How the FIFO calculator works

How to calculate pay after tax for FIFO jobs in Australia.

The example below uses the default roster and tax settings most users will see first: 8/6 swing, $40.00/hour, super turned on, resident tax rates, and no HECS-HELP debt.

Open the calculator Jump to the example

This is an estimate, not a payslip

The tool gives a fast comparison using the app's tax logic. Real payroll can differ because of allowances, bonuses, salary sacrifice, site uplifts, timing of pay cycles, and employer-specific rules.

Super is shown separately from take-home pay

When super is turned on, it does not get added into the net pay figure. It is displayed as employer super on top of take-home pay.

Hourly FIFO roles assume 12-hour work days

The calculator treats each on-site day as 12 paid hours. For super, the default base is 8 hours per day, but you can change that if your employer pays super on more hours.

Tax settings matter

Backpacker tax, HECS-HELP repayments, and the selected roster all change the result. The example below uses standard Australian resident tax, no HECS debt, and the default 8/6 swing.

Example settings used below

These assumptions match a standard calculator run for an hourly FIFO job with super included.

Pay type

Hourly

Hourly rate

$40.00 per hour

Roster

8/6 swing

Work day assumption

12 paid hours per day

Super setting

On at 12% for 8 hours/day

Tax settings

Resident tax, Medicare levy on, no HECS

Quick result snapshot

What the calculator returns before you drill into the formula.

Gross per swing

$3,840.00

Estimated net per swing

$2,880.60

Gross per year

$100,182.86

Net per month

$6,262.73

Employer super

$8,014.63 / year

Example breakdown

What happens when you enter $40.00/hour with super turned on

This walkthrough follows the same order as the app's calculation: hourly pay to swing pay, swing pay to annual pay, tax and Medicare, then separate superannuation.

1. Convert the hourly rate into one swing

The calculator uses 12 paid hours for each FIFO work day.

$40.00 x 12 hours = $480.00 per day

$480.00 x 8 on-days = $3,840.00 gross per 8/6 swing

2. Annualise the roster

An 8/6 roster is a 14-day cycle. The app annualises that using an average 365.25-day year.

365.25 / 14 = 26.09 swings per year

$3,840.00 x 26.09 = $100,182.86 gross per year

That also works out to $8,348.57 gross per month on average.

3. Apply income tax and Medicare levy

For this example, the app uses standard Australian resident tax rates plus a 2% Medicare levy.

Income tax = $5,092.00 + ($100,182.86 - $45,000.00) x 32.5%

Income tax = $23,026.43

Medicare levy = 2% x $100,182.86 = $2,003.66

Total tax withheld = $25,030.09

4. Estimate take-home pay

With no HECS-HELP repayment selected, net pay is gross pay minus total tax.

$100,182.86 - $25,030.09 = $75,152.77 net per year

$75,152.77 / 12 = $6,262.73 net per month

$3,840.00 - $959.40 = $2,880.60 net per swing

5. Calculate super separately

Super is not included in the net pay figure. It is shown as an employer contribution on top.

For hourly jobs, the app calculates super on the chosen super hours per day. The default is 8 hours, not the full 12-hour shift.

Super base = $40.00 x 8 hours x 8 on-days x 26.09 swings

Super base = $66,788.57 per year

Employer super = $66,788.57 x 12% = $8,014.63 per year

Super per swing

$307.20

Super per month

$667.89

Super per year

$8,014.63