How Much Do FIFO Workers Earn?

FIFO has a reputation for paying ridiculous money.

And compared with many ordinary metropolitan jobs, mining salaries can definitely look impressive.

But "FIFO worker" isn't one job.

Someone cleaning accommodation at a mining camp, a haul-truck operator, a qualified electrician and a senior underground miner can all work FIFO while earning completely different amounts.

Your roster matters too.

Someone earning $150,000 while working long 12-hour shifts for two weeks at a time isn't necessarily being paid an outrageous hourly rate.

So, how much can you actually earn working FIFO in Australia?

How Much Does the Average Mining Worker Earn?

A useful starting point is the Australian mining industry overall.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings across the mining industry of around $2,832 per week before tax.

Annualised across 52 weeks, that's roughly:

$147,000 per year

That is significantly higher than median earnings across Australian industries generally.

But there's an important catch.

This is mining industry data.

It isn't a universal "FIFO salary".

Mining includes workers across:

• Trades
• Operators
• Drilling
• Engineering
• Administration
• Management
• Processing
• Support services

And not every mining worker is FIFO.

Still, it shows why the industry has such a strong reputation for pay.

Why Does FIFO Pay So Much?

Mining employers aren't simply handing out huge salaries because they're feeling generous.

Higher earnings can compensate for things such as:

• Remote locations
• Long shifts
• Night work
• Weekend work
• Extended time away from home
• Physical work
• Difficult conditions
• Specialist skills
• Labour shortages

Many FIFO workers also complete significantly more working hours than someone with a standard 38-hour job.

The headline annual salary therefore only tells part of the story.

How Much Do Entry-Level FIFO Workers Earn?

Entry-level FIFO earnings vary enormously depending on the role.

Someone entering through camp services might earn very differently from an entry-level drilling worker.

Typical entry pathways include:

• Utility worker
• Cleaner
• Housekeeper
• Kitchen hand
• Catering assistant
• Trades assistant
• Storeperson
• Driller's offsider
• Labourer

Some roles pay reasonably similar rates to their metropolitan equivalents but become more attractive because accommodation and meals are provided while on site.

Others, particularly physically demanding mining roles, can push well into six figures.

FIFO Utility Worker Pay

Utility workers perform camp-service duties such as:

• Cleaning
• Housekeeping
• Kitchen assistance
• Dining facilities
• Laundry
• General camp services

These aren't generally the highest-paid FIFO positions.

But they're one of the more accessible pathways for people without mining experience or a trade qualification.

Your total package can also benefit from having accommodation and meals supplied during your swing.

That doesn't show up as salary, but it can reduce your living expenses while you're away.

FIFO Cleaner Pay

Mine-site cleaning generally sits towards the lower end of the FIFO pay spectrum compared with skilled mining and trade positions.

But "lower end of FIFO" can still be attractive compared with similar cleaning jobs in a city.

The main value for some workers is getting their first mine-site experience.

Once you've demonstrated that you can handle the roster and site environment, you may have more opportunities to move into other positions.

FIFO Kitchen and Catering Pay

Kitchen hands, catering assistants and other camp workers can earn solid incomes through remote work.

Qualified chefs can generally command significantly more than entry-level kitchen staff because they're bringing an existing qualification and commercial experience.

Again, the benefit isn't purely the wage.

During your swing, accommodation and meals are commonly provided.

That can make FIFO particularly useful for people trying to save aggressively.

Driller's Offsider Salary

Drilling is where entry-level FIFO earnings can become much more interesting.

Driller's offsiders assist drillers and perform physically demanding work around drilling rigs.

The job is known for:

• Long shifts
• Heavy manual work
• Heat
• Dirt
• Remote locations

There's a reason it can pay well.

Mining drilling occupations sit among the better-paid parts of the workforce.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings of around $2,908 per week across the broader Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers occupation group.

That's roughly $151,000 a year when simply annualised.

A brand-new offsider shouldn't assume they'll immediately earn the median of experienced mining and drilling workers.

But drilling can offer a strong path towards higher earnings as you build experience.

FIFO Trades Assistant Pay

Trades assistants support qualified workers such as:

• Electricians
• Fitters
• Boilermakers
• Mechanics

TA pay can vary significantly depending on experience and the project.

A trades assistant working standard maintenance duties may earn substantially less than a qualified tradesperson.

Shutdowns, overtime and particular site arrangements can increase total earnings.

For someone eventually wanting to enter a trade, the experience can also be worth more than the immediate salary.

FIFO Storeperson Pay

Storepeople and warehouse workers manage parts, tools and materials used throughout mining operations.

These jobs can offer solid FIFO incomes, particularly where shift work and penalties are involved.

