropolitan hours.

The higher total earnings can come from a combination of:

• Higher base rates
• Longer working days
• Overtime
• Site allowances
• Shift work
• Night shifts
• Remote working conditions
• Enterprise agreements

Six-figure incomes are common across experienced electrical roles, and some positions can push well beyond typical metropolitan electrician earnings.

But it's important to compare the whole job rather than just the annual salary.

A $150,000 FIFO position where you're working 12-hour shifts for half the year isn't directly comparable with a Monday-to-Friday job close to home.

Can FIFO Electricians Earn $200,000?

Some can.

Experienced electricians working certain mining, shutdown, specialist or supervisory roles can earn $200,000 or more.

But you shouldn't assume that simply getting a FIFO job automatically means you'll make $200k.

Higher-paying positions may require:

• Significant industrial experience
• Mining experience
• Specialist electrical skills
• Additional qualifications
• Supervisory experience
• Difficult rosters
• Night shift
• Extensive overtime

If you're moving into mining for the first time, your initial FIFO role may pay less than someone who has spent a decade working on mine sites.

What Are Common FIFO Rosters?

FIFO rosters describe how long you spend on site compared with how long you spend at home.

Some common examples include:

8/6 Roster

You work eight days and then have six days off.

This can provide a relatively balanced lifestyle because you're home almost as much as you're away.

7/7 Roster

Seven days working followed by seven days off.

Having an entire week off at a time can be one of the major attractions of FIFO.

2/1 Roster

Two weeks working followed by one week off.

You'll spend considerably more time on site with this roster, but the additional working time can contribute to higher annual earnings.

2/2 Roster

Two weeks on followed by two weeks off.

Even-time rosters can be attractive because you effectively spend half your year away and half your year off.

The exact roster available depends on the employer and role.

How Long Are FIFO Shifts?

Twelve-hour shifts are common on mine sites.

A typical day could involve starting early in the morning and finishing in the evening, or doing the reverse if you're working nights.

Working 12 hours is very different from a standard eight-hour day.

Even if the physical work isn't constant for the entire shift, long days can become tiring over a full swing.

Then you wake up and do it again.

That's part of what the higher salary is compensating you for.

What Happens After Your Shift?

Most FIFO workers stay in accommodation provided at or near the site.

Mining camps commonly provide things such as:

• Your room
• Meals
• Laundry facilities
• Gym facilities
• Recreation areas
• Internet access

Facilities vary considerably between sites.

Some camps are modern and comfortable.

Others are somewhere you're very happy to leave at the end of your swing.

After a 12-hour shift, life can become pretty simple: eat, shower, call home, maybe hit the gym, sleep and repeat.

Do FIFO Electricians Pay for Accommodation?

In standard FIFO arrangements, accommodation while you're on site is generally provided by the employer.

Meals are also commonly provided while you're staying at camp.

Flight arrangements vary depending on the employer and where you're flying from.

Job advertisements often specify the designated point of hire, such as Perth or another major city.

This is worth checking carefully.

A role advertised as FIFO from Perth doesn't necessarily mean the company will fly you from Melbourne to Perth every swing.

You may be responsible for getting yourself to the nominated departure city.

What Qualifications Do FIFO Electricians Need?

You'll generally need to be a qualified electrician with the appropriate electrical licence for the work you're performing.

Beyond that, requirements depend heavily on the role and site.

Employers may look for:

• Electrical trade qualification
• Relevant electrical licence
• Driver's licence
• Construction induction training
• CPR and low-voltage rescue training
• Working at heights
• Confined space training
• High-risk work licences
• Mining or industrial experience
• Ability to pass a medical
• Drug and alcohol screening

Some positions require specific experience with particular equipment or electrical systems.

Don't assume you need every ticket imaginable before applying.

Read the actual requirements for the jobs you're targeting before spending money on additional training.

Do You Need Mining Experience?

Not always.

Plenty of mining electrical positions ask for previous mine-site experience, particularly more specialised roles.

But electricians do move into mining from other industries.

Industrial electrical experience can be particularly useful.

If you've spent years maintaining motors, machinery, variable speed drives and control equipment in a factory, those skills can be much more transferable to mining than purely residential experience.

Getting the first mining job can be the hardest part.

Once you have mine-site experience on your resume, applying for future positions can become easier.

Can a Residential Electrician Go FIFO?

Potentially, yes.

Being a qualified electrician gives you a valuable foundation, but you may be competing against applicants with industrial and mining experience.

If your entire career has involved residential construction, you may need to build experience relevant to the roles you're targeting.

Industrial maintenance can provide a useful stepping stone.

Shutdown work and entry-level mining contractor positions can also provide opportunities to get your first site experience.

What Is a Mining Shutdown?

Shutdowns happen when a mine or industrial facility temporarily stops equipment so major maintenance, inspections and repairs can be completed.

A lot of work needs to happen in a short period.

That means sites can bring in large numbers of contractors, including electricians, for relatively short assignments.

Shutdown work can involve long shifts and intense schedules, but it can provide good earning potential.

It can also be one way for electricians without extensive mining experience to start building relevant industry experience.

Do FIFO Electricians Work Nights?

Some do.

Mining operations can run 24 hours a day, so maintenance teams may be required across both day and night shifts.

Depending on your roster, you might work permanent days, permanent nights or rotate between them.

Night shift isn't for everyone.

The additional pay can be attractive, but adjusting your sleep schedule while working long shifts can be tough.

What Are the Benefits of FIFO Electrical Work?

The obvious benefit is money.

But that's not the only reason people choose FIFO.

Potential advantages include:

• Strong earning potential
• Blocks of consecutive days off
• Meals and accommodation provided on site
• Exposure to large industrial equipment
• Career opportunities in mining
• Less commuting during your swing
• Ability to live somewhere different from where you work

An even-time roster can give you entire weeks at home without needing to take annual leave.

For someone who uses that time well, the lifestyle can be pretty attractive.

What Are the Downsides?

FIFO definitely isn't free money.

Potential downsides include:

• Time away from family and friends
• Missing birthdays and events
• Long working days
• Remote locations
• Repetitive routines
• Night shifts
• Fatigue
• Limited privacy
• Living in temporary accommodation
• Spending large chunks of your life at work

Relationships can also be harder when one person regularly disappears for a week or two at a time.

Some electricians happily work FIFO for decades.

Others do it for a few years, save money and get out.

Is FIFO Worth It?

That depends on what you value.

If your main goal is maximising your income and you're comfortable being away from home, FIFO electrical work can be extremely attractive.

It can be particularly useful if you're saving towards something specific, such as buying a house or building investments.

The blocks of time off can also provide a lifestyle that standard Monday-to-Friday work can't.

But don't choose FIFO based purely on the salary advertised.

Consider the roster, hours, location, type of work, camp conditions and how much time you'll actually spend away.

The best-paying job isn't necessarily the best job for you.

How Do You Get Your First FIFO Electrician Job?

Start by making sure your electrical licence and essential training are current.

Then look for roles where your existing experience is relevant.

If you have industrial maintenance experience, make that obvious on your resume.

Highlight experience with equipment such as:

• Motors
• Pumps
• Control systems
• Variable speed drives
• Machinery
• Switchboards
• Fault finding
• Preventative maintenance

Apply to mining companies, maintenance contractors, electrical contractors and labour-hire businesses operating in the resources sector.

And don't automatically ignore temporary or shutdown work.

Getting that first mine site on your resume can make the next opportunity much easier to land.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a FIFO electrician do?

FIFO electricians install, maintain, test and repair electrical equipment at remote workplaces such as mines and processing facilities. The exact work varies between construction, maintenance and fixed-plant roles.

How much do FIFO electricians earn?

Earnings vary considerably depending on experience, roster, employer, overtime and the type of work. Experienced mining electricians can earn substantially more than electricians working standard metropolitan hours.

Can FIFO electricians make $200,000?

Some experienced electricians can earn $200,000 or more in mining, shutdown, specialist and supervisory roles. However, this isn't guaranteed or representative of every FIFO electrical position.

What is the best FIFO roster?

There's no single best roster. Even-time arrangements such as 7/7 and 2/2 provide significant time at home, while rosters such as 2/1 involve more time working and can provide higher overall earnings.

Do you need mining experience to become a FIFO electrician?

Not every position requires previous mining experience, although it can make you much more competitive. Industrial maintenance experience can also be valuable when moving into the resources sector.

Are meals and accommodation included with FIFO?

Accommodation and meals are commonly provided while you're staying at a mining camp. Flight arrangements and the designated point of hire vary between employers.