FIFO Chef Jobs in Australia: Pay, Rosters, Duties and How to Get Started
FIFO chef jobs can be a good pathway into remote site work for qualified cooks and chefs who want strong earning potential, structured rosters and the chance to work in large-scale camp or village kitchens.
Unlike restaurant or café work, FIFO chefs usually cook for workers living on mine sites, construction projects, energy projects or remote accommodation villages. The work can be busy and repetitive, but it can also offer steady shifts, meals and accommodation while on site, and blocks of time off between swings.
In this guide, we explain what FIFO chefs do, what qualifications you may need, common rosters, pay expectations, and how to find FIFO chef jobs in Australia.
What is a FIFO chef?
A FIFO chef is a chef who flies to a remote worksite or accommodation village for a set roster, works on site for the swing, then flies home for time off.
FIFO stands for fly-in fly-out. In Australia, FIFO chef jobs are common across mining, construction, oil and gas, energy, shutdown work and remote village operations.
FIFO chefs may work in:
Mine site villages
Remote construction camps
Offshore or energy projects
Worker accommodation villages
Camp kitchens and dining rooms
Large-scale catering operations
The main difference from ordinary hospitality work is the environment. Instead of cooking for restaurant customers, you are usually preparing meals for large numbers of workers who live on site during their roster.
FIFO Utility Jobs in Australia
What does a FIFO chef do?
FIFO chef duties can vary depending on the employer, site size and seniority of the role.
Common duties include:
Preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner and crib meals
Cooking in bulk for large groups of workers
Following set menus and production schedules
Preparing hot meals, salads, desserts and packed meals
Managing food safety and hygiene standards
Cleaning kitchen areas and equipment
Receiving and storing food deliveries
Working with kitchen hands, utilities and catering assistants
Supporting stock control and ordering
Following site safety procedures
In larger camps, chef roles may be split into different levels. For example, a line chef may focus on meal production, while a sous chef or head chef may supervise staff, manage menus, monitor food quality and coordinate kitchen operations.
Common FIFO chef job titles
FIFO chef jobs can appear under several different titles. When searching, it is worth checking more than just “FIFO chef”.
Common job titles include:
Job title | What it usually means |
|---|---|
FIFO Chef | General chef role in a remote camp or site kitchen |
Line Chef | Production-focused chef role, often cooking in bulk |
Sous Chef | Senior kitchen role supporting the head chef |
Head Chef | Leads kitchen operations, menus, staff and food quality |
Pastry Chef | Focuses on desserts, baking and pastry production |
Catering Manager | Manages broader catering operations, staff and service delivery |
Kitchen Hand | Entry-level kitchen support role, usually not a qualified chef role |
Catering Assistant | Food preparation, service and general support duties |
If you are already qualified, search for chef, line chef, sous chef, head chef, pastry chef and catering manager roles. If you are trying to get into FIFO hospitality without chef qualifications, you may be better suited to utility, kitchen hand, cleaning or catering assistant jobs first.
How to get a FIFO job with no experience
FIFO chef pay in Australia
FIFO chef pay can vary depending on the employer, location, roster, seniority and whether the role is permanent, casual or contract.
As a general guide, FIFO chef jobs can pay more than many metro hospitality roles because of the remote location, longer shifts, roster structure and site requirements. Senior chefs, head chefs and catering managers can earn more than entry-level or casual kitchen roles.
On FIFO Careers, current bulk catering listings include chef, line chef, pastry chef, sous chef, head chef and catering manager roles. At the time of writing, advertised examples include:
Line chef roles in Western Australia advertised from around $104,000 per year
Karratha chef roles advertised from around $100,000 per year
Pastry chef roles advertised from around $104,600 per year
Sous chef roles advertised from around $116,500 per year
Head chef roles advertised around $110,000 to $130,000 per year
FIFO catering manager roles advertised around $100,000 to $135,000 per year
These figures are based on current listings that publish salary information. Not every job ad includes pay, and salaries can change over time, so always check the individual listing before applying.
Common FIFO chef rosters
FIFO chef rosters depend on the site, employer and contract. Some rosters are more lifestyle-friendly, while others involve longer stretches away from home.
Common FIFO chef rosters may include:
Roster | What it usually means | Notes for chefs |
|---|---|---|
14/7 | 14 days on, 7 days off | Common in remote camp and catering work |
2/1 | 2 weeks on, 1 week off | Similar to 14/7 and often used in job ads |
8/6 | 8 days on, 6 days off | More balanced, but may be less common for some camp roles |
2/2 | 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off | Longer break, but longer time away during the swing |
Casual swing | Short-term or relief coverage | Can suit experienced chefs who want flexibility |
A roster is only part of the story. FIFO chefs often work long shifts, and kitchen work can start early depending on breakfast and crib meal schedules. Before applying, check the shift length, start times, whether night shift is involved, and whether travel days are included.
What qualifications do you need for FIFO chef jobs?
Most FIFO chef roles require formal commercial cookery qualifications and relevant experience.
Common requirements include:
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
Food safety knowledge
Experience in bulk cooking or high-volume kitchens
Ability to work long shifts
Strong hygiene and safety standards
Ability to pass a pre-employment medical
National police check, depending on employer
Manual driver’s licence, depending on site
Rights to work in Australia
Some senior roles may also ask for:
Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery
Experience supervising kitchen teams
HACCP knowledge
Menu planning experience
Stock control and ordering experience
Remote site or mining village experience
If you are not qualified as a chef, a FIFO chef role may be hard to get straight away. However, you may still be able to enter FIFO camp work through utility, cleaning, kitchen hand, housekeeping or catering assistant jobs.
Is FIFO chef work good for beginners?
FIFO chef work can be good for people who already have hospitality experience, especially if they are used to busy kitchens, early starts and high-volume food preparation.
It may suit you if:
You are a qualified chef or experienced cook
You are comfortable working long shifts
You can handle repetitive high-volume meal preparation
You are organised and reliable
You want structured time off between swings
You are comfortable being away from home
You are willing to work in remote locations
It may not suit you if:
You strongly prefer restaurant-style creative cooking
You struggle with early starts or long shifts
You do not like routine or repetitive menus
You find it hard being away from family, friends or pets
You are not comfortable with strict food safety and site rules
FIFO chef jobs can be a strong option for hospitality workers who want to move out of city venues and into remote site work. But the lifestyle is different, so it is worth understanding the roster and camp environment before accepting a role.
FIFO chef jobs vs FIFO utility jobs
FIFO chef jobs and FIFO utility jobs can both sit within camp services, but they are not the same.
A FIFO chef is usually a qualified kitchen professional responsible for preparing meals, cooking in bulk and maintaining food quality. A FIFO utility worker usually supports camp operations across cleaning, housekeeping, kitchen hand work, laundry, dining room service or general village duties.
Role | Usually requires chef qualification? | Common duties |
|---|---|---|
FIFO Chef | Yes | Cooking, food preparation, bulk catering, kitchen operations |
FIFO Sous Chef | Yes | Senior cooking role, supervision, quality control |
FIFO Head Chef | Yes | Kitchen leadership, menus, staff, food quality |
FIFO Utility | Usually no | Cleaning, housekeeping, dining room, laundry, kitchen support |
Kitchen Hand | Usually no | Dishwashing, food prep support, cleaning, kitchen assistance |
If you are qualified, chef roles may offer better pay and progression. If you are trying to get your first FIFO job with no experience, utility or kitchen hand roles may be more realistic starting points.
FIFO Utility Jobs in Australia
How to Get a FIFO Job in Australia With No Experience
Where are FIFO chef jobs located?
FIFO chef jobs are often linked to remote mining regions, construction projects and worker accommodation villages.
Common locations include:
Western Australia
Queensland
South Australia
Northern Territory
Pilbara
Goldfields
Bowen Basin
Karratha
Port Hedland
Perth departure roles
Brisbane departure roles
Regional mining towns and remote villages
Many WA chef roles advertise FIFO from Perth. Some Queensland roles may be FIFO from Brisbane or based around regional mining areas. Some jobs may also be DIDO, which means drive-in drive-out, rather than fly-in fly-out.
On FIFO Careers, current catering and chef-related listings include roles across Western Australia, Queensland and regional site locations. At the time of writing, FIFO Careers listed 15 bulk catering roles, including chef, head chef, sous chef, pastry chef, catering manager and hospitality support listings. Western Australia accounted for several current catering listings, including line chef, head chef, sous chef, catering manager and pastry chef roles.
FIFO jobs from Perth
FIFO jobs in Western Australia
FIFO jobs in Queensland
What employers hire FIFO chefs?
FIFO chef jobs are often advertised by camp services, facilities management, catering and mining services companies.
Examples of employers that may hire FIFO chefs include:
Remote site catering companies
Mining village operators
Facilities management companies
Camp accommodation providers
Mining services contractors
Large hospitality providers
Construction project service providers
On FIFO Careers, current chef and catering listings include employers such as Civeo and Compass Group. These employers often advertise across remote village services, bulk catering, hospitality operations and camp support roles.
How to get a FIFO chef job
If you want to get a FIFO chef job, focus on showing that you can handle remote site conditions, not just ordinary kitchen work.
Practical steps include:
Update your resume for FIFO work
Highlight commercial cookery qualifications, bulk cooking, large-scale catering, food safety, HACCP, high-volume kitchens and any remote or mining experience.Mention your availability and preferred departure city
Employers may want to know whether you can FIFO from Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin or another city.Search beyond “chef”
Look for line chef, sous chef, head chef, pastry chef, catering manager, bulk catering and camp kitchen roles.Be clear on tickets and checks
Some roles may require a police check, medical, drug and alcohol screen, food safety training or site inductions.Apply quickly when suitable roles appear
FIFO chef jobs can be competitive, especially if the roster and pay are attractive.Consider stepping-stone roles
If you are not ready for a chef role, look at kitchen hand, utility, catering assistant or cleaning roles to get FIFO site experience.
Questions to ask before accepting a FIFO chef job
Before accepting a FIFO chef role, ask practical questions about the roster, work conditions and travel.
Useful questions include:
What is the exact roster?
Are travel days paid?
Where do flights depart from?
Are flights, meals and accommodation included?
How long are the daily shifts?
What time do shifts usually start?
Is the role permanent, casual or contract?
Is the site FIFO, DIDO or residential?
How many people does the kitchen serve?
Is it bulk cooking, à la carte, buffet or crib meal production?
What qualifications or checks are required?
Is there phone reception or Wi-Fi on site?
What are the camp rooms and facilities like?
Who is the employer and who is the site client?
These questions can help you compare jobs properly. A role with strong pay may not be the best fit if the roster, travel days or camp conditions do not suit your lifestyle.
How to find FIFO chef jobs on FIFO Careers
When searching for FIFO chef jobs, try a few different keywords. Employers may describe similar roles in different ways.
Useful search terms include:
FIFO chef
FIFO line chef
FIFO head chef
FIFO sous chef
FIFO pastry chef
Bulk catering
Camp chef
Mine site chef
FIFO catering
Catering manager
Commercial cookery
FIFO from Perth
14/7 chef
2/1 chef
On FIFO Careers, you can browse current FIFO jobs across mining, construction, energy, trades, camp services and hospitality. At the time of writing, FIFO Careers listed 216 jobs across Australia, including a range of chef, catering, camp services and hospitality roles.
Current bulk catering listings include examples such as FIFO line chefs, head chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, catering managers and chefs for regional village operations. Some listings also publish salary ranges, which can help you compare opportunities before applying.
Browse FIFO jobs in Australia
Bulk Catering jobs
FIFO Hospitality Jobs
Final thoughts
FIFO chef jobs can be a strong option for qualified chefs who want to work in remote site catering, earn solid money and have structured time off between swings.
The work is different from restaurant hospitality. You may be cooking in bulk, following set menus, working long shifts and living in a camp environment while on site. For the right person, that structure can be appealing. For others, the time away and repetitive nature of camp catering can be difficult.
Before applying, check the roster, salary, departure city, qualifications and site conditions. If you are ready to compare current openings, browse FIFO chef and catering jobs on FIFO Careers and look closely at the role details before applying.
