Saturation diving salary: how award rates and state location shift pay from the national line

Saturation diving salary: how award rates and state location shift pay from the national line

Saturation diving is a specialised technique where a diver stays pressurised for days or weeks, allowing long shifts at depth. Because the work is demanding and dangerous, pay is governed by the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020, which sets minimum rates well above the national full‑time average. But there is no single “saturation diving salary” – earnings depend on classification, depth, location, and whether the work is inshore or offshore.

National benchmarks for comparison

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts the national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). That is the line this site uses. The full‑time median (from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, August 2025) is about $90,532, and the all‑employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week on a 38‑hour week – about $52,255 a year.

For a saturation diver, the award minimums start well above the national average. The offshore diver classification has a total weekly rate of $2,346.53 (including the aggregate factor for rosters, overtime, and penalties). That is already 13% above the national full‑time average. On top of that, a diving allowance of $5.23 per metre applies, with a minimum of $390 for any dive using saturation techniques. A deep saturation dive can easily add thousands of dollars to a single shift.

Award rates for saturation divers

The Professional Diving Industry Award covers both inshore and offshore work. For offshore divers – the category most relevant to saturation diving – the minimum weekly rates (as at 1 July 2026) are:

These total rates already include payment for the various rosters, overtime, and penalties typical in the industry. The saturation diving allowance is paid in addition: $5.23 per metre of depth, with a minimum of $390 for a saturation dive (calculated as 250 times the per‑foot allowance). For example, a diver working at 50 metres would receive an allowance of $261.50 per dive, but the $390 minimum applies if that is higher.

Inshore divers have lower base rates – a Diver’s minimum weekly rate is $1,344.50 – and their diving allowance is $5.78 per metre with no saturation‑specific minimum. However, saturation diving is almost always offshore, so the offshore rates are the relevant benchmark.

How state averages compare

State full‑time averages (from the same ABS survey) show where the national line sits across Australia. A saturation diver working in Western Australia or the ACT could expect to earn more than the national average, while Tasmania and South Australia are below. But because divers often travel to worksites, their pay is set by the award, not by the state where they live.

A saturation diver on the minimum total weekly rate of $2,346.53 earns about $122,020 a year (52 weeks), which is above every state average except the ACT. With the saturation allowance and overtime, actual earnings can be significantly higher.

What the data doesn’t tell you

The ABS does not publish a specific “saturation diving salary”. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for Divers shows median weekly earnings as “N/A” because the sample is too small. The award rates are the only reliable public figures. They are minimums – many divers are paid above the award, especially for saturation work.

If you are a saturation diver, you can place your salary on the line to see how it compares with the national full‑time average and with state averages. The site uses a 38‑hour week to calculate hourly and weekly equivalents, and shows the distance from the national line.

Key takeaways

• The national full‑time average is $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year).
• The offshore diver minimum total weekly rate under the award is $2,346.53 – already above the national line.
• Saturation diving adds an allowance of at least $390 per dive.
• State averages range from $96,008 (Tasmania) to $119,090 (ACT).
• The ABS does not publish a separate saturation diving figure; the award is the best guide.

For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set. To compare your pay with other occupations, visit Job medians.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary for a saturation diver? The ABS does not publish a separate average for saturation divers. The Professional Diving Industry Award sets a minimum total weekly rate of $2,346.53 for an offshore diver (including allowances for rosters and overtime), plus a diving allowance of at least $390 per dive when saturation techniques are used. Actual earnings depend on depth, time underwater, and the employer.

How does saturation diving pay compare to the national average? The national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average is $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year). An offshore diver’s minimum total weekly rate under the award is $2,346.53, which is already above that average before the saturation allowance is added. However, many divers work longer hours (average 48 hours per week) and receive additional allowances, so actual pay can be significantly higher.

What factors affect saturation diving earnings? Earnings vary by: (1) classification – Diving Superintendent, Supervisor, or Diver each have different minimum rates; (2) depth – the diving allowance is $5.23 per metre, with a minimum of $390 for saturation dives; (3) location – offshore divers have a higher aggregate weekly factor than inshore divers; (4) state – full‑time averages range from $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the ACT, though divers may work across jurisdictions.