How Much FIFO Workers Can Save Each Year?

How Much FIFO Workers Can Save Each Year? FIFO (Fly-In Fly-Out) jobs pay well. But how much can you save in a year? The answer depends on your income, occupation, experience, spending, and how disciplined you are. See how much FIFO workers typically save in a year, plus expert tips on budgeting, investing, and keeping expenses low.

FIFO Income Overview

Most FIFO workers in mining, oil, and gas earn between $110,000 and $160,000 per year, according to the SEEK report 2024. Some roles—like heavy diesel mechanics, electricians, and supervisors—can push above $180,000, depending upon their job role and experiences. But income alone doesn’t tell the full story. What matters is how much you keep. Here’s what most disciplined FIFO workers can save annually:

Income Level	Lifestyle Type	Estimated Annual Savings
$110,000	Average spender	$25,000 – $40,000
$130,000 – $150,000	Frugal with a budget	$50,000 – $70,000
$160,000+	Minimal expenses at home	$70,000 – $90,000+

What Affects How Much You Save?

Home base expenses: Rent, mortgage, and family costs eat into your savings.
Rostering: 2:1 and 3:1 rosters offer more time to earn and less time to spend.
Discipline: Your habits will make or break your savings rate.
Debt: Credit card or personal loan repayments limit what you can save.

Ways to Maximise Your Savings

Automate transfers into savings and investment accounts.
Set a clear monthly savings target (e.g., $5,000/month).
Minimise spending when off-site—avoid big purchases unless planned.
Pay down high-interest debt first.

Use budgeting tools like PocketSmith, MoneySmart’s planner, or your bank’s app to stay on track. Real FIFO example: A FIFO operator in Western Australia earning $145,000 with no mortgage, low expenses, and a $2,500/month spending cap saved $65,000 in 2024. He invested $30,000 of that into ETFs and put the rest into a high-interest savings account.

Keep Lifestyle Creep In Check

One of the biggest savings killers? Lifestyle inflation. FIFO work can feel exhausting—you might feel tempted to reward yourself constantly. Try this instead: Celebrate wins with low-cost experiences, stick to your plan 80% of the time, and Track spending monthly.

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