Cal McIlwaine, a newcomer in the mines of Western Australia, astonished everyone when he revealed his staggering weekly salary of two grand, reported The Sun. In a TikTok video reposted on Instagram, Cal highlighted the lucrative nature of fly-in and fly-out (FIFO) jobs in the mining industry. In the clip, he emphasized the financial perks of his job, noting that his expenses were minimal as accommodation and food were provided while at work.

Irish Man earning more than the doctors

In the video, Cal expressed, “You can come up here and spend zero dollars,” revealing that he saved all his earnings for his travel fund, thanks to the provided amenities that eliminated the need for rent or insurance payments. Working 84 hours a week, twice the duration of a standard schedule, Cal followed a two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off rotation.

Despite the long and challenging hours, with each shift lasting around 12 hours, mine workers like Cal received additional overtime pay after completing ten hours of work. In his first week, he earned £1,805 (Rs 1.90 lakh), followed by £2,052 (Rs 2.16 lakh) in the second week.

Cal emphasized the rarity of such earnings in his home country, where individuals typically needed to pursue professions like doctors, nurses, or vets to earn a comparable amount in a week. While acknowledging the difficulty of his job characterized by long hours and strenuous labor in challenging conditions, Cal believed the rewards and hard work were worthwhile.

The Irish worker also benefited from tax savings under Australian laws, exempt from paying the full income fee. Holiday workers earning below £23,000 only paid 15 per cent of their earnings to the government. Although Cal surpassed this threshold within four months, he now paid normal taxes, similar to any other Australian citizen.

In a recent Instagram post, Cal shared insights into his job, showcasing the challenging yet rewarding nature of FIFO work. Despite a recent decrease in pay, he aimed to inspire others to consider FIFO jobs, emphasizing the potential for financial success and personal growth.