‘Can’t get in front’: FIFO worker reveals brutal salary reality

A young tradie who works in the mines earning “top tier” money has revealed a salary reality that has divided Aussies.

An Aussie FIFO worker has revealed why he still doesn’t feel like he is getting ahead, sparking a debate about salaries in 2025.

Josh Buddeke, 32, is a FIFO worker who works as an underground electrician.

According to job search platform SEEK, the average wage for someone working in the mining industry is between $120,000 and $140,000, and Mr Buddeke is at the top end of that scale, earning $140,000 a year.

Earning that wage doesn’t come without sacrifice, though. He lives on NSW’s Central Coast and travels out to work, meaning he is consistently away from his family and friends.

For many people, one of the main draws of being a FIFO worker is to be able to get ahead financially, but Mr Buddeke is finding that it isn’t working out for him.

He has taken to social media to share his fears about never being able to get ahead no matter how hard he works.

“I make over $3000 a week working in the mines. It used to be f**king excellent money, but now it is like you can’t even get in front,” he said.

Mr Buddeke explained that his mortgage is $1200 per week, his general expenses are $1000, and his food expenses are $500, leaving him with $300 left over.

“What are you going to do with $300 bucks a week? Nothing,” he said.

The worker claimed that the money he has left over after paying his bills was never going to get him financially ahead, and he is worried about his future.

“What can I do in the next five to ten years to really get myself set up so I can be with my family?” he asked.

Mr Buddeke said he knows there are rare exceptions where tradies set up really successful businesses, but he claimed the “majority” of tradies are just getting by.

“You can’t do it being a tradesman,” he said.

“I’ve already done 12 years in mining, so another five to 10 years, let’s say, I’m 42 years old then. I’m still making the top tier income and I’m still not getting in front. What the f**k am I going to do to get my family in front?

“I just don’t think anyone in the tradie industry is going to be able to do that.”

Josh Buddeke has worked in the mining industry for over a decade. Picture: Instagram/ josh.buddeke

He wants to get ahead financially so he can spend more time with his family. Picture: Instagram/ josh.buddeke

The hardworking tradie then asked people online if anyone knew of any “magical” ideas that could help him become “cashed up” and rich.

Mr Buddeke told news.com.au that, even though he was earning over $140,000, it wasn’t “enough” for his family anymore.

“I used to live comfortably with this, and I did not over capitalise on a home loan, now $140,000 for a family of four is just enough to get through,” he said.

“Mortgage has doubled and inflation is through the roof, and we aren’t getting pay rises. I’m in a good position compared to most but I work away every week to give my family that life.”

He spends time away from his family to work. Picture: Instagram/ josh.buddeke

The 32-year-old said that there’s no ignoring the fact that his mortgage is hard to service at the moment.

“Mortgage repayments with rates and utilities is a killer right now for everyone. I think everyone is struggling. I feel more for renters,” he said.

“They earn like us and I feel will never be able to get a deposit down without a side hustle or second job in the current state we are in.

“I hope it gets better for them because they deserve it.”

Mr Buddeke said that, while there are so many variables, he now believes $200,000 is the new $140,000.

“I think if a family brought in $200,000 where I live they would be in a nice position. The issue is wages haven’t gone up but everything else has,” he said.

He said wages haven’t gone up enough. Picture: Instagram/ josh.buddeke

Aussies argued over the reality of a $140,000 salary. Picture: Instagram/ josh.buddeke

The FIFO worker’s online rant kicked off a debate on what it takes to get ahead in 2025 and whether bringing in over $140,000 a year is even enough anymore.

Multiple arguments occurred within the comment section of Mr Buddeke’s video. Some claimed that just the fact he had a mortgage and was paying it off meant he was “getting in front”.

Others believed being trapped in a mortgage wasn’t a sign of success. In fact, someone called paying off an “inflated” house “modern-day slavery”.

Some also argued over whether Mr Buddeke’s salary was enough to get ahead in 2025.

One person pointed out that $3000 weekly was “a lot of money” and another told him to “try living on $800”, but other Aussies jumped to his defence and argued that $3000 was not that much anymore.

“It’s the single income. My mortgage is the same as yours. We couldn’t do it without both of us making a decent income. It’ll always be tight when a mortgage is 30 per cent of your income,” another said.

When it came to Mr Buddeke’s mortgage, some commenters felt he had overextended and needed to learn to “live within” his means.

One person claimed that $1200 per week on a mortgage was “ridiculous” but the tradie replied and said “$1200 is pretty stock standard for people buying houses today”.

Another commenter agreed, adding: “Everyone saying a $1200 a week mortgage is too much must have no idea what house prices and repayments are with current interest rates.”