Almost everything written about getting into fly-in fly-out work targets Australia — Perth, the Pilbara, Western Australia. This guide is specifically about the US market: which entry-level FIFO roles exist here, what training employers provide, what a rotation really involves, and how the pay stacks up when housing and meals are covered.
The roles below are the realistic no-experience entry points on US remote sites. Each has different physical demands, training requirements, and working conditions — read the environment column before you apply.
| Role | Experience required | Training provided | Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Utility / General Site Laborer | None required | Employer provides on-site safety orientation; OSHA 10 often completed in first week | Remote work camp; cleaning common areas, restocking supplies, light facility maintenance |
| Camp Housekeeping | None required | On-the-job; employer covers safety and hygiene protocols | Remote camp dorms; cleaning rooms, laundry, linen management between rotations |
| Kitchen / Camp Cook Helper | Helpful but not always required | Food safety (ServSafe) often provided or reimbursed by employer | Industrial kitchen feeding 100–500 workers per shift; early starts, family-style meals |
| Equipment Operator (Entry / Helper) | Lower barrier than licensed roles, but prior industrial exposure helps | Employer may sponsor equipment training for helpers; full operator roles usually need a ticket | Surface mining and construction sites; 12-hour days, dust, noise, strict safety culture |
| Trades Helper (Electrician, Welder, Mechanic) | No certification, but relevant exposure is a strong plus | On-the-job under a licensed tradesperson; a path to apprenticeship hours in some states | Mining, oil & gas, and industrial construction sites; physical labor, tool handling, site prep |
Dormitory-style rooms, usually shared or small singles depending on the site. Internet is often available but limited. You don't pay rent while on-site — that's part of the compensation package.
Three meals a day at the camp mess, included. Quality varies by operator and contractor — some camps are genuinely good, others are institutional. Ask about the mess on your site visit or phone screen.
Flights from the point of hire are covered. Common US rosters are 14/7, 14/14, and 20/10. Your off-swing is genuine time off — you're not on call.
The no-experience FIFO roles are a legitimate door into industrial work. The people who get hired as camp utility or trades helper and stay on-site typically progress like this:
Step 1
Camp Utility / Helper (no experience)
Step 2
Trades Helper → Apprenticeship hours
Step 3
Qualified Operator / Tradesperson
Step 4
Supervisor / Site Coordinator
Several states allow helper hours to count toward apprenticeship programs, which shortens the path to a licensed trades role significantly.
These numbers come from active FIFO-tagged listings in our database at page generation time.
Active FIFO listings
50
fly-in fly-out roles currently listed
Entry-level suitability
Camp services & helper roles
the realistic no-experience entry points
Sector counts reflect listings whose posting mentions that sector; a single listing can match multiple sectors. Data computed from active listings in the Oh My Job database at page generation time.
See every active FIFO listing on Oh My Job — filter by sector, location, and rotation type.
View FIFO JobsFIFO Jobs — All Openings
The full FIFO category page with every current listing and filters.
Oil Rig Jobs
Offshore and onshore oil & gas roles — many operate on FIFO-style rotations.
Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs
Operator roles on mining and construction sites — the natural next step from a helper position.
Patient Transporter Jobs: Roles Compared
Another no-experience entry point — this one in healthcare.