What is the minimum hourly rate for an underwater welder in Australia?

Under the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020, an inshore hyperbaric welder’s minimum hourly rate is $37.01 (full-time), while an offshore hyperbaric welder receives a total hourly rate of $75.75. Casual employees get an additional 25% loading on the base rate.

How do I calculate annual pay from an underwater welding salary?

Multiply the hourly rate by 38 hours per week (full-time ordinary hours) and then by 52 weeks. For example, $37.01 × 38 × 52 = $73,131.76 gross per year for an inshore hyperbaric welder. Add superannuation (12% on top) and deduct tax using the 2026–27 resident rates.

Does the underwater welding salary include casual loading?

The award specifies a casual loading of 25% on the minimum hourly rate for inshore divers. For offshore divers, the casual ordinary rate already includes the loading. Always check the award classification. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides list both rates separately.

Underwater Welding Salary: Award Rates, Hourly Pay and Annual Earnings

A full-time inshore hyperbaric welder earns $37.01 per hour ($1,406.50 weekly) under the award; offshore total weekly rate is $2,878.63 ($75.75 per hour), both based on 38 ordinary hours.

Understanding the Underwater Welding Salary

Underwater welding, often called hyperbaric welding, is a specialised trade covered by the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020 [MA000108]. The award sets minimum rates for inshore and offshore divers, including hyperbaric welders. Understanding your underwater welding salary starts with knowing your classification, ordinary hours, and whether you are full-time or casual.

Award Rates for Hyperbaric Welders

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides and the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database, the minimum rates from 1 July 2026 are:

Inshore Hyperbaric Welder (full-time): $1,406.50 per week, $37.01 per hour.
Offshore Hyperbaric Welder (full-time): total weekly rate $2,878.63 (includes aggregate factor), $75.75 per hour.
Casual Inshore Hyperbaric Welder: $46.26 per hour (includes 25% loading).
Casual Offshore Hyperbaric Welder: $43.84 per hour (ordinary rate, loading included).

These rates are the legal minimums. Many underwater welders earn above award, but the award provides the baseline for calculating penalty rates, allowances, and overtime.

From Hourly to Annual Pay

To estimate your annual underwater welding salary, use the formula:

Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

We assume 38 ordinary hours per week for full-time employees, as per the award. For example:

Inshore hyperbaric welder: $37.01 × 38 × 52 = $73,131.76
Offshore hyperbaric welder: $75.75 × 38 × 52 = $149,682.00

For casual employees, the hourly rate already includes the 25% loading. Never add loading again. The casual loading page explains how it replaces annual leave and sick pay.

A fortnightly pay period is common in diving. Multiply the weekly rate by 2: inshore full-time fortnight = $2,813.00; offshore fortnight = $5,757.26.

Tax and Super

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (from 1 July 2026) up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For an inshore welder earning $73,131, super adds $8,775.72 per year. Offshore welders earning $149,682 also receive 12% super, but the base is capped.

Tax for 2026–27 residents:

$0–$18,200: nil
$18,201–$45,000: 15%
$45,001–$135,000: 30%
$135,001–$190,000: 37%
Over $190,000: 45% Plus Medicare levy of 2% (single reduction thresholds not confirmed for 2026–27; use 2025–26 thresholds).

Use the hourly conversion tool to estimate your take-home pay, but remember it does not include allowances, penalty rates, or salary sacrifice.

Fortnightly Pay and Allowances

Wages are paid weekly or fortnightly under the award. For inshore divers, additional allowances apply: diving allowance ($5.78 per metre), non-destructive testing ($87.53 per day), and hyperbaric welding allowance ($6.59 per linear millimetre for a successful weld). These can significantly boost your underwater welding salary.

Offshore divers receive an aggregate weekly factor that already includes overtime and penalties, so their total weekly rate is higher.

Casual vs Full-Time

Casual employees get a 25% loading but lose entitlements like annual leave and paid personal leave. The award requires a minimum 8-hour engagement for casual inshore divers. Always check the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman for the latest rates.

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.