ROV Pilot salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an rov pilot is $135,200 per annum, before tax, up $28,000 since 2018.
DerivedIndicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data · Estimate
- ROV pilot pay moves with the roster and the sector, and offshore oil and gas rotations and specialist deepwater work pay more than inshore survey, aquaculture or research roles.
- Contractors often quote day rates that look high because they carry their own leave, insurance and gaps between projects, while staff roles trade some of that for paid leave and super.
- The vehicle class you are signed off to fly, and whether you supervise other pilots, also shift what you are paid.
The median salary rose by $28,000 between 2018 and 2024; the dashed line shows a projection to 2028 based on the real ABS Wage Price Index growth rate, not a role-specific forecast.
How to negotiate a higher rov pilot salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time rov pilot salary is $135,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Operations management and Plant and equipment operation tend to command a premium over general rov pilot experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
ROV Pilot salary questions
How much do rov pilots earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an rov pilot is $135,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is rov pilot pay rising or falling?
The median rov pilot salary is up $28,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
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Pay advice
- How to ask for a pay rise, and back it up with real numbersWhat national wage growth looks like right now, how to work out a figure for your own role, wording you can adapt for the conversation, and what to do if the answer is no.
- The average salary in Australia (2026)Full-time adults in Australia averaged $2,083.70 a week in May 2026. Several measures get called the average salary, and this explains which one fits your situation.
- Overtime pay, time in lieu and what your award saysOvertime rates come from your award or agreement, not one national rule. How rates work, what happens on a salary, and how time off in lieu works.