Underwater welding salary: what you take home after tax and Medicare

How the underwater welding salary is set

If you work as an underwater welder in Australia, your pay is governed by the Professional Diving (Industrial) Award [MA000108]. This award covers employers who provide underwater services to industry and their employees, including divers, diver’s attendants, diving supervisors, hyperbaric welders, and life support technicians. The award does not set a single “underwater welding salary” – instead, pay rates depend on your classification, experience, and the type of work you perform.

Fair Work explains that the award applies to offshore exploration, development diving, and related shipboard services across Australia and its adjacent areas . To find your exact minimum rate, you need to look up the classification that matches your role in the award’s pay guide.

Using the Modern Awards Pay Database

The Fair Work Commission publishes a Modern Awards Pay Database that contains the calculated minimum rates of pay, allowances, overtime, and penalty rates for each award . For the Professional Diving Award, you can download spreadsheets covering classifications, wage-related allowances, expense-related allowances, and penalty rates. These are updated after each Annual Wage Review – the 2026 data applies from 1 July 2026.

Because the database does not provide a single “underwater welding salary” figure, you must identify your classification level (e.g., Diver Level 1, Diver Level 2, Hyperbaric Welder) and then apply the relevant hourly rate, plus any allowances for depth, pressure, or special equipment. The award also includes penalty rates for overtime, weekends, and public holidays.

From gross pay to take-home pay

Once you know your gross annual salary under the award, you can estimate how much reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. The 2026–27 tax rates for Australian residents are:

• $0 – $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). For 2026–27, LITO is up to $700 for taxable incomes up to $37,500, then phases out until $66,667. It can only reduce your tax to zero.

Medicare levy and thresholds

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but you may pay less if your income is below the single-person thresholds. The latest published thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper). If your taxable income is between these amounts, you pay 10 cents per dollar over $28,011. Above $35,013, the full 2% applies. Full-time underwater welders will almost always pay the full 2%.

Example calculation

Suppose your gross annual salary is $90,000 (a reasonable mid-range figure for an experienced diver under the award). Your tax would be:

• $4,020 + 30c × ($90,000 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $13,500 = $17,520
• LITO: at $90,000 you are above $66,667, so no LITO.
• Medicare levy: 2% × $90,000 = $1,800
• Total deductions: $17,520 + $1,800 = $19,320
• Take-home pay: $90,000 – $19,320 = $70,680 per year, or about $2,718 per fortnight.

This is an estimate only. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, and payroll tax-table rounding. Your actual take-home may differ.

Superannuation is on top

Your employer must pay Super Guarantee at 12% of your ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026) into a super fund. This is not deducted from your salary – it is an additional cost to the employer. The maximum contribution base is $270,830 per year. When comparing job offers, check whether the advertised “underwater welding salary” is inclusive or exclusive of super. Most job ads state “plus super”.

Where to find your exact rate

To get your precise minimum pay, use the Pay and Conditions Tool on the Fair Work Ombudsman website. You can also download the pay guide for the Professional Diving (Industrial) Award. Remember that your employer may pay above the award rate, so your actual salary could be higher.

For more guidance on working out your after-tax income, see our guides on Take-home pay and Tax and Medicare. You can also check the Minimum wage page for the national floor.