Relevant experience can include:

• Warehousing
• Inventory
• Forklifts
• Parts interpreting
• Logistics

Mining equipment consumes enormous quantities of parts and consumables.

Good stores teams matter more than you might initially expect.

How Much Do FIFO Operators Earn?

Plant and equipment operators can earn strong salaries.

Depending on the operation, roles might involve:

• Haul trucks
• Loaders
• Excavators
• Dozers
• Graders
• Other mining equipment

Experienced operators can command significantly more than trainees.

The equipment you're operating also matters.

A worker with years of experience operating large production machinery has a valuable skill set that can't simply be taught in an afternoon.

Haul Truck Operator Salary

Haul-truck driving is one of the most well-known mining jobs.

The attraction is obvious.

You're operating enormous equipment, usually from an air-conditioned cab, while earning mining wages.

That's also why trainee positions can attract huge numbers of applicants.

Experienced haul-truck operators can earn strong six-figure salaries depending on the site and roster.

Entry-level trainees will generally start lower.

Excavator Operator Pay

Experienced excavator operators can be extremely valuable.

Large mining excavators aren't exactly the same thing as hiring a mini excavator to dig a trench in your backyard.

The equipment can be enormous and highly productive.

Operators with strong mining experience can therefore access attractive pay packages.

How Much Do FIFO Electricians Earn?

Qualified electricians can be among the better-paid FIFO trades.

Mining operations require electrical workers across:

• Fixed plant
• Processing facilities
• Workshops
• Camps
• Infrastructure
• Construction
• Maintenance

Industrial electrical experience can be particularly useful.

FIFO electrician salaries can move well into six figures, especially where the position includes overtime, shift penalties, specialist experience or supervisory responsibilities.

Can FIFO Electricians Earn $150,000?

Yes.

Experienced mining electricians can certainly reach that level.

Some roles can exceed it.

But the exact package depends on:

• Roster
• Hours
• Experience
• Site
• Employer
• Specialisation
• Overtime

Someone earning $170,000 on a demanding 2/1 roster may have a very different lifestyle from an electrician earning less on an even-time roster.

How Much Do FIFO Boilermakers Earn?

Boilermakers and welders are widely used across mining maintenance, shutdowns and construction.

Qualified workers can perform fabrication and repair work involving:

• Heavy equipment
• Structural steel
• Processing plants
• Mining machinery

Experienced FIFO boilermakers can earn strong six-figure incomes.

Shutdown work can be particularly lucrative when significant overtime is available.

How Much Do FIFO Fitters Earn?

Mechanical fitters are essential across mine sites and processing plants.

They maintain equipment such as:

• Pumps
• Conveyors
• Crushers
• Gearboxes
• Machinery
• Fixed plant

Mining operations lose money when critical equipment stops.

That makes skilled maintenance workers valuable.

Experienced FIFO fitters can access salaries well above typical metropolitan trade wages.

How Much Do FIFO Diesel Mechanics Earn?

Heavy diesel mechanics and mobile plant technicians can be among the strongest earners in mining maintenance.

They may work on:

• Haul trucks
• Excavators
• Loaders
• Drills
• Support vehicles
• Heavy machinery

These machines can be worth millions of dollars.

A broken machine can cost the operation significant production.

Technicians who can diagnose and repair them efficiently can therefore command excellent salaries.

Can FIFO Mechanics Earn $150,000?

Yes.

Heavy diesel and mobile plant technicians working in resources can earn $150,000 or more depending on experience and roster.

Experienced field service technicians, specialists and supervisors can potentially earn considerably more.

This is one reason mobile plant and heavy mechanical trades can be attractive if maximum earning potential is a priority.

How Much Do FIFO Plumbers Earn?

Remote mining operations still need plumbing.

FIFO plumbers can work across:

• Accommodation villages
• Water systems
• Drainage
• Commercial kitchens
• Bathrooms
• General facilities
• Construction projects

Qualified plumbers can earn strong mining salaries, particularly where overtime and remote allowances are involved.

The role may not receive quite as much attention as electrical or mechanical maintenance, but mine sites still need functioning plumbing.

How Much Do FIFO Chefs Earn?

Qualified chefs can earn significantly more in remote mining camps than they might in many standard hospitality jobs.

You're feeding potentially hundreds or thousands of workers.

The kitchens are large.

The hours can be long.

The environment is remote.

For an experienced chef who wants FIFO without retraining into mining or construction, camp catering can be a genuine career option.

What About Mining Engineers?

Not every FIFO worker is a tradie or operator.

Mining employs professionals including:

• Mining engineers
• Mechanical engineers
• Electrical engineers
• Geologists
• Surveyors

Experienced professionals can command high salaries, particularly as they progress into senior and management positions.

