How to read a roster
A roster is days on, then days off, and it repeats. Two notations are in use and they trip people up.
- Days. 8/6 means eight days on site, then six days off.
- Weeks. 2/1 (also written 2:1) means two weeks on, one week off. That's 14 days on and 7 off. 4/1 is 28 on and 7 off.
- Even time. 7/7 and 14/14 (also written 2:2) give you as many days off as on.
Some rosters add a travel day on each end, which sits inside your "off" or "on" depending on the employer. Ask which. It changes the count by a day or two per swing.
Your year on each roster
Pick a roster below. Dark blocks are days on site, bright blocks are days at home. The totals are plain arithmetic (days at home = 365 × off ÷ (on + off)), so they ignore annual leave and public holiday quirks.
Visualiser
Your year on this roster
Each block is a day. Dark is on site, bright is at home.
Days at home
156
Days on site
209
Flights a year
52
out and back
What you trade
| Roster | On / off | Days home a year | Why people pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/1 | 14 / 7 | about 122 | Most days worked, usually the highest annual pay |
| 8/6 | 8 / 6 | about 156 | Popular middle ground, a proper break every swing |
| 7/7 | 7 / 7 | about 182 | Even time, easier on home life, shorter swings |
| 14/14 | 14 / 14 | about 182 | Same time at home as 7/7, but in two-week blocks |
Longer swings tend to pay more over a year simply because you're on site more, and the 2/1 is the traditional choice for people chasing the biggest number. Even time suits people who need more days at home, and often means a lower package. Neither is right. It depends what you are saving for and who is waiting at home.
Compare offers on hours, not packages
A bigger package on a harder roster can pay worse per hour. Drop in two offers to see the days at home, hours worked and effective hourly rate side by side. Use the shift length from the ad. Twelve hours is common.
Calculator
Compare two rosters
A bigger package on a harder roster can pay worse per hour. Enter two offers and compare them on what you actually trade: hours and time at home.
Offer A
Offer B
| Offer A | Offer B | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash | $110,000 | $98,000 |
| Effective hourly | $38/hr | $39/hr |
| Days on site / yr | 243 | 209 |
| Days at home / yr | 122 | 156 |
| Hours worked / yr | 2,916 | 2,508 |
| Swings / yr (flights × 2) | 17 | 26 |
What else to check in the offer
- Is the package cash only, or does it include super? Some listings pay super on all rostered hours, others don't.
- Is there a site allowance, or a flat day rate that already includes overtime?
- Is the roster fixed, or can it change when the site does?
- How long is the trip to the airport at each end of the swing?
To see what a package turns into after tax, run your own numbers in the free FIFO pay calculator. For what to do with it, the Wealth & Exit guide has the working. The short version of why people choose FIFO at all is on the Why FIFO page.
The full version
Get Hired
How to negotiate a roster and what to say when a recruiter offers you the one you didn't want.
See the guide · A$49Where this comes from
- RosterElf: FIFO roster patterns explained
- Queensland Parliament submission on FIFO rosters and time at home
General information only. Pay, tickets and visa rules change and differ by employer, so confirm the details before you commit money.