What is the difference between the National Minimum Wage and the award rate for saturation diving?

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but the Professional Diving Industry Award sets a much higher minimum for offshore divers. For a casual offshore diver (including saturation work), the award rate is $61.75 per hour, which includes casual loading and an aggregate factor covering overtime and penalties.

How is annual pay calculated for a saturation diver?

Annual pay is estimated as hourly rate × hours per week × 52. For a casual offshore diver at $61.75 per hour working 38 hours per week, that equals approximately $122,018 per year before tax and super. Superannuation at 12% is paid on top of ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base.

Does the saturation diving salary include penalty rates and allowances?

For offshore divers under the award, the total weekly rate includes an aggregate weekly factor that compensates for overtime, penalties, and the nature of the work. No additional penalty rates are paid on top. For inshore divers, separate overtime rates and diving allowances apply.

Saturation Diving Salary: Award Rates vs National Minimum Wage in Australia

For a casual offshore diver under the award, the saturation diving salary is approximately $61.75 per hour (including casual loading and aggregate factor), based on 38 ordinary hours per week.

Understanding the National Minimum Wage

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage set by the Fair Work Commission is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. This is the base rate for adult employees not covered by an award or agreement. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. These rates are a floor – many industries have award rates that are significantly higher.

Award Rates for Professional Divers

Professional divers are covered by the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020. The award sets minimum wages for both inshore and offshore diving, including saturation diving. Saturation diving is defined as procedures where a diver is continuously subjected to ambient pressure greater than atmospheric, so that body tissues become saturated with the inert element of the breathing mixture.

Offshore Diver Rates

For offshore divers (including saturation work), the award provides a total weekly rate that includes an aggregate weekly factor. This factor compensates for overtime, penalties, and the nature of the work. As of the current award, a full-time offshore Diver has a minimum weekly rate of $1,112.10, plus an aggregate factor of 111%, giving a total weekly rate of $2,346.53 for 38 ordinary hours. That works out to $61.75 per hour.

Casual offshore divers are paid a casual ordinary rate that already includes the 25% casual loading. For a Diver, that casual ordinary rate is also $61.75 per hour – the same as the full-time hourly equivalent because the aggregate factor already accounts for the nature of the work. This is the rate you would use to calculate a saturation diving salary.

Inshore Diver Rates

Inshore divers have different pay structures. A full-time inshore Diver is paid a minimum weekly rate of $1,344.50 for 38 hours, or $35.38 per hour. Casual inshore divers receive a casual hourly rate of $44.23 (including loading). Inshore divers also receive a diving allowance of $5.78 per metre of depth, and overtime is paid at 150% to 250% depending on the day.

Calculating Your Saturation Diving Salary

To estimate your annual pay from an hourly rate, use the formula:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 = annual gross

We assume a standard 38-hour week unless your award specifies otherwise. For a casual offshore diver at $61.75 per hour:

Weekly: $61.75 × 38 = $2,346.50
Fortnightly: $2,346.50 × 2 = $4,693.00
Annual: $61.75 × 38 × 52 = $122,018.00

This is before tax and super. Superannuation is paid on top at 12% of ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 (2026–27). For this salary, super would be an additional $14,642.16 per year.

Tax on Your Saturation Diving Salary

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% on excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: 30% on excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: 37% on excess over $135,000
Above $190,000: 45%

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (using 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed here).

For an annual gross of $122,018, the estimated tax is approximately $26,467 plus Medicare levy of $2,440, leaving a take-home of about $93,111. Use our take-home pay tool for a personalised estimate.

Casual Loading and Super

If you are a casual employee, your hourly rate already includes the 25% casual loading. Do not add it again. The loading compensates for entitlements like annual leave and sick leave. Superannuation is calculated on your ordinary earnings (the base rate before loading) but the award specifies that for offshore divers the total weekly rate is used for super purposes. Check your pay slip.

For more on casual loading, see our casual loading guide. For super and packaging details, visit super and packaging.

Comparing to Other Pay Points

The National Minimum Wage is a useful benchmark, but award rates like those for saturation diving show how specialised skills command higher pay. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time employees was $2,083.70 per week in May 2026 – well below the offshore diver’s weekly rate of $2,346.50. Use our hourly conversion tool to compare any rate.

Disclaimer

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.