Fire fighter salary and the national average
Fire fighter salary in Australia is not published as a single average by the ABS, but the minimum rates set by the Fire Fighting Industry Award 2020 provide a clear floor. The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). For a public sector Qualified Firefighter at the award minimum, the total weekly rate including shift loading and average 40 hours loading is $1,607.97, which works out to roughly $83,614 a year. That is about $24,738 below the national full-time average. Private sector minimums are lower again: a Qualified Firefighter on the base rate earns $1,119.10 a week ($58,193 a year) before shift loadings.
Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares.
How the award sets the floor
The Fire Fighting Industry Award 2020, updated from 1 July 2026, covers both public and private sector firefighters. The award includes minimum weekly rates for classifications from Recruit to Senior Station Officer. For public sector employees, the rates already incorporate a 30% shift loading and a 10.5263% average 40 hours loading, reflecting the typical shift patterns. Private sector rates are shown as base hourly or weekly rates, with separate shiftworker hourly rates.
| Classification | Public sector total weekly rate | Private sector base weekly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified Firefighter | $1,607.97 | $1,119.10 |
| Leading Firefighter | $1,839.88 | $1,280.50 |
| Station Officer | $1,994.48 | $1,388.10 |
| Senior Station Officer | $2,148.65 | $1,495.40 |
These are minimums. Actual pay can be higher through enterprise agreements, individual contracts, or additional allowances.
What moves pay above the minimum
Several factors can push a fire fighter salary above the award floor and closer to or above the national average:
- Classification and experience: Higher ranks such as Station Officer ($1,994.48 per week public sector) or Senior Station Officer ($2,148.65) earn above the Qualified Firefighter rate. A Senior Station Officer at the award minimum is only about $65 a week below the national full-time average.
- Overtime and penalty rates: Overtime for shiftworkers is paid at double time, and public holiday work at 2.5 times the ordinary rate. These can significantly boost weekly earnings.
- Allowances: Availability allowance, first aid allowance, and other industry-specific allowances add to pay.
- Enterprise agreements: Many state fire services have their own agreements that set higher base rates than the award. For example, firefighters in some states may earn well above the award minimum.
- Location: Firefighters in remote or high-cost areas may receive additional allowances.
States and territories shows how average earnings vary across Australia, which can affect relative comparisons.
Public vs private sector differences
The award clearly distinguishes between public and private sector rates. Public sector firefighters have higher minimums because the award includes built-in loadings for shift work and the 40-hour average week. Private sector firefighters start from a lower base but may receive shift loadings on top. A private sector Qualified Firefighter on base rate earns $29.45 per hour, while the shiftworker ordinary hourly rate is $38.29. Even with shift loading, the private sector total is typically lower than the public sector equivalent.
State and territory variations
State full-time averages range from about $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the ACT. A fire fighter salary at the public sector award minimum for a Qualified Firefighter ($83,614) would be below every state average. However, a Senior Station Officer at the award minimum ($111,730 per year) would be above the Tasmanian average but below most others. Actual earnings for experienced firefighters in states with strong enterprise agreements may exceed state averages.
How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the national averages and award rates.
The role of the national minimum wage
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. All award rates for firefighters are well above this. Even the lowest classification (Recruit) at $1,005.10 per week is essentially at the minimum wage, but with shift loadings, actual pay is higher.
Summary
A fire fighter salary at the award minimum for a public sector Qualified Firefighter is about $83,600 a year, which is below the national full-time average of $108,352. But with overtime, allowances, and higher classifications, many firefighters earn significantly more. Private sector firefighters start lower but can also increase earnings through shift work and penalties. The award provides a clear floor, but actual pay depends on the employer, location, and individual circumstances.