What is the saturation diver salary under the award?

The award does not have a specific saturation diver classification, but saturation divers are typically classified as offshore divers. The total weekly rate for an offshore diver is $2,346.53, which works out to $61.75 per hour for a 38-hour week. This rate already includes allowances for rosters, overtime, and penalties. Superannuation is paid on top of this rate.

How does casual loading apply to saturation divers?

For casual divers under the award, the casual hourly rate already includes a 25% loading. For example, the casual ordinary rate for an offshore diver is $36.59 per hour. If you are award-free, you can add 25% loading to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, giving $33.05 per hour. Use [the timesheet](/) and check the casual loading box only if your base rate does not already include loading.

Is superannuation included in the saturation diver salary?

No, super is paid on top of the salary. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For example, if your annual gross is $100,000, super would be an additional $12,000. See [super and packaging](/topics/super-and-packaging) for more details.

Saturation Diver Salary: Award Rates, Casual Loading, and Super Paid on Top

For a full-time offshore diver under the award, the total weekly rate is $2,346.53, equating to $61.75 per hour for a 38-hour week, with super paid on top.

Saturation Diver Salary Under the Professional Diving Award

If you are researching a saturation diver salary, the most relevant reference is the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020, which covers offshore divers. Saturation diving is a specialised technique, and while the award does not have a separate classification, saturation divers are typically classified as offshore divers. The award provides minimum rates that include allowances for the demanding nature of the work.

Award Rates for Offshore Divers

Under the award, a full-time offshore diver receives a total weekly rate of $2,346.53. This rate is calculated by adding an aggregate weekly factor of 111% to the minimum weekly rate of $1,112.10. The aggregate factor accounts for various rosters, overtime, penalties, and industry conditions. The effective hourly rate is $61.75 per hour for a 38-hour week. This means the fortnightly pay is $4,693.06 per fortnight (weekly rate × 2).

For a casual offshore diver, the award provides a casual ordinary rate of $36.59 per hour, which already includes the 25% casual loading. This loading replaces entitlements such as annual leave and personal leave. The casual hourly rate for ordinary hours is $36.59, and for public holidays the rate is $91.48 per hour (200% of the casual rate).

How to Calculate Your Annual Pay

To convert your hourly rate to annual pay, use the formula: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. For a full-time offshore diver using the total hourly rate of $61.75, the annual gross is $122,000 (61.75 × 38 × 52). For a casual diver using the casual ordinary rate of $36.59, annual gross is $72,000 (36.59 × 38 × 52). Remember that super is paid on top of these amounts.

Use the timesheet to enter your base hourly rate. If you are a casual employee under the award, your base rate already includes the 25% loading, so do not check the casual loading box. If you are award-free, start with the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour and check the box to add 25% loading.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your salary, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a full-time offshore diver earning $122,000 annual gross, super would be an additional $14,640 (12% of $122,000). The Australian Taxation Office sets the super guarantee rate and contribution base. See super and packaging for more details.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week, $1,004.90 per week. For casual employees, the casual rate is $33.05 per hour including 25% loading. The award rates for divers are higher because they reflect the specialised skills and conditions. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for the award, which you can find at pay guides.

Fortnightly Pay and Tax

Fortnightly pay is weekly rate × 2. For a full-time offshore diver, fortnightly pay is $4,693.06. Tax for 2026–27 is based on the resident tax scale: nil up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. Medicare levy is generally 2%. Use take-home pay to estimate net pay.

Important Notes

Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

For more detailed award rates, see reference tables. For average earnings, see average pay. For hourly conversion, see hourly conversion. For casual loading, see casual loading. For job pay, see job pay.