FIFO Mining Rosters Explained: 2/1, 8/6, Even Time & More

One of the first things you'll notice when you start looking at FIFO mining jobs is a string of numbers in the job ads: 2/1, 8/6, 7/7, 2/2. No, that's not a lottery draw. That's the roster, and it shapes your entire FIFO life: how much you earn, how tired you'll be, and how much time you actually get at home.

In this guide, we'll break down what FIFO rosters mean, the most common rosters in Australian mining, and how to pick the one that suits you.

Recommended: FIFO Mining 101 | The Starter Guide

What Is a FIFO Roster?

A FIFO roster is your work schedule for a "swing" (sometimes called a "swing" or "roster cycle"). It tells you how many days you work on site, followed by how many days you have off at home.

So 8/6 means 8 days on site, then 6 days off at home. 2/1 means 2 weeks on, 1 week off. Simple as that.

A few things worth knowing upfront:

• Most rosters are continuous, which means the cycle doesn't stop for weekends or public holidays. Your "days on" might start on a Wednesday and finish on a Tuesday. Don't expect weekends off every second week.
• Shifts are long. On site, you'll usually work 12-hour shifts, either days (roughly 6am to 6pm) or nights (6pm to 6am). Some sites do 10-hour shifts, but 12s are the norm.
• You fly on the first and last day of your swing. Travel day is a work day in most rosters, so keep that in mind when comparing rosters - a 14-day swing usually means 13 days on the tools and 2 days of flying.

Recommended: FIFO Mining Salary: What to Expect & Money-Saving Tips

The Most Common FIFO Rosters in Australia

There's no single standard roster. It depends on the company, the site and the role. But these are the ones you'll see again and again in job ads.

2/1 (Two Weeks On, One Week Off)

The classic mining roster and still one of the most common in Western Australia.

• The pattern: 14 days on site, 7 days off. Then repeat.
• The good: Longer blocks of time off. Great for travel, catching up on life at home, or flying overseas on your break.
• The hard: Two full weeks of 12-hour shifts is a grind, especially on night shift. Many workers say the second week is where fatigue really kicks in.

8/6 (Eight Days On, Six Days Off)

A favourite in operations and production roles.

• The pattern: 8 days on, 6 days off.
• The good: You're home reasonably often - 6-day breaks feel like a real holiday, and the swings feel shorter.
• The hard: It eats into your weeks. Two swings can straddle two regular weeks, which makes it harder to plan study, casual work or regular commitments at home.

7/7 (Seven On, Seven Off - "Even Time")

• The pattern: 7 days on, 7 days off.
• The good: This is "even time" - equal time at work and home. Many workers with young families actively chase 7/7 because they're home every second week, no surprises.
• The hard: Your pay is usually lower than longer-swing rosters because you work fewer hours over the year. It's a lifestyle-vs-income trade-off, and there's no right answer - it depends on what matters to you.

Recommended: Is FIFO Work Worth It? 9 Biggest Pros & Cons

2/2 (Two On, Two Off)

• The pattern: 14 days on, 14 days off.
• The good: You work roughly half the year. Two-week breaks are long enough for proper trips, and many workers combine FIFO with study or a side business during their time off.
• The hard: Two weeks on site, often in a remote camp, is demanding. You'll also earn less per year than someone on 2/1 doing the same role, because annual hours are lower.

9/5, 14/7 and Other Variations

You'll also see plenty of site-specific rosters: 9/5, 10/4, 14/7, 21/7 and more. Construction and shutdown work can be especially irregular - some shutdown crews work 21+ day swings to get a project over the line (usually with overtime rates to sweeten it).

Recommended: 6 Types of FIFO Mining Jobs

Day Shift vs Night Shift: How Rosters Are Split

Most rosters split the crew between day shift and night shift. On an 8/6 roster, for example, you might do 4 days, swing to 4 nights, then fly out. On other sites, you'll do a full swing of days and rotate to nights on the next swing.

A few things to ask about:

• Does the roster rotate days/nights within one swing, or between swings? Rotating mid-swing is harder on your body clock.
• Can you choose a preference? Some sites let senior workers lock in permanent days or permanent nights. Permanent nights pay slightly more on many sites, but they're the tougher gig long term.

How Rosters Affect Your Pay and Career

Your roster directly changes your annual income, even in the same role at the same pay rate:

• More days on = more hours = more pay. A 2/1 roster gives you roughly 245 site days a year. A 2/2 gives you closer to 183. That's a big difference in your yearly take-home.
• Longer swings often come with better allowances. Remote site allowances and overtime opportunities are richer on longer rosters.
• Rosters can change as you progress. Plenty of workers start on demanding rosters to build savings, then move to an even-time roster (or a residential role) once family life becomes the priority.

Recommended: FIFO Entry Level to Management: Career Progression in Australia

How to Choose the Right FIFO Roster for You

There's no "best" roster, only the best roster for your situation. A few honest questions to ask yourself:

• Why are you doing FIFO? If it's to stack savings fast (house deposit, travel fund), a longer swing like 2/1 maximises income. If you want FIFO to be a sustainable lifestyle, even-time rosters like 7/7 or 2/2 are easier to live with.
• Do you have young kids? Frequent shorter breaks (8/6, 7/7) keep you present at home more often than one long break a month.
• How do you handle fatigue? Twelve-hour night shifts for two straight weeks are genuinely hard. Be honest with yourself before signing up for the "richer" roster.
• What else fills your time off? If you're studying or running a side hustle, long even-time breaks (2/2) give you predictable blocks to work with.

Tips for Surviving Your First Few Swings

• Sort your sleep before you fly out. Start shifting your body clock 2-3 days before swing change, especially if you're going onto nights.
• Use the camp gym. It's the number one thing experienced FIFO workers credit for staying sane and healthy on long swings.
• Book your home-time commitments early. Flights, appointments, trips - the moment you land home, the clock is ticking.
• Ask about the roster in the interview. Confirm exactly how days and nights are split and whether travel days are paid. Recruiters expect these questions.

Recommended: Is FIFO Dangerous? Facts & Safety Tips to Know

Final Thoughts

FIFO rosters look like confusing number pairs until someone explains them, and then they're dead simple: days on, days off, repeat. The trick is matching the roster to the life you actually want - maximum income, maximum home time, or something in between.

If you're weighing up whether FIFO is right for you at all, start here:

More FIFO Guides

• What Is FIFO Mining in Australia?
• The FIFO Mining Guide: How to Get Started In the Industry
• FIFO Mining In Australia: Work Conditions & Lifestyle
• Can You Get FIFO Mining Jobs With No Experience?
• The Best FIFO Tickets to Boost Your Resume