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FIFO Electrician Salary: How It Compares to National Averages and Award Rates

No specific FIFO electrician salary is published by the ABS or Fair Work, but the median full-time electrician earns $2,191 per week, well above the national full-time average of $2,084.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Understanding the FIFO Electrician Salary

If you are a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) electrician or considering the role, you may be wondering how the pay compares to national benchmarks. The short answer is that no official source publishes a specific FIFO electrician salary. However, we can use data from the ABS, Fair Work, and Jobs and Skills Australia to give you a clear picture of where electrician pay sits relative to the national full-time average, award minimums, and median earnings.

National Full-Time Average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings report for May 2026 shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week nationally. That works out to about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the line used by Average line to benchmark all salaries. For men, the average is higher at $2,181.50 per week ($113,438 per year), and for women it is $1,934.50 per week ($100,594 per year).

Electrician Median Earnings

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time earnings for electricians (based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) is $2,191 per week. That is about $113,932 per year. The median hourly earnings are $55. This is significantly above the national full-time median of about $1,741 per week ($90,532 per year) and well above the all-employees median of about $1,425 per week ($74,100 per year). Electricians also work longer hours on average: 45 hours per week compared to 44 for all occupations, and 94% work full-time.

Award Minimum Rates

FIFO electricians are likely covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025). The award rates from 1 July 2026 (after the 4.75% increase) range from $27.53 per hour for an Electrical worker grade 1 to $39.97 per hour for grade 10 (including industry, tool, and electrician’s licence allowances). These rates are minimums; many FIFO electricians earn above award through enterprise agreements or site allowances.

State-by-State Averages

Where you work affects your pay. The ABS provides state full-time averages (May 2026):

  • New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 per year)
  • Victoria: $2,041.10 ($106,137)
  • Queensland: $2,039.70 ($106,064)
  • South Australia: $1,970.20 ($102,450)
  • Western Australia: $2,227.40 ($115,825)
  • Tasmania: $1,846.30 ($96,008)
  • Northern Territory: $1,984.10 ($103,173)
  • Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 ($119,090)

FIFO electricians often work in Western Australia and Queensland, where state averages are above the national figure. The electrician median of $2,191 is close to the WA average, suggesting FIFO roles in the resources sector may pay even more.

Tax Considerations

For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are:

  • 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
  • 45% above $190,000 Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low incomes). A FIFO electrician earning the median $113,932 would fall in the 30% bracket plus Medicare, so take-home pay is about $79,000 after tax (before any deductions or offsets).

How to Use This Information

You can Place a salary on the line to see how your FIFO electrician salary compares to the national average. For more detail on how averages vary by location, see States and territories. If you want to compare against other trades, check Job medians.

Conclusion

While there is no official FIFO electrician salary figure, the available data shows that electricians earn above the national full-time average. The median of $2,191 per week is a solid benchmark. Award rates provide a floor, and FIFO roles often include additional allowances for remote work, travel, and overtime. Always check your specific enterprise agreement or consult Fair Work for your exact entitlements.

Questions

What is the average FIFO electrician salary in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics and Fair Work do not publish a separate average salary for FIFO electricians. The most relevant figure is the median full-time electrician earnings of $2,191 per week (from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025), which is above the national full-time average of $2,084 per week. FIFO roles often include additional allowances and overtime, but no official average exists.

How does a FIFO electrician salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Even the lowest award rate for an electrical worker grade 1 under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award is $27.53 per hour, so FIFO electricians earn well above the minimum. The median electrician hourly rate of $55 is double the minimum.

Which award covers FIFO electricians?

FIFO electricians are typically covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025) unless an enterprise agreement applies. The award sets minimum rates from $27.53 per hour for grade 1 up to $39.97 for grade 10 (including allowances). FIFO work may also attract site-specific allowances or penalty rates for overtime and remote work.

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