Minimum pay rates for farm workers in Northern Territory under the Pastoral Award 2020. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 19 July 2026Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035)
$26.44
Base rate/hr
$33.05
Casual rate/hr
Farm workers perform duties on pastoral and agricultural properties including animal husbandry, fencing, operating farm machinery, and general farm maintenance.
Northern Territory Note
Northern Territory workers may receive remote area allowances and have specific public holidays including Show Day.
| Employment Type | Hourly Rate | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time (adult) | $26.44/hr | $1,004.72 | $52,245.44 |
| Part-time (adult) | $26.44/hr | Pro-rata | Pro-rata |
| Casual (incl. 25% loading) | $33.05/hr | Varies | Varies |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Pastoral Award 2020.
Junior rates: Under 16: 50%. 16 years: 60%. 17 years: 70%. 18 years: 80%. 19 years: 90%. 20 years: 100% of the adult rate.
| Age | Approx. Hourly Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | $10.58/hr | 40% of adult rate |
| 16 years | $13.22/hr | 50% of adult rate |
| 17 years | $15.86/hr | 60% of adult rate |
| 18 years | $18.51/hr | 70% of adult rate |
| 19 years | $21.15/hr | 80% of adult rate |
| 20 years | $23.80/hr | 90% of adult rate |
| 21+ (adult) | $26.44/hr | 100% of adult rate |
Exact junior percentages vary by award. Check the Pastoral Award 2020 for precise rates.
Saturday
$39.66/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$52.88/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$66.10/hr
2.5x base
Penalty rates shown for full-time/part-time Level 1 ($26.44/hr base). Casual employees receive penalty rates calculated on their base rate (before casual loading).
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Farm hand (entry) | $25.74 | $32.18 | $50,862.24 |
| Level 2 | Experienced farm worker | $26.44 | $33.05 | $52,245.44 |
| Level 3 | Trade qualified (stockperson) | $26.49 | $33.11 | $52,344.24 |
| Level 4 | Farm supervisor / head stockperson | $27.08 | $33.85 | $53,510.08 |
Farm workers, particularly seasonal and harvest workers, are at high risk of underpayment. Piece-rate pay must still average at least the minimum hourly rate over the pay period.
If you think you are being paid below the minimum rate, you can calculate your potential back pay and check your rights.
Check If You Are Underpaid →The minimum hourly rate for a farm worker in Northern Territory is $26.44/hr for full-time and part-time employees, or $33.05/hr for casuals (including 25% loading). This is the Level 1 adult rate under the Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035), effective from 1 July 2026.
The minimum wage for a farm worker is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.72 per week for a 38-hour week, or $52,245.44 per year). This is set by the Pastoral Award 2020. Higher classification levels attract higher rates.
Farm Workers are covered by the Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035). This Modern Award sets minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and leave entitlements. Your employer may also have an enterprise agreement with different (usually higher) rates.
Yes. Under the Pastoral Award 2020, farm workers receive 1.5x their base rate on Saturdays ($39.66/hr) and 2x on Sundays ($52.88/hr). Public holidays are paid at 2.5x ($66.10/hr).
The casual rate for a farm worker is $33.05/hr, which includes a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate of $26.44/hr. The casual loading compensates for the lack of paid leave, notice of termination, and redundancy pay.
Junior rates: Under 16: 50%. 16 years: 60%. 17 years: 70%. 18 years: 80%. 19 years: 90%. 20 years: 100% of the adult rate. Always check the specific junior rate schedule in the Pastoral Award 2020 for exact percentages.
Embed this calculator on your site — free
One line of HTML. Auto-updates with the latest Australian rates. Click to copy the code.
Copy & paste into any HR blog, payroll docs, intranet, or CMS.
<iframe
src="https://fairworkmate.com.au/embed/pay-rates?partner=YOUR_NAME"
width="100%"
height="700"
frameborder="0"
loading="lazy"
title="Farm Worker Pay Rate in NT 2026-27 by FairWork Mate"
style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:680px;"
></iframe>YOUR_NAME with your site identifier for attribution (optional).Get notified when rates change
Free alerts when minimum wage, award rates, or workplace laws are updated.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.
Complete guide to modern award pay rates for 2026-27. Covers the 4.75% increase, how to find your award, minimum wage levels, penalty rates, overtime, and allowances under the Fair Work system.
KFC Australia Pay Rates 2026: Crew Member to Manager PayKFC Australia hourly rates 2026 — crew member, cook, team leader, and manager pay under the Fast Food Industry Award. Junior rates and weekend penalties.
Coles Pay Rates 2026: Award Rates by Age, Casual & Penalty RatesWhat Coles workers should be getting paid in 2026. Full breakdown of hourly rates by age, casual loading, weekend and public holiday penalty rates under the General Retail Industry Award.
Free tools surface the issue. Our partners help you solve it.
Authorised Employment Hero Partner
Australian HR, payroll, rostering and award interpretation in one platform. Used by 300,000+ businesses. Fixes the underlying payroll/compliance issues our calculators surface.
Best for: SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheet payroll or want automated award interpretation.
See Employment HeroHR support partner
Senior, hands-on HR support for your toughest workforce challenges — performance and conduct, grievances and mediation, redundancy and change. Liquid HR picks up where the technology ends.
Best for: employers and individuals who need a human HR professional to guide a workplace situation, not just a calculator.
Talk to Liquid HRIT, Microsoft & cyber partner
Microsoft 365, Copilot rollouts, Essential Eight, Privacy Act 2026 and board-level cyber compliance for Australian SMBs. Where pay and HR end, your data and IT obligations begin.
Best for: SMBs running on Microsoft 365, anyone hitting cyber/privacy compliance, boards wanting an outside read on IT risk.
See FrontrowRecommended partners — we only recommend partners we've vetted as a good fit for Australian workplaces. Some partnerships help fund the free tools on this site.