These roles generally require university qualifications rather than trade training.

FIFO Supervisors and Managers

Moving into supervision can substantially increase earning potential.

Mining supervisors can be responsible for:

• Workers
• Production
• Safety
• Maintenance
• Equipment
• Scheduling

Experienced tradespeople and operators can eventually progress into supervisory roles.

Management salaries can climb considerably higher again.

At that point, you're being paid not only for your technical experience but for the responsibility of keeping an entire team or operation functioning.

Can FIFO Workers Earn $200,000?

Yes.

Plenty of FIFO roles can reach or exceed $200,000.

But these are generally not generic entry-level positions.

Workers reaching that level are more likely to have:

• Specialist trade skills
• Extensive mining experience
• Senior operating experience
• Supervisory responsibility
• Engineering qualifications
• Management responsibility
• Significant overtime
• Difficult rosters

If someone tells you they're earning $220,000 FIFO, ask what they do and how much they work.

Context matters.

Can FIFO Workers Earn $300,000?

Some can.

Senior managers, specialist professionals, highly experienced technical workers and certain contracting roles can move into very high incomes.

But $300,000 is nowhere near a normal entry-level FIFO salary.

Don't build your expectations around the highest-paid person you've seen on social media.

The mining industry pays well.

It isn't handing everyone who boards a plane $300,000 a year.

How Does Your Roster Affect Your Salary?

Massively.

Consider two workers.

One works an 8/6 roster.

The other works a 2/1 roster.

The second person spends far more of the year at work.

So if they earn a higher annual salary, part of that difference may simply reflect the fact that they're working significantly more hours.

Always consider:

• Days worked
• Days off
• Shift length
• Night work
• Travel time
• Overtime

The annual salary by itself can be misleading.

8/6 FIFO Roster

An 8/6 roster means:

Eight days working, six days off.

This is relatively close to an even-time roster.

You're getting almost as many days off as you spend on site.

That can provide a much better lifestyle than more work-heavy rosters.

The trade-off may be lower total annual earnings than someone working significantly more days.

7/7 FIFO Roster

Seven days on followed by seven days off is a genuine even-time roster.

You essentially spend half your rostered days working and half off.

For plenty of people, this is one of the major attractions of mining.

Having an entire week off regularly can provide a lifestyle that's impossible in an ordinary Monday-to-Friday job.

2/1 FIFO Roster

Two weeks on followed by one week off means you're spending roughly twice as much roster time at work as you are at home.

That can generate a larger annual income.

It can also be much harder on your lifestyle.

If you're comparing job offers, don't treat 2/1 and 2/2 salaries as equivalent.

2/2 FIFO Roster

Two weeks on followed by two weeks off gives you genuine blocks of time away from work.

You spend around half your roster time on site.

Some workers love this because it gives them enough time at home to travel, pursue hobbies or spend time with family.

An even-time roster can make a slightly lower salary look much more attractive.

How Much Are FIFO Workers Actually Paid Per Hour?

This is the calculation people often forget.

Imagine someone earns $150,000 but works significantly more hours than a normal full-time worker.

Their annual salary looks huge.

Their effective hourly earnings may look much less dramatic.

That doesn't make the job bad.

It simply gives you a better comparison.

When evaluating FIFO, calculate:

Annual working days × shift length

Then compare that with your salary.

Suddenly two job offers can look very different.

Do FIFO Workers Get Paid for Their Week Off?

FIFO salaries are generally structured around your roster.

If you're a permanent salaried employee, your annual salary is typically paid across the year rather than only appearing during your work swing.

Casual and hourly arrangements can work differently.

Always check how the specific position is paid.

Do FIFO Workers Get Free Accommodation?

Accommodation on site is generally provided for FIFO workers.

You'll commonly stay in a mining village or camp.

Rooms typically provide basic private accommodation, while facilities can include:

• Dining
• Gym
• Laundry
• Recreation areas

Standards vary significantly between sites.

Some camps are excellent.

Others make you appreciate your own bed very quickly.

Do FIFO Workers Get Free Food?

Meals are commonly provided while you're on site.

Mining camps operate large dining facilities providing meals to workers.

That can significantly reduce your food spending during your swing.

If you spend half the year on site, that's potentially half the year where you're buying very few groceries at home.

Are Flights Included?

FIFO flights between the designated point of hire and the mine are commonly arranged or provided by the employer.

But check where that point of hire actually is.

A job described as FIFO Perth may mean the employer flies you between Perth and site.

If you live in Melbourne, getting yourself to Perth could be your responsibility.

This can make interstate FIFO less attractive than the headline salary suggests.

