Farm work pay in Australia ranges from around $25/hour for entry-level roles to $45+/hour for skilled positions and fast piece-rate pickers. But the real answer is more complicated than a single number.
What you earn depends on the role, the crop, your speed, and whether you’re paid hourly or by piece rate. This guide breaks down the actual rates for 2026 so you know what to expect before you start.
Minimum Wage for Farm Workers (Pastoral Award 2026)
Farm workers in Australia are covered by the Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035). Here are the current rates as of 1 July 2025:
Hourly Rates by Classification
| Level | Role | Hourly Rate | Weekly (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Entry-level farm hand | $24.10/hr | $915.80 |
| Level 2 | Experienced farm worker | $24.73/hr | $939.74 |
| Level 3 | Trade-qualified (stockperson) | $25.68/hr | $975.84 |
| Level 4 | Supervisor / head stockperson | $27.14/hr | $1,031.32 |
Casual Rate
Most farm workers are hired as casuals, which means you get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. For a Level 2 worker, that’s:
$24.73 + 25% = $30.91/hour
The casual loading compensates for not getting paid leave, sick leave, or notice of termination. It sounds like a lot more per hour, but casuals don’t get paid when it rains and work gets cancelled.
Penalty Rates
If you work weekends or public holidays, you earn more:
| Day | Rate (Level 1 example) |
|---|---|
| Saturday | $37.10/hr (1.5x) |
| Sunday | $49.46/hr (2x) |
| Public holiday | $61.83/hr (2.5x) |
Not every farm pays penalty rates correctly. If you’re working weekends and not seeing the higher rate on your payslip, that’s worth checking. The Fair Work Ombudsman has a free pay calculator you can use.
Piece Rates: How They Actually Work
Most fruit picking jobs don’t pay by the hour. They pay piece rates, meaning you earn based on how much you pick.
You might get paid per bin (apples), per kilogram (cherries), per tray (mangoes), or per punnet (strawberries). The more you pick, the more you earn.
The Rules
Under the Horticulture Award, piece rates must be set so that a worker of average competence earns at least 15% above the minimum hourly rate. That’s the legal benchmark.
There’s also a guaranteed minimum wage floor. If your piece rate earnings for the day work out to less than the hourly minimum, the employer has to top you up. You can’t legally earn below minimum wage on piece rates, even on a slow day.
What People Actually Earn
Here’s the honest breakdown:
| Experience | Typical Hourly Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First week | $20-$28/hr | Your hands hurt, you’re slow, you’re learning the technique. The minimum floor protects you here. |
| Week 2-3 | $28-$35/hr | Noticeably faster. Your body adjusts. You start to understand how to pick efficiently. |
| Experienced (1+ seasons) | $35-$50+/hr | You know how to work a tree, you don’t waste movements, you earn real money. |
The gap between beginners and experienced pickers is huge. Don’t expect to earn top dollar on day one, but don’t let the first few days discourage you either.
Pay Rates by Crop
Different crops pay differently. Some have short, intense seasons where piece rates are high. Others are steadier but pay closer to the hourly minimum.
| Crop | Pay Style | Typical Earnings | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherries | Piece rate (per kg) | $35-$50+/hr for fast pickers | Nov-Jan |
| Mangoes | Piece rate (per tray/bin) | $30-$45/hr | Sep-Dec |
| Strawberries | Piece rate (per punnet/kg) | $28-$40/hr | Jun-Nov |
| Blueberries | Piece rate (per kg) | $28-$38/hr | Aug-Feb |
| Grapes (wine) | Hourly or piece rate | $25-$32/hr | Feb-Apr |
| Apples & Pears | Piece rate (per bin) | $25-$35/hr | Feb-May |
| Citrus | Hourly or piece rate | $25-$30/hr | Mar-Oct |
| Bananas | Hourly (usually) | $25-$30/hr | Year-round |
| Tomatoes | Hourly or piece rate | $25-$30/hr | Varies |
| Melons | Piece rate or hourly | $28-$35/hr | May-Nov |
These figures assume you’re past the first-week learning curve. Cherries and mangoes sit at the top because the seasons are short, the work is intense, and growers need to get the fruit off fast.
For a full breakdown of what’s in season and where, see our Fruit Picking Seasons Australia guide.
Pay Rates by Role
Not all farm work is picking. Here’s what different roles pay:
Fruit Picker / Harvest Worker
$25-$50+/hr (usually piece rate)
The most common farm job for backpackers and seasonal workers. Pay depends almost entirely on your speed and the crop. See the crop table above.
Packer / Shed Worker
$25-$30/hr (usually hourly)
Sorting, grading, and packing fruit in a shed. Steadier hours than picking and less physically demanding. You’re on your feet all day but out of the sun. Paid hourly, so your earnings are more predictable.
Farm Hand / General
$25-$30/hr (hourly)
Covers everything from fencing and irrigation to feeding animals and maintaining equipment. Often full-time or ongoing casual rather than purely seasonal. Good if you want stable work rather than chasing harvests.
Tractor / Machinery Operator
$30-$38/hr (hourly)
One of the better-paying farm roles. Requires experience or a willingness to learn on the job. Some farms will train you. Having a truck licence or experience with heavy machinery helps. More hours available than picking since machinery work runs year-round on many properties.
Dairy Worker
$28-$35/hr (hourly)
Early starts (often 4-5am), consistent hours, year-round work. Dairy is one of the few farm jobs that isn’t seasonal. Victoria’s Gippsland region and parts of Tasmania are the main dairy areas. Pay increases with experience and qualifications.
