What is the average firefighter salary in Melbourne?

Under the Fire Fighting Industry Award 2020, a Qualified Firefighter in the public sector receives a total weekly rate of $1,607.97, which includes a 30% shift loading and an average 40 hours loading. This works out to an annual salary of approximately $83,614 before tax and super. The ordinary hourly rate is $38.29, but the total weekly rate reflects the actual pay for a 38-hour week with built-in overtime.

How does casual loading affect pay calculations?

Casual loading is an additional 25% paid on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for lack of paid leave. For example, the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour becomes $33.05 for casual employees. However, firefighters under the award are typically permanent shiftworkers and not casual, so casual loading does not apply to them. The calculator on this site lets you add casual loading via a checkbox, but never enter a rate that already includes it.

Is superannuation included in the firefighter salary figures?

No, superannuation is paid on top of the salary. Under the award, employers must contribute at least the super guarantee (12% of ordinary earnings in 2026–27) to a super fund. For a firefighter earning $83,614, that adds about $10,034 in super, up to the $270,830 contribution base. The salary figures shown are before tax and super; super is an additional benefit.

Firefighter Salary Melbourne: How Hourly Rates Convert to Annual Pay Under the Award

A Qualified Firefighter in Melbourne (public sector) earns a total weekly rate of $1,607.97 including shift and overtime loadings, equating to an annual salary of about $83,614.

Understanding the Firefighter Salary in Melbourne

When you search for a "firefighter salary Melbourne", the most reliable source is the Fire Fighting Industry Award 2020, which sets minimum rates for public sector firefighters in Victoria. The award covers classifications from Recruit to Senior Station Officer, with pay that includes shift loadings and an average overtime component. For a Qualified Firefighter, the total weekly rate is $1,607.97 – this is the actual amount paid for a 38-hour week, incorporating a 30% shift loading and a 10.5263% loading for the average of 2 hours overtime per week. The ordinary hourly rate (before loadings) is $29.45, but the shiftworker ordinary hourly rate is $38.29.

To convert this to an annual salary, multiply the total weekly rate by 52: $1,607.97 × 52 = $83,614.44. This is the gross annual pay before tax and super. If you only looked at the ordinary hourly rate of $38.29 and multiplied by 38 hours × 52 weeks, you'd get $75,654.64 – but that misses the loadings that are built into the award. Always check the award's total weekly rate for the true picture.

How Hourly Rates Translate to Annual Pay

The general formula used on this site is: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. We assume a standard 38-hour week unless you specify otherwise. This works for most full-time employees, but awards like the Fire Fighting Award include additional payments that change the calculation.

For comparison, the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. A casual employee gets 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time (May 2026) is $2,083.70 per week, which is about $108,352 annually. Firefighter salaries in Melbourne sit between the minimum and the average, reflecting the specialised nature of the role.

When you use our timesheet, you enter your base hourly rate. If you are casual, tick the 25% loading checkbox – the calculator adds it on top. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading. For award-covered employees like firefighters, the base rate is the minimum hourly rate from the award, and loadings are already factored into the total weekly rate shown in the award.

Casual Loading and Superannuation Paid on Top

Casual loading is a common feature of many awards, but not for public sector firefighters – they are permanent shiftworkers. However, the principle applies elsewhere: casual loading of 25% compensates for missing paid leave. Our calculator lets you toggle it.

Superannuation is paid on top of your gross salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a firefighter earning $83,614, the employer contributes an extra $10,033.68 to super. This is not deducted from your pay; it's an additional benefit. The super and packaging page explains how salary sacrifice can affect this.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (tax-free threshold $18,200; 15% on $18,201–$45,000; 30% on $45,001–$135,000; 37% on $135,001–$190,000; 45% above $190,000) and the Medicare levy of 2%, a firefighter earning $83,614 would pay approximately:

Tax: $15,604 (calculated as $0 on first $18,200, $4,020 on next $26,800, $11,584 on remaining $38,614)
Medicare: $1,672
Total deductions: $17,276
Estimated take-home: $66,338 per year, or about $1,275 per week.

This is an estimate only – it doesn't include HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging. Use the take-home pay guide for more detail.

Using the Award Pay Guides

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a pay guide for the Fire Fighting Industry Award that lists all rates, allowances, and penalty rates. For a Melbourne firefighter, the guide confirms the total weekly rates for each classification. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database also contains the underlying calculations.

When you see a salary offer, compare it to the award's total weekly rate. If the offer is below $1,607.97 for a Qualified Firefighter, it may not meet minimum standards. Remember that the award rates are minimums – enterprise agreements may provide higher pay.

Summary

A "firefighter salary Melbourne" under the public sector award is about $83,614 annually, based on the total weekly rate of $1,607.97. The ordinary hourly rate of $38.29 is only part of the story. Our hourly conversion tool helps you see the annual equivalent of any hourly rate, but always check the relevant award for loadings and allowances. For casual roles, remember the 25% loading is added on top of the base rate. Super is an extra 12% paid by your employer. Use the reference tables for quick comparisons.