FIFO Electrician Salary: How to Calculate Your Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate
For a qualified FIFO electrician under the Electrical Award, the base hourly rate is around $30.76 (including allowances), giving an annual gross of about $60,780 based on 38 hours per week for 52 weeks.
FIFO Electrician Salary: Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Pay
If you're a FIFO electrician or considering a fly-in fly-out role, understanding how your hourly rate translates into annual, fortnightly, and take-home pay is essential. This guide uses the Fair Work Ombudsman's Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025) and the latest tax and superannuation rules to help you estimate your earnings.
The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours × 52
The standard way to convert an hourly rate to annual gross pay is:
Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks
For full-time employees under the award, ordinary hours are 38 per week. We assume 38 hours for all calculations unless you work a different pattern. This formula gives a consistent annual figure, but remember it doesn't include overtime, penalty rates, or allowances beyond those built into the base rate.
Award Rates for FIFO Electricians
The Electrical Award sets minimum rates for various grades. A qualified electrician is typically classified as Grade 5 or higher. The pay guide published by the Fair Work Ombudsman shows the following for Grade 5 (including industry, tool, and electrician's licence allowances):
- Hourly rate: $30.76
- Weekly rate: $1,168.70
- Annual gross (38 hrs × 52): $60,772.40
These rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025. FIFO roles may attract additional site allowances or higher rates negotiated in enterprise agreements, but the award minimum is your legal baseline.
Casual Loading for FIFO Workers
Many FIFO electricians are engaged as casuals. Under clause 11.2 of the award, casual employees receive a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate. For Grade 5:
- Casual hourly rate: $30.76 × 1.25 = $38.45
- Casual weekly: $1,461.10
- Casual annual: $75,977.20
The loading replaces entitlements like annual leave, personal leave, and redundancy pay. When using our the timesheet tool, tick the casual loading checkbox to add 25% on top of your base rate – never enter a rate that already includes loading.
Fortnightly Pay
If you're paid fortnightly, multiply your weekly gross by two. For the permanent Grade 5 rate:
- Fortnightly: $1,168.70 × 2 = $2,337.40
This is useful for budgeting, especially if your FIFO roster means you work two weeks on, one week off. The annual figure remains the same regardless of pay frequency.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week, or $1,004.90 weekly minimum wage. Award rates for skilled electricians are significantly higher. The award also includes all-purpose allowances (industry, tool, licence) that become part of your ordinary rate for calculating overtime, leave, and penalties.
Tax and Take-Home Pay
Once you have your annual gross, you can estimate tax using the 2026–27 resident rates:
- Nil tax on first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low-income earners). For a FIFO electrician earning $60,772:
- Tax on $60,772: $18,200 tax-free, then 15% on $26,800 = $4,020, then 30% on $15,772 = $4,731.60, total tax $8,751.60
- Medicare levy: $1,215.44
- Estimated annual take-home: $60,772 – $8,752 – $1,215 = $50,805 (approximately)
Use our take-home pay guide for a more detailed breakdown, including HELP repayments and the Medicare levy surcharge.
Superannuation Paid on Top
Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% of ordinary earnings (from 1 July 2026) up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. This is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. For a $60,772 salary:
- Super contribution: $60,772 × 12% = $7,292.64
- Total employment cost: $60,772 + $7,293 = $68,065
Super is not included in your take-home pay but is a valuable part of your total remuneration package. See super and packaging for more.
Important Considerations
- Overtime: The award requires overtime pay at 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% thereafter (Monday–Saturday). Casual overtime rates are 187.5% and 250%. These are not included in the basic conversion.
- Penalty rates: Sunday and public holiday work attract higher rates. FIFO rosters often include weekend work, so your actual pay may be higher.
- Allowances: FIFO roles may include site, travel, or living-away-from-home allowances. These are separate from the award rate and should be added to your gross.
- Salary packaging: Some employers offer salary sacrifice arrangements. This can reduce taxable income but affects super and other entitlements.
Using the Timesheet Tool
Our the timesheet tool lets you enter your base hourly rate and see annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures instantly. Check the casual loading box if applicable. The tool uses the same formula and assumptions described here, giving you a reliable estimate for your FIFO electrician salary.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.