Saturation diver salary: what you take home after tax and Medicare

Saturation diver salary: what the award says

If you're looking into a saturation diver salary, the first place to turn is the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020. This award covers inshore and offshore divers, including those who use saturation techniques. Saturation diving is defined as procedures where a diver is continuously subjected to pressure greater than atmospheric so that body tissues become saturated with the breathing mixture. The award does not have a separate classification for saturation divers; instead, you are paid as an offshore diver and receive additional allowances for saturation work.

Base rates for offshore divers

Under the award, a full-time offshore diver working 38 ordinary hours per week receives a total weekly rate of $2,346.53. This figure combines the minimum weekly rate of $1,112.10 with an aggregate factor of 111% (amounting to $1,234.43). The total weekly rate is the minimum you must be paid for ordinary hours. Annualised, that works out to $122,019.56 before tax and Medicare. These rates are set by Fair Work and apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.

Saturation diving allowances

On top of the base pay, saturation diving attracts a specific allowance. The award states a diving allowance of $5.23 per metre or $1.56 per foot of depth. For dives using saturation techniques, the minimum payment is $390 per period (calculated as 250 times the diving allowance per foot). This allowance is paid once in respect of the greatest depth incurred in each period worked. Because the allowance depends on depth and duration, your actual earnings as a saturation diver can vary significantly from one assignment to the next.

Take-home pay after tax and Medicare

To estimate what reaches your bank account, start with the base annual salary of $122,020. For the 2026–27 tax year, the Australian Taxation Office applies these rates: no tax on the first $18,200, then 15c per dollar up to $45,000, and 30c per dollar from $45,001 to $135,000. On $122,020, your income tax is about $27,126. The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, or $2,440, because your salary is well above the single-person thresholds of $28,011 and $35,013. Total deductions come to $29,566, leaving an estimated take-home of $92,453 per year. That's $1,778 per week or $3,556 per fortnight. Remember, this is before any salary packaging, HELP repayments, or the Medicare levy surcharge. Use our Take-home pay guide to run your own numbers.

How it compares

The base saturation diver salary sits well above typical benchmarks. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (annual $52,255). Full-time adult ordinary time earnings average $2,083.70 per week (annual $108,352). At $2,346.53 per week, the diver base rate is 12.6% above the full-time average and more than double the minimum wage. Keep in mind that many divers work more than 38 hours per week—Jobs and Skills Australia reports average full-time hours of 48 hours for divers—so actual earnings including overtime and allowances can be higher. For more context, see our Minimum wage and Average pay pages.

Important notes

This estimate is for a full-time resident employee with no HELP/HECS debt, no Medicare levy surcharge, and no salary sacrifice. The award rates are minimums; some employers may pay above award. Superannuation is additional at 12% from 1 July 2026 and does not reduce your take-home pay if the salary is quoted as plus super. Always consult a tax professional for your personal situation.