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Explore all careersHow do I become a Farmhand?
Get qualified to work as a Farmhand with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
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Common questions
In Australia, a full time Farmhand generally earns $1,346 per week ($69,992 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
Courses.com.au Team
There are currently 108,500 people employed as farm workers in Australia and this number is expected to rise slightly in the next five years. Work can be found across all states of Australia, but mostly in rural or regional areas.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal – 2019 Occupation Projections
Courses.com.au Team
If you’re thinking of becoming a Farmhand, a Certificate II or III in Rural Operations is a good place to start. You could also consider the Certificate II or III in Agriculture. You’ll learn all the skills you need to work safely in a range of farming sectors.
Courses.com.au Team
Further reading
Choosing a security licence course in Australia: A step-by-step guide for jobseekers
10th November 2023
Most popular horticulture courses
29th June 2022All farmhand courses
- AHC33316 Certificate III in Feedlot Operations
- FWPCOT3325 Operate Four Wheel Drive Vehicle on Unsealed Roads
- AHCMOM317 Operate Tractors with Attachments
- AHC30221 Certificate III in Dairy Production
- AHC30216 Certificate III in Agriculture (Dairy Production)
- AHC21119 Certificate II in Irrigation
- AHCMOM202 Operate Tractors
- RIIVEH305F Operate and Maintain a Four Wheel Drive Vehicle
- AHCSS00074 Agricultural Chemical Skill Set
- AHCMOM201 Operate Two Wheel Motorbikes
- AHC30516 Certificate III in Poultry Production
- AHC10322 Certificate I in Horticulture
- AHC21316 Certificate II in Shearing
- AHC32822 Certificate III in Rural Operations
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and Apply Chemicals to Control Pest, Weeds and Diseases
- AHCMOM213 Operate and Maintain Chainsaws
- FWPCOT2254 Maintain chainsaws
- AHCCHM304 Transport and Store Chemicals
- AHCMOM303 Operate a Telehandler
- AHCWHS302 Contribute to Workplace Health and Safety Processes
- FWPHAR2208 Operate Mobile Chipper/Mulcher
- AHC30624 Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- AHC21216 Certificate II in Rural Operations
- AHCPMG304 Use Firearms to Humanely Destroy Animals
- AHC30224 Certificate III in Dairy Production
- AHC10222 Certificate I in Agriculture
- AHCMOM217 Operate Quad Bikes
- AHCMOM216 Operate Side By Side Utility Vehicles
- TLIC0023 Operate Four Wheel Drive Vehicle
- Undergraduate Certificate in Agriculture
Farmhand careers
Farmhands assist with the daily work on farms including looking after livestock and tending to crops. You’ll help out with a range of tasks to keep the farm operating and your typical day will probably vary depending on the time of year. Your daily work will depend on the type of farm you’re working on but it might involve things like operating farm machinery, putting up fencing, doing repair work around the farm or feeding livestock. You might be involved in irrigating, fertilising or harvesting crops, moving animals to different areas of the farm, fixing and maintaining equipment or looking after the health of livestock.
Being a Farmhand is a very physical job. You’ll work hard and probably have long days in all sorts of weather conditions. You’ll need to like being outdoors and be able to handle manual labour and heavy lifting. You’ll need to be skilled in operating a range of farm machinery and be very comfortable working with animals.
