Perth woman, 26, earns $10k-a-month doing job ‘no one else wants'
Ashlea, a FIFO worker, has amassed a large following documenting her life as a dump truck driver.
The 26-year-old earns $120,000-a-year despite working for less than six months in a 52-week period, leaving plenty of time for her glamorous adventures, such as her recent trips to Bali, Finland, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.
The average annual salary for full-time workers in Australia is approximately $102,741, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from 2024.
However, the median salary, which represents the middle point of all salaries, is around $88,400.
In a recent video, Ashlea revealed that she recently splurged on her 'dream car', after six years of working in the mines, The Sun reports.
'I had this car on my vision board that I made about six years ago,' she said in the clip, before the camera pans to show a Mercedes convertible in a cream colour.
'I feel so grateful and like a bad b*tch.'
She previously went viral in 2023 after detailing her schedule as a dump truck driver, working 14 days on and 14 days off in the Pilbara mines.
'When I first started as a greenie [new truck driver], for my first three months I was paid $36.50 an hour,' she said.
'And we do 12-hour days, often waking up at 4am for hectic shifts in the sweltering heat.'
Just three months into her new job, she said her hourly pay jumped up to $43.50 an hour.
She added: 'So quite a nice jump. And for my first year as a greenie, that would have taken me to approximately $94-$95,000 annually for the six months.
'So, pretty cool for a new truckie.'
Her latest rate is about $51.50 an hour – and she gets a $2000 bonus each month she stays with her contracting company.
'So that could be anywhere between $6000 and $10,000 a month,' she explained.
'Annually, my $51.50 would be approximately $112,000. With my bonuses, that could be another $10,000, so $122,000 for my first year.
'And then when I'm employed directly with the company itself, every full year you're employed through the mine site direct, they pay you a bonus also which I think is approximately $3000 each year.
'And then if the company itself does well I think they actually pay you a bit of a profit share just as a thanks, which I love.'
Another perk of the job is that her employer covers the cost of everything – including accommodation, food and flights.
She added that she only works 22 weeks a year, which is less than half the year once her four weeks of annual leave are factored in.
Despite being an advocate for female FIFO workers, Ashlea's viral fame has earned her the title of 'world's hottest' truck driver, according to some social media users.
'I had the biggest f**king LOL,' she said after learning of her nickname.
'It's a little bit too much responsibility but I appreciate it.'
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