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Pig Farmer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a pig farmer is $73,800 per annum, before tax, up $15,400 since 2018.
Pay depends heavily on the size of the operation and whether you own it or work in it, with larger piggeries and management roles paying more than small family farms. Rostered weekend and public holiday work usually attracts penalty rates, and live-in roles on remote properties can include housing that changes what the package is worth. Because pork prices and feed costs move, a farm owner's income swings more than a wage does.
Roles that pay more than pig farmer
The largest typical pay rise is $4,200 a year, moving into Poultry Farmer.
- Poultry Farmer+$4,200/yr
- Deer Farmer+$1,600/yr
- Sheep Farmer+$1,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher pig farmer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time pig farmer salary is $73,800; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Animal care and handling and Operations management tend to command a premium over general pig farmer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Poultry Farmer pays a typical $4,200 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."
Pig Farmer salary questions
How much do pig farmers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a pig farmer is $73,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is pig farmer pay rising or falling?
The median pig farmer salary is up $15,400 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than pig farmer?
Poultry Farmer pays a typical $4,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to pig farmer.