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INField Geologists Award Pay Calculator
Work out what a rig swing under the Field Geologists Award actually pays — the right classification, the annual retainer plus daily rig allowance converted to a weekly and hourly planning figure, casual loading and super, calculated the way the award says.
How the Field Geologists Award is applied
- Minimum pay is an annual retainer per classification (clause 12.2), current from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 — the calculator converts it to weekly (÷ 52) and hourly (÷ 52 ÷ 38) as planning figures only.
- There are no weekend or public-holiday penalties and no overtime rates: clause 12.3 states the retainer and daily allowances absorb compensation for weekends, public holidays, hours of work and all remote-location disability factors. What actually governs the roster is the 12-hour rotating shift pattern on 164 days a year (clause 11.3).
- Casuals are paid differently here too: the award’s real Schedule A casual hourly rates (which fold the daily rig allowance into an hourly figure before applying the loading) run well above a simple 25% loading on the derived planning hourly rate — for example, a Competent mudlogger casual is $49.29/hour under the award, not $34.25. The calculator applies a generic 25% loading and will under-state casual pay here; check the award’s Schedule A table directly for a casual engagement.
- The daily rig allowance is the trap most employers miss — it’s a separate payment for each full day worked on the rig, on top of the annual retainer, and it also feeds the excess attendance allowance once someone works more than 82 days in a 6-month period.
- Casuals are not entitled to the award’s other allowances beyond those set out in clause 9 (the casual loading itself) — no rig-up/rig-down, course attendance or travelling-time allowance unless the engagement specifically provides for it.
- Superannuation (12%) applies to ordinary-time earnings — for a salaried field geologist that means the retainer plus the daily rig allowance actually paid, since there’s no separate overtime component to exclude.
Who the award covers
- Employers of field geologists in hydrocarbons exploration, throughout Australia and adjacent offshore areas
- Mudloggers — trainee, competent and senior — performing formation evaluation on rigs
- Data engineers supervising mudlogging teams and pore-pressure evaluation
- On-hire employers supplying field geologists where no more specific award applies
This is an occupational award covering field geologists only — other rig-based trades and offshore roles sit under their own awards or agreements. Check the classification actually performed before applying it.
Which level is your team member?
This is a salary-based award: clause 10 sets four classifications — Trainee mudlogger, Competent mudlogger, Senior mudlogger and Data engineer — each paid an annual retainer rather than a weekly wage. A Bachelor of Science in Geology (or equivalent earth science degree) is the entry qualification for every level; progression above Trainee is about experience, training days and demonstrated competence, not a different qualification.
| Level | Per hour | Per week (38h) | Typical roles | The test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee mudlogger | $27.31 | $1037.78 | Trainee mudlogger | Holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology (or another relevant earth science) and is performing mudlogging/formation evaluation duties for the first time. Expected to complete 41 full working days of formal instruction and on-the-job training before advancing. Award minimum: $54,143/year retainer plus $104.72 daily rig allowance and $62.05 daily office attendance. |
| Trainee mudlogger (BSc Geology) | $33.71 | $1280.98 | Trainee mudlogger holding a Bachelor of Science in Geology | Same trainee duties, with the BSc Geology qualification attracting a higher annual retainer of $66,832 — daily rig allowance and office attendance amounts are the same as the standard Trainee. |
| Competent mudlogger | $27.31 | $1037.78 | Competent mudlogger | Holds a BSc Geology (or equivalent) and has completed at least 41 full working days of formal instruction and on-the-job training. Performs a range of scientific tasks evaluating geological formations. Award minimum: $54,143/year retainer plus $145.45 daily rig allowance, $312.23 excess attendance allowance and $87.26 daily office. |
| Competent mudlogger (BSc Geology) | $33.71 | $1280.98 | Competent mudlogger holding a Bachelor of Science in Geology | Same competent-level duties, BSc Geology variant carries the higher $66,832/year retainer — rig, excess attendance and office allowances match the standard Competent level. |
| Senior mudlogger | $31.36 | $1191.68 | Senior mudlogger | A Competent mudlogger who plans and conducts formation evaluation work without detailed supervision, on more responsible assignments. Progression requires at least 3 years as a Competent mudlogger, demonstrated competence and satisfactory performance assessments. Award minimum: $62,158/year retainer plus $145.45 daily rig allowance, $312.23 excess attendance and $87.26 daily office. |
| Senior mudlogger (BSc Geology) | $33.71 | $1280.98 | Senior mudlogger holding a Bachelor of Science in Geology | Same Senior-level duties; the BSc Geology variant sits at the same $66,832/year retainer as the standard Senior classification in this award’s table. |
| Data engineer | $35.33 | $1342.54 | Data engineer | An experienced Senior mudlogger who plans and supervises Senior or Competent mudloggers, evaluates pore pressure and prepares detailed reports on assignments requiring a very high level of professional expertise. The award’s top classification. Award minimum: $70,039/year retainer plus $157.09 daily rig allowance, $360.73 excess attendance and $95.02 daily office. |
- The calculator shows hourly and weekly figures purely as planning conversions (annual ÷ 52, then ÷ 38 again for hourly) — the legal minimum is the annual retainer plus the daily rig allowance for each full day actually worked on the rig, and the smaller daily office attendance allowance for office days.
- BSc Geology is the trainee entry qualification itself, but two levels — Trainee and Competent — carry a higher retainer ($66,832) when the specific "Bachelor of Science in Geology" wording applies versus the base rate; Senior BSc sits at the same retainer as standard Senior ($66,832 either way).
- Progression to Competent requires 41 full working days of formal instruction and on-the-job training. Progression to Senior requires at least 3 years’ service as Competent, demonstrated competence and satisfactory performance assessments (clause 10.3) — not automatic tenure.
- Data engineer is the top classification: an experienced Senior mudlogger supervising other mudloggers and preparing pore-pressure reports on the most demanding assignments (clause 10.4).
Allowances that can apply on top
Base rates and penalties aren’t the whole pay picture. The Field Geologists Award adds allowances for particular duties and situations — being the designated first aid officer, working overtime without notice, using your own car. They’re small lines individually, but they’re legal entitlements and they add up. The common ones (1 July 2026 amounts):
The calculator below doesn’t include allowances — add the ones that apply to your team on top of the result. The full list lives in the award’s allowances clause.
Calculate a week under the Field Geologists Award
Enter the week as it’s actually rostered. Weekend, evening and public-holiday hours are paid at the award’s penalty rates; anything beyond 38 hours is priced as overtime; super is applied to ordinary-time earnings only.
Rates current as of 1 July 2026 (adult minimums, MA000064) — first full pay period on or after that date.
This week’s numbers
Nothing is stored or sent — the maths runs on this page.
Why does a salary award show hourly rates?
The award sets an annual retainer, not a weekly wage — so the calculator divides by 52 for a weekly figure and by 38 again for an hourly one. They’re planning conversions for rostering and costing; the legal minimum is the annual retainer plus the daily rig allowance for each full day actually worked on the rig, and the office attendance allowance for office days.
How are casual field geologists actually paid?
The award publishes a Schedule A casual hourly rate that folds the daily rig allowance in before applying the loading — for example, a Competent mudlogger casual works out to $49.29 an hour, well above 25% on top of the derived planning hourly rate ($34.25). This calculator applies a generic 25% loading for casuals and will understate the real figure — check the award’s Schedule A table directly before quoting a casual engagement.
Do I owe weekend or public-holiday penalties?
No — this award has none. Clause 12.3 states the annual retainer and daily allowances are set to compensate for weekends, public holidays, hours of work and remote-location disability factors. What limits the roster instead is the 12-hour rotating shift pattern on 164 rostered days a year.
What’s the daily rig allowance, and why does it matter?
It’s a separate payment on top of the annual retainer for each full day actually worked on the rig — $145.45 a day for a Competent or Senior mudlogger, rising to $157.09 for a Data engineer. Miss it and the pay is under-award even if the retainer itself is correct. Once someone works more than 82 days in a 6-month period, an excess attendance allowance also kicks in.
This is a general calculator, not legal advice. It applies the award’s published adult minimums to the hours you enter — it can’t see your enterprise agreement, allowances or individual arrangements, and junior, apprentice and shiftwork rates differ. Always confirm pay against the award, your agreement or your adviser. If you believe something here is materially wrong or out of date, please contact us — we’ll review it promptly.
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Tommy applies the right award rates to every shift as you roster — penalties, loading and super included. Start with your email and your numbers come along.
