Saturation Diving Salary: Award Rates and Minimum Pay for Saturation Divers

Saturation Diving Salary: What the Award Says

When researching a saturation diving salary, the first place to look is the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020 (MA000108). This award covers inshore and offshore divers, including those using saturation techniques. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the full award, which sets minimum pay rates, allowances, and conditions.

Legal Minimum vs Award Rates vs Negotiated Pay

It is important to separate the legal minimum from an award rate and a negotiated salary. The national minimum wage, set by the Fair Work Commission, is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026. This applies only to employees not covered by an award or agreement. Most saturation divers are covered by the Professional Diving Award, which requires higher rates.

The award provides two streams: inshore and offshore. For offshore divers, the minimum total weekly rate is $2,346.53 (as of 1 July 2026). This rate already includes an aggregate weekly factor that accounts for overtime, penalties, and the nature of the work. On top of this, a saturation diving allowance of at least $390 per dive is payable. For inshore divers, the minimum hourly rate is $35.38, plus a diving allowance of $5.78 per metre of depth.

Negotiated salaries or enterprise agreements can exceed these minimums. The award only sets a floor; employers and employees can agree on higher pay. Superannuation (the super guarantee) is an additional 12% on top of ordinary time earnings, paid by the employer.

How the Saturation Diving Allowance Works

The award defines saturation techniques as procedures where a diver is continuously subjected to ambient pressure greater than atmospheric, so that body tissues become saturated with inert gas. For such dives, the allowance is calculated as 250 times the diving allowance per foot (or per metre). As of 1 July 2026, the diving allowance is $1.56 per foot or $5.23 per metre. The minimum allowance is therefore $390 per dive (250 × $1.56). This is paid once per period worked, based on the greatest depth incurred.

Comparing to Other Pay Floors

If a saturation diver were not covered by the award (for example, if they worked in a state system without award coverage), the national minimum wage would apply. However, that is rare. The award covers most commercial diving work in Australia. For award-free employees, junior rates, apprentice rates, and supported wages may be lower than the adult national minimum. The Fair Work Commission sets these special rates.

For more on which minimum wage applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. Detailed award rate tables are available in our Guides section.

Key Takeaways

• The saturation diving salary minimum under the award is $2,346.53 per week for offshore divers, plus a $390 saturation diving allowance per dive.
• Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.
• The national minimum wage ($26.44/h) is a backstop for award-free workers, but saturation divers are almost always covered by the award.
• Always check the latest award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman, as they are updated annually (next increase from 1 July 2026 was 4.75% for award rates).

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