Farm Work Pay Rates Australia 2026

Baseline rates from 1 July 2026

• National Minimum Wage: $26.44/hr ($1004.90 / 38-hour week)
• Award/agreement-free casual: $33.05/hr
• Horticulture Award Level 1 adult: $25.74/hr full-time/part-time · $32.18/hr casual
• Horticulture Award Level 2 adult: $26.44/hr · $33.05/hr casual

Level 1 under the Horticulture Award is time-limited (generally a maximum of three months). Exact classification depends on duties — verify in the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Horticulture Award

Most fruit, vegetable, nursery and packing-shed jobs are covered by the Horticulture Award. It sets classification levels, casual loading, overtime rules and allows piecework when the award conditions are met. Planting, picking, sorting and packing commonly fall here.

Pastoral Award

Livestock, dairy, shearing support and many station roles sit under the Pastoral Award rather than Horticulture. Classification and ordinary hours differ. Do not assume the Horticulture Level 1 figure applies to cattle-station work — check the Pastoral Award classification for the role.

Casual farm workers

Most backpackers are engaged as casuals. Casual loading (commonly 25%) is built into the higher hourly rate instead of paid leave. A casual Horticulture Level 1 adult rate from 1 July 2026 is $32.18/hr.

Hourly work vs piece work

Hourly farm work pays a set rate for each hour. Piece work pays per unit of output (bin, tray, kg). Piece rates can be efficient for fast pickers, but effective hourly earnings still need to meet the applicable minimum guarantee. Keep records of hours and units.

Worked example and calculator: piece rate calculator.

Packing sheds and fruit/vegetable work

Packing-shed roles (sorting, grading, packing) are often hourly under Horticulture classifications. Field picking may be hourly or piece rate depending on the farm. Ask before you start: employment type, award, classification, rate, and whether piecework applies.

For picking-specific rules see fruit picking pay rates Australia.

Superannuation

Eligible farm employees generally receive Super Guarantee contributions at 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid on top of wages into a super fund — not as part of cash-in-hand take-home pay.

Example comparisons

Common underpayment scenarios

• Cash-in-hand with no payslips or ABN on documents
• Piece rates that never reach the applicable hourly minimum with no top-up
• Staying on Level 1 rates beyond the allowed period
• Unexplained accommodation or transport deductions that wipe out wages
• No casual loading when engaged as casual

Sources

• Fair Work Commission — National Minimum Wage
• Horticulture Award 2020 [MA000028]
• Fair Work — Horticulture pay and piece rates

Related guides

• Backpacker Pay Checker
• Fruit picking pay rates
• Piece rate calculator
• Hospitality pay
• Warehouse pay
• Cleaning pay
• Construction pay