Farm Worker Pay Rate Australia 2026-27
Farm Workers earn at least $26.44/hr (FLH2), $33.05/hr casual — about $1,005 a week full-time — under the Pastoral Award 2020. Every classification level, penalty rates and junior rates below.
Farm Worker Pay Rate
Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035)
Farm workers perform duties on pastoral and agricultural properties including animal husbandry, fencing, operating farm machinery, and general farm maintenance.
$26.44
Base rate/hr
$33.05
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$26.44
Hourly (Casual)
$33.05
Weekly (38hrs)
$1,004.72
Annual (Full-Time)
$52,245.44
What Award Covers Farm Workers?
Farm Workers in Australia are generally covered by the Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035). This Modern Award sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment including pay rates, hours of work, rosters, breaks, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime.
Some farm workers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must provide conditions that are at least as favourable as the award overall (the Better Off Overall Test).
Farm Worker Classification Levels & Pay Rates
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLH1 | Station hand with less than 6 months' industry experience | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.12 | $50,862.24 |
| FLH2 | Station hand with 6 to 12 months' industry experience | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1,004.72 | $52,245.44 |
| FLH3 | Station hand with 12+ months' experience / dairy operator grade 1B | $26.49 | $33.11 | $1,006.62 | $52,344.24 |
| FLH4 | Feedlot employee level 2 (2 years' feedlot experience) | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1,029.04 | $53,510.08 |
| FLH5 | Senior station hand / dairy operator grade 2 | $27.55 | $34.44 | $1,046.90 | $54,438.80 |
| FLH6 | Feedlot employee level 3 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $1,062.86 | $55,268.72 |
| FLH7 | Senior dairy operator grade 1 / feedlot employee level 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,119.10 | $58,193.20 |
| FLH8 | Senior dairy operator grade 2 | $31.64 | $39.55 | $1,202.32 | $62,520.64 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Pastoral Award MA000035, farm and livestock hand wage groups FLH1–FLH8 (cl 31), rates from 1 July 2026 (cl 32.1). Fruit, vegetable and other horticulture work is covered by the Horticulture Award (MA000028), not this award.
Casual Farm Worker Pay Rate
Casual farm workers receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $26.44/hr to $33.05/hr.
The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid annual leave, personal leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. Over a full year, a casual farm worker working 38 hours per week would earn $65,306.80 (before tax and penalty rates).
From 1 July 2024, casual employees who have worked regular hours for at least 6 months can request conversion to permanent employment. Check your casual conversion eligibility →
Part-Time Farm Worker Pay Rate
Part-time farm workers receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($26.44/hr) but work fewer than 38 hours per week on a regular, agreed pattern. Part-time employees receive all the same entitlements as full-time employees (annual leave, personal leave, notice, redundancy) on a pro-rata basis.
Junior Farm Worker Pay Rates (Under 21)
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 | % of adult | Hourly | Casual/hr | Weekly (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 50% | $12.87 | $16.09 | $489.05 |
| 16 | 60% | $15.44 | $19.30 | $586.86 |
| 17 | 70% | $18.02 | $22.53 | $684.67 |
| 18 | 80% | $20.59 | $25.74 | $782.48 |
| 19 | 90% | $23.17 | $28.96 | $880.29 |
| 20+ (adult) | 100% | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
Farm and Livestock Hand Level 1 (FLH1). Source: Fair Work Commission Modern Awards Pay Database (junior rate rows, current from 1 July 2026), operative from 1 July 2026. Casual = hourly × 1.25. Pastoral juniors are paid the full adult rate from 20.
Farm Worker Penalty Rates
Penalty rates apply when farm workers work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for FLH2 permanent employees ($26.44/hr base).
Saturday
$39.66/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$52.88/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$52.88/hr
2x base
Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.
Am I Being Underpaid as a Farm Worker?
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 earn less than $26.44/hr as a full-time or part-time farm worker, or less than $33.05/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
Compare with Similar Roles
| Job Title | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Annual (FT) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Worker | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $52,245.44 | MA000035 |
| Retail Worker | $27.81/hr | $34.76/hr | $54,952.56 | MA000004 |
| Barista | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $52,245.44 | MA000009 |
| Waiter | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $52,245.44 | MA000009 |
Browse All Job Pay Rates
More on the Pastoral Award
Pastoral Award (MA000035) overview
Coverage, penalty rates, casual overtime method and break rules.
Search enterprise agreements
An enterprise agreement replaces the award where one covers your workplace. Search by employer.
Enterprise agreements in agriculture
- Skretting (Cambridge Operations) Enterprise Agreement 2026
- TOOSEY ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2025 – 2029
- Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd Hanwood Feedmill Enterprise Agreement 2026-2030
- ETS Vegetation Management – NSW Enterprise Agreement – 2026-2029
- Australian Sustainable Hardwoods Pty Ltd Collective Agreement 2026
- Application by Mimal Aboriginal Land Management Corporation
Recently approved agreements from the Fair Work Commission register in this industry. Check the agreement itself for the award it sits on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a farm worker get paid per hour?
The minimum hourly rate for a farm worker in Australia is $26.44/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $33.05/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the Pastoral Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.
What is the minimum wage for a farm worker?
Under the Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035), the minimum wage for a farm worker starts at $26.44/hr (FLH2 adult rate). This equates to $1,004.72/week or $52,245.44/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.
What award covers farm workers?
Farm Workers in Australia are generally covered by the Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some farm workers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
What is the casual rate for a farm worker?
A casual farm worker receives $33.05/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $26.44/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
What are the penalty rates for a farm worker?
Under the Pastoral Award 2020, farm workers receive: Saturday 1.5x ($39.66/hr), Sunday 2x ($52.88/hr), and Public Holiday 2x ($52.88/hr) at FLH2 rates.
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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.
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