Why FIFO Can Be Good for Saving Money

FIFO can be particularly powerful for people with a specific savings goal.

You can combine:

• Higher income
• Accommodation on site
• Meals on site
• Less opportunity to spend money during work swings

If you're disciplined during your time off, your savings rate can be extremely high.

The problem comes when every swing home turns into two weeks of spending because you've convinced yourself you've earned it.

The mines have funded plenty of utes, boats and questionable financial decisions over the years.

Is FIFO Money Worth It?

That depends entirely on the person.

The advantages can include:

• Strong salaries
• Large blocks of time off
• Reduced expenses on site
• Career progression
• Mining experience

The downsides include:

• Long shifts
• Time away from home
• Missing events
• Remote locations
• Night shift
• Fatigue

For someone young with few commitments and a clear savings goal, FIFO can be incredibly attractive.

For someone who hates being away from family, no amount of money may make a 2/1 roster enjoyable.

How Much Should You Earn Before FIFO Is Worth It?

There's no magic figure.

Instead, compare the FIFO role with what you could earn at home.

If a local job pays $100,000 and the FIFO job pays $115,000 but requires significantly more hours and weeks away from home, the difference may not be worth it.

If the FIFO job pays $160,000 while also giving you large blocks of time off, the calculation changes.

Don't chase "FIFO money".

Compare actual jobs.

How to Increase Your FIFO Earnings

There are several ways to increase your long-term earning potential.

Get a Trade

Qualified trades are widely used throughout mining.

Electrical, mechanical, fitting, boilermaking and other trade skills can open significantly higher-paying opportunities.

Gain Mining Experience

Your first mine-site job can be the hardest to get.

Once you've proven yourself on site, employers may be more willing to consider you for better positions.

Learn Equipment

Experienced plant operators can command strong salaries.

The more specialised and productive the equipment, the more valuable your experience can become.

Become a Supervisor

Experienced workers can progress into leading hand and supervisory positions.

You're taking on more responsibility, but the pay can increase accordingly.

Consider More Demanding Rosters

A work-heavy roster can increase annual earnings.

Whether you actually want to make that sacrifice is another question.

Take Overtime

Overtime can significantly increase total pay where available.

Again, there's a very simple downside:

You have to work it.

FIFO Salaries vs Normal Australian Wages

Mining is one of Australia's highest-paying industries.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports median weekly full-time mining earnings of approximately $2,832, compared with around $1,741 across industries generally using the same industry measure.

That's a significant difference.

But remember why.

Mining workers often deal with remote locations, long hours, shift work and specialised roles.

The industry pays more partly because it needs to attract people to do work under those conditions.

So, How Much Can You Make FIFO?

The honest answer is:

Anywhere from a fairly ordinary wage to well over $200,000 a year.

Entry-level camp-services workers sit towards the lower end.

Drilling, operators and qualified trades can move into strong six-figure incomes.

Experienced specialists, supervisors and professionals can earn significantly more again.

Across mining overall, median full-time earnings sit around $2,832 per week before tax, which works out to roughly $147,000 when annualised.

That's a useful benchmark.

But your individual FIFO salary will depend on your job, experience, roster and hours.

So don't ask only:

"How much does FIFO pay?"

Ask:

"How much does this FIFO job pay for the amount of my life I'm giving it?"

That's the number that actually matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average FIFO worker earn?

There isn't a single average FIFO salary because FIFO covers many occupations. Across Australia's mining industry, median full-time earnings are around $2,832 per week before tax.

How much is $2,832 per week annually?

Multiplying $2,832 by 52 gives approximately $147,000 per year. This is a simple annualised comparison rather than a standard FIFO salary.

Can entry-level FIFO workers earn $100,000?

Yes, some entry-level mining jobs can reach six figures, particularly physically demanding roles such as drilling. Camp-service and support positions may earn less.

Can FIFO workers earn $150,000?

Yes. Experienced operators, qualified tradespeople and other skilled mining workers can earn $150,000 or more depending on the role and roster.

Can FIFO workers earn $200,000?

Yes. Specialist trades, senior operators, supervisors, professionals and workers doing significant overtime can reach or exceed $200,000.

What FIFO jobs pay the most?

Higher-paying opportunities can include specialist trades, heavy equipment maintenance, experienced plant operation, drilling, engineering, supervision and management.

Is food and accommodation included with FIFO?

Accommodation and meals are commonly provided while workers are on site. Specific arrangements vary between employers and projects.

Does FIFO pay more because you work longer hours?

Often, yes. Many FIFO workers complete 12-hour shifts and work long consecutive swings, so annual salary comparisons should take total working hours into account.