What is the minimum wage for a saturation diver under the award?

The Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020 sets minimum rates for offshore divers. For a Diver classification, the total weekly rate is $2,346.53 as of 1 July 2026, which equates to $61.75 per hour. This rate includes allowances for rosters, overtime, and industry conditions. Additionally, a saturation diving allowance of at least $390 per dive (calculated as 250 times the diving allowance per foot) is paid for dives using saturation techniques. The award also covers inshore divers with lower minimum rates.

How is the saturation diving allowance calculated?

Under clause 32.2 of the award, a diver is paid a diving allowance of $5.23 per metre or $1.56 per foot of water depth. For saturation techniques, the minimum allowance is $390, calculated as 250 times the diving allowance per foot. The allowance is paid once per dive based on the greatest depth reached. This is on top of the total weekly rate.

Does the Professional Diving Award cover all saturation divers?

The award covers employees in the professional diving industry, including those performing saturation diving. However, if an enterprise agreement or other registered agreement applies, its rates may be higher. Employees not covered by any award or agreement are entitled to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (as of 1 July 2026), but this is almost always lower than award rates for divers. Always check your specific employment instrument.

Understanding the Saturation Diver Salary: Award Rates and Legal Minimums in Australia

The legal minimum for an offshore diver under the Professional Diving Award is a total weekly rate of $2,346.53 (or $61.75 per hour), which includes allowances for saturation work, but actual pay depends on depth, duration, and employer agreement.

What Is a Saturation Diver Salary?

When people search for a "saturation diver salary" in Australia, they are often looking for a single figure. In reality, there is no one number. Pay depends on the type of diving (inshore or offshore), the depth and duration of dives, the employer, and whether an award or enterprise agreement applies. This guide explains the legal minimums set by the Fair Work Commission and how to compare a rate you have been offered.

The Legal Minimum: The Professional Diving Award

The Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020 (MA000108) is the main award for divers. It covers both inshore and offshore operations, including saturation techniques. The award is updated each year after the Annual Wage Review. The rates shown here are from 1 July 2026.

For offshore divers, the award uses a "total weekly rate" that includes an aggregate weekly factor. This factor compensates for the nature of the work, including overtime, penalties, and various rosters. For a Diver classification, the total weekly rate is $2,346.53, which works out to $61.75 per hour. This is the minimum an employer must pay for a full-time offshore diver working 38 ordinary hours per week. However, this rate already includes allowances for typical conditions. On top of that, a saturation diving allowance is paid separately.

For inshore divers, the minimum weekly rate for a Diver is $1,344.50, or $35.38 per hour. Inshore divers do not receive the aggregate weekly factor; instead, they get overtime and penalty rates when applicable.

Saturation Diving Allowance

If you perform a dive using saturation techniques, you are entitled to a diving allowance. The award sets the allowance at $5.23 per metre or $1.56 per foot of water depth. For saturation dives, the minimum allowance is $390 per dive (calculated as 250 times the allowance per foot). This is paid once for the greatest depth reached during that dive. The allowance is in addition to the total weekly rate.

How This Compares to the National Minimum Wage

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week) from 1 July 2026. This applies to employees not covered by any award or agreement. Because the diving award rates are much higher, the national minimum is not relevant for most divers. However, it serves as a backstop: no award rate can fall below the national minimum. The award also has an introductory rate of $25.74 per hour for the first six months of employment, but that still exceeds the national minimum.

Superannuation Is on Top

All minimum rates discussed are before tax. Employers must also pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For a diver earning the award total weekly rate of $2,346.53, the employer would contribute an additional $281.58 per week to a super fund.

Survey Averages and Negotiated Salaries

There is no publicly available survey average for saturation diver salaries from the Australian Bureau of Statistics or other official sources. The Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission provide award rates only. Some divers may earn more through enterprise agreements or individual contracts. If you have a specific rate, compare it to the award minimums above. If it is lower, the award applies unless a registered agreement allows otherwise.

How to Check Your Pay

If you are a saturation diver, start by identifying which classification applies. The award lists Diver, Diving Supervisor, Diving Superintendent, and others. Then check whether you are inshore or offshore. Use the Rate tables on this site to see the full award rates. For a personalised calculation, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can help.

Remember, the award is the minimum. Your employer may pay more, but cannot pay less. If you are unsure which award covers you, see Which minimum wage applies for guidance.

Key Points

The minimum total weekly rate for an offshore diver under the award is $2,346.53 (as of 1 July 2026).
Saturation diving attracts an additional allowance of at least $390 per dive.
Superannuation is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.
Enterprise agreements can set higher rates, but never lower than the award.
The national minimum wage is a fallback only for award-free workers.

Always check the latest award and your employment contract. The figures here are from the Fair Work Ombudsman's award page and the Fair Work Commission's pay database .

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