FIFO worker hits back at $116,000 misconception: ‘Mental and emotional toll'

Yahoo

15-05-2025

Australian FIFO workers have pushed back at the perception that they are working 'easy' jobs. FIFO can offer huge pay packets along with perks like free food and accommodation, but there are major trade-offs workers have to make.
Taylor Ambrose has worked as a FIFO health and lifestyle coordinator in the mines near Mildura for the past 12 months. The 27-year-old told Yahoo Finance she had received messages from people telling her FIFO was 'literally the easiest job'.
One message she received noted workers had their breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared for them each day, plus their room cleaned once a week. They claimed workers just needed to 'get up and go', compared to other workers who have to slog it out commuting into the city to work long days.
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The average FIFO worker can earn $116,874 per year, according to Talent, but the pay on offer will really depend on your specific job and experience.
Some entry-level jobs, for example, driller offsiders, can earn up to $150,000 a year.
Ambrose said she thinks the view that FIFO is an 'easy job' likely stems from the financial incentives on offer, along with the structured rosters and extended time off.'From the outside, those aspects can give the impression of a straightforward or even cushy arrangement,' she said.
"That said, as with most things, there are layers to the reality."
Ambrose said the challenges of FIFO work 'shouldn't be underestimated'.
'Extended time away from family and home comforts, the mental and emotional toll of isolation, and the physical demands of some roles all contribute to a complex working environment,' she said.
Ambrose shared a video online about the perception that FIFO jobs are "easy".
It sparked conversation amongst FIFO workers, with many pushing back at the claims and noting that workers had to deal with tough working conditions.
'We do seven days a week for two weeks. 12 hour days, up to 50c heat. dust, cyclones, flies…' one wrote.
'160 hours plus work a fortnight isn't easy at all,' another said.
'I'd like to see people who haven't done it go and do it for six months, then talk about how easy it is,' a third added.
One FIFO worker agreed that the job could 'feel more manageable' compared to working long hours in the city, and the advantages of having meals and accommodation provided meant you had more time to work and could earn more money.
But he said the job had its 'own set of challenges'.
'The working conditions in remote environments can be physically and mentally demanding,' he said.
'Extreme heat, flies and isolation can take a toll, and not everyone is suited to this kind of environment.
'FIFO is a lifestyle choice. It doesn't fit everyone's circumstances, and [is] hard on the important things in life, relationships , family etc.'
Logan Snooks said he only lasted a year as a FIFO driller offsider because the job was so hard.
He was earning a base salary of $101,178 a year, but said it was the "hardest job" he'd ever done and it took a big toll on his body and mental health.
The 31-year-old was stationed at sites in Queensland and the Northern Territory and said he spent of lot of his shifts in the baking heat.
'It peaked over 38 degrees, and you're standing in the desert, no trees, and you're standing on a metal platform, pulling rods or feeding rods,' he told Yahoo Finance.
On top of that, he said he would be working in "the middle of nowhere", about eight to 12 hours drive from the nearest town.
Ambrose said she doesn't think FIFO worth is 'hard' or 'easy'.
"It's just different, and success in the FIFO space often comes down to personal fit, personal preference, and an individual's support systems encompassing their physical, mental and emotional supports," she told Yahoo Finance.
'Ultimately, the FIFO model offers both opportunities and challenges, and how it's perceived will depend on an individual experience, values, and expectations."
Ambrose said it could be "really hard" being away from friends and family, plus the long 12-hour days came with "fatigue and exhaustion".
But, ultimately, she said she was 'forever grateful' for the opportunity to work in the FIFO industry and the benefits it offered her, like extended time off, free food and accommodation, and the ability to meet new people from all walks of life.