FIFO Camp Chef
$110,000 – $150,000
About the role
FIFO Camp Chefs cook for the workers keeping Australia's mines running — typically 300–1,500 hungry, tired people who have just finished a 12-hour shift and expect a great meal. It is comfortably the best-paid hospitality job in the country. Base salaries start around $110,000 for qualified chefs and climb to $150,000 for Sous Chefs and Head Chefs on remote iron ore, LNG and gold sites. On top of the salary, flights, accommodation, meals, laundry and site facilities are all covered — meaning a Camp Chef's take-home is directly comparable to a $180,000 city hospitality salary. Employers include Sodexo, Compass, Civeo, ESS and ISS, who run the accommodation villages for BHP, Rio Tinto, FMG, Roy Hill, Chevron and Woodside. A typical day is structured around breakfast, crib-pack lunches for the crews and a full dinner service — planned menus, controlled portions and strict food safety systems, without the front-of-house chaos of a busy restaurant. Rosters are typically 2:1 or 4:1 FIFO out of Perth. The role suits qualified chefs who want a predictable roster, no rent and strong savings potential. Career progression paths include Sous Chef, Head Chef, Executive Chef and Village Manager.
Certificates & qualifications required
- Cert III Commercial Cookery (SIT30821)
- Food Safety Supervisor certificate
- Standard 11 Generic Mining Induction
- National Police Check and pre-employment medical
- First Aid
- White Card (some sites)
How to get a job in this field
- Complete Cert III Commercial Cookery through TAFE or an apprenticeship.
- Work 2+ years in a busy commercial kitchen — pubs, hotels, function centres.
- Apply direct to Sodexo, Compass, Civeo, ESS, ISS careers pages.
- Get Standard 11 induction before applying — makes you site-ready.
- Start on a smaller village to prove yourself, then target larger Pilbara camps.
