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Stablehand salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a stablehand is $49,900 per annum, before tax, up $10,500 since 2018.
Pay is set by the award or enterprise agreement covering the stable, with penalty rates for early mornings, weekends and public holidays lifting the hourly rate. Racing stables often provide accommodation and meals on site, which changes what the wage is worth in practice. Casual trackwork and barrier attendant shifts generally pay more per hour than routine yard work.
Roles that pay more than stablehand
The largest typical pay rise is $36,800 a year, moving into Veterinary Nurse.
- Veterinary Nurse+$36,800/yr
- Jockey+$17,700/yr
- Animal Attendant+$16,500/yr
How to negotiate a higher stablehand salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time stablehand salary is $49,900; 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 Cleaning and grounds maintenance