Farmer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a farmer is $54,600 per annum, before tax, up $11,400 since 2018.
Farm income swings with commodity prices, seasonal conditions and the scale of the property, so a good year and a poor one can look very different. Whether you own, lease or share-farm the land often matters more to the figure than the type of farming does, and many farm households also draw on off-farm work.
Roles that pay more than farmer
The largest typical pay rise is $28,600 a year, moving into Grain Grower.
- Grain Grower+$28,600/yr
- Agricultural Machinery Operator+$20,800/yr
- Orchardist+$18,200/yr
How to negotiate a higher farmer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time farmer salary is $54,600; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Farmers are on the skills shortage list for regional areas, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Budgeting and forecasting and Operations management tend to command a premium over general farmer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Grain Grower pays a typical $28,600 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Farmer salary questions
How much do farmers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a farmer is $54,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is farmer pay rising or falling?
The median farmer salary is up $11,400 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than farmer?
Grain Grower pays a typical $28,600 a year more and draws on similar skills to farmer.