Station Hand / Jackaroo / Jillaroo
$55,000-$75,000/yr (salaried, often with accommodation included)
Working on cattle or sheep stations, usually in remote areas. Accommodation and meals are often provided on top of the salary, which effectively increases your take-home pay. The work is varied: mustering, fencing, animal husbandry, machinery. Suits people who want a longer commitment and don’t mind isolation.
Pruning
$25-$32/hr (hourly or piece rate)
Winter work in grape and orchard regions. Mildura, Griffith, and the Barossa Valley all have pruning seasons from roughly June to August. Steadier than picking since it’s less weather-dependent. Piece rate pruning can pay well once you’re fast.
Best-Paying Farm Jobs
If money is the priority, these are the roles and crops to target:
- Cherry picking (Dec) in VIC, TAS, NSW. Fast pickers regularly earn $300-$400+ per day during peak weeks. Short window, high intensity.
- Mango picking (Sep-Dec) in NT and QLD. Hard physical work in serious heat, but the piece rates reflect it. $250-$350/day is realistic for experienced pickers.
- Machinery / tractor work anywhere. $30-$38/hr, steady hours, and it’s available year-round on larger properties.
- Station work in remote QLD, NT, WA. Salaried with accommodation, so your actual savings rate is high even if the headline number isn’t the biggest.
- Strawberry picking (peak season) in QLD. Light fruit, high volumes, and piece rates reward speed.
Tax for Farm Workers
If You’re Australian
Standard tax rates apply. You get the $18,200 tax-free threshold, and you pay your marginal rate above that. Nothing unusual here.
If You’re on a Working Holiday Visa
Backpackers on subclass 417 or 462 visas pay the Working Holiday Maker tax rate:
| Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $45,000 | 15% |
| $45,001 – $135,000 | 30% |
| $135,001 – $190,000 | 37% |
| $190,001+ | 45% |
The key difference: you don’t get the $18,200 tax-free threshold that Australian residents get. Tax starts from dollar one at 15%.
Your employer should withhold 15% from each pay automatically if they’re registered with the ATO as a Working Holiday Maker employer. If they’re not registered, they’ll withhold at 30%, and you’ll get the difference back when you lodge a tax return.
Keep your payslips. You can claim a tax refund when you leave Australia if you’ve been over-withheld. The ATO website has the full details.
How Much Can You Save?
This depends on your spending, but here are some realistic scenarios:
Scenario 1: Backpacker doing picking work
- Earning: $900-$1,200/week (after the first week or two)
- Tax (WHV 15%): -$135 to -$180/week
- Accommodation: -$150 to -$250/week (hostel or shared house)
- Food & transport: -$100 to -$150/week
- Savings: $300-$600/week
Scenario 2: Experienced picker chasing the harvest trail
- Earning: $1,200-$1,800/week on good crops
- Tax (WHV 15%): -$180 to -$270/week
- Accommodation: -$150 to -$200/week
- Food & transport: -$100 to -$150/week
- Savings: $700-$1,100/week
Scenario 3: Station hand with accommodation provided
- Earning: $1,000-$1,400/week (salary)
- Tax: -$150 to -$210/week
- Accommodation & meals: Provided
- Other expenses: -$50 to -$100/week
- Savings: $700-$1,100/week
Farm work isn’t a get-rich-quick thing, but if you’re disciplined with spending and pick the right crops at the right time, you can save $5,000-$10,000 over a few months.
Find Farm Jobs at These Rates
Ready to start earning? Browse current farm job listings across Australia:
- All farm jobs
- Fruit picking jobs
- Jobs in Queensland — year-round work, tropical crops
- Jobs in Victoria — stone fruit, grapes, dairy
- Jobs in New South Wales — diverse crops, long seasons
For seasonal planning, check our Fruit Picking Seasons Australia guide to see what’s picking where right now.
If you’re on a Working Holiday Visa and need to count your days, see our 88 Days Farm Work Australia guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do farm workers get paid in Australia?
The minimum casual rate is $30.91/hour (including 25% loading) under the Pastoral Award 2026. Full-time base rate is $24.73/hour at Level 2. Piece rate pickers earn more or less depending on speed, with experienced pickers typically earning $35-$45/hour equivalent.
How much do fruit pickers make per hour?
Casual fruit pickers earn at least $30.35/hour under the Horticulture Award. On piece rates, beginners often earn around minimum wage while learning, competent pickers earn $30-$40/hour equivalent, and fast experienced pickers can earn $45-$50+/hour on crops like cherries and mangoes.
What is piecework pay?
Piece rate pay means you earn based on volume picked rather than hours worked. You get paid per bin, bucket, tray, or kilogram. The law requires piece rates to be set so an average competent worker earns at least 15% above the minimum hourly rate. There’s also a daily minimum wage floor, so you can’t earn below the hourly minimum even on a slow day.
What are the best paying farm jobs?
Machinery operators ($30-$38/hr), station hands on remote properties ($55,000-$75,000/yr plus accommodation), and experienced cherry or mango pickers on piece rates ($300-$400+/day in peak weeks). Dairy work also pays well at $28-$35/hr with year-round hours.
Do farm workers get overtime?
Full-time and part-time workers get overtime under the Pastoral Award: 1.5x for the first 2 hours, then 2x. Saturdays pay 1.5x, Sundays 2x, and public holidays 2.5x the base rate.
How much tax do backpackers pay on farm work?
Working Holiday Visa holders (417 or 462) pay a flat 15% on the first $45,000 earned. You don’t get the $18,200 tax-free threshold. Your employer should withhold 15% from each pay if they’re registered as a WHM employer with the ATO.
Last updated: April 2026. Pay rates reflect the Pastoral Award and Horticulture Award effective from 1 July 2025. Rates are reviewed annually. Always check the Fair Work Ombudsman for the latest figures.