What is the minimum wage for a FIFO electrician?

There is no single minimum wage for FIFO electricians. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, but most electricians are covered by a modern award. The Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award sets rates from $27.53 (Grade 1) to $38.91 (Grade 10) per hour for adult full-time employees. FIFO electricians in mining may be covered by the Mining Industry Award or an enterprise agreement, which can set higher rates.

Does the FIFO electrician salary include superannuation?

No, the salary or wage rate quoted is before tax and does not include superannuation. Employers must pay an additional 12% super guarantee on top of ordinary time earnings. For example, an award rate of $30 per hour means the employer also contributes $3.60 per hour to super.

Can a FIFO electrician be paid less than the award rate?

Generally no. If the employee is covered by a modern award, the employer must pay at least the minimum award rate for the classification. However, junior employees, apprentices, or those on an introductory rate may be paid less. Enterprise agreements can also set different rates, but they must not undercut the award's overall conditions.

FIFO electrician salary: what the minimum wage and award rates mean for your pay

The legal minimum for an adult electrician covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award ranges from $27.53 to $38.91 per hour depending on grade, plus 12% super. FIFO electricians may be covered by different awards or agreements, often with higher rates.

Understanding the fifo electrician salary

When searching for a "fifo electrician salary", it is important to distinguish between the legal minimum, an award rate, and a negotiated salary. The term FIFO (fly-in fly-out) often applies to workers in remote mining or resource projects, where pay can be higher due to allowances and demand. However, the starting point for any pay discussion is the minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission and the relevant modern award.

The legal minimum wage

As of 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for adult employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. This is the floor set by the Fair Work Commission. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces these rates. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. Note that junior employees, apprentices, and trainees may be paid less. For award-free juniors, percentages of the adult rate apply (e.g., 18-year-olds get 68.3%, or $18.06 per hour).

Award coverage for electricians

Most electricians in Australia are covered by a modern award. The Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award (MA000025) is one common award. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide published 7 August 2026, adult full-time rates range from $27.53 per hour (Electrical worker grade 1) to $38.91 per hour (grade 10) including industry and tool allowances. An electrician with a licence receives higher rates, e.g., grade 5 with all allowances is $32.19 per hour. These rates are the minimum; an employer cannot pay less. The award also specifies overtime, penalty rates, and allowances.

What about FIFO?

A FIFO electrician may be covered by a different award, such as the Mining Industry Award or the Electrical Power Industry Award, or by an enterprise agreement specific to the site. The Fair Work Ombudsman advises using the Pay and Conditions Tool to determine the correct award. If an enterprise agreement applies, it must meet the "better off overall test" compared to the award. FIFO roles often include additional allowances for travel, accommodation, and remote work, which can push total compensation well above the base award rate. However, without a specific survey or ABS data, we cannot state a typical FIFO electrician salary. The ABS May 2026 figures show full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, but that is an average across all industries, not specific to FIFO electricians.

Superannuation is additional

Whenever discussing pay, remember that superannuation is an employer contribution on top of the salary or wage. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For example, an electrician earning $30 per hour under an award would also receive $3.60 per hour in super, making the total employment cost $33.60 per hour. This is not deducted from the employee's pay.

Comparing award rates to the national minimum

Some award rates are higher than the national minimum wage. For instance, the lowest adult rate in the Electrical Contracting Award ($27.53) is above the national minimum ($26.44). However, some awards have introductory rates that are lower. The award backstop ensures that ongoing classifications cannot fall below the national minimum, and introductory rates (limited to 6 months) cannot be less than $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week from 1 July 2026.

Negotiated salaries and enterprise agreements

Many FIFO electricians are employed under enterprise agreements that set a flat rate or annual salary. These agreements must be registered with the Fair Work Commission and cannot undercut the award's minimum conditions. A negotiated salary might be expressed as an annual figure, but it is useful to convert it to an hourly rate (based on a 38-hour week) to compare against the award. If the hourly equivalent is below the award rate, the agreement may not be lawful.

For more information, see Which minimum wage applies and Rate tables on this site. Always check the specific award or agreement that covers your job, as the legal minimum is only the starting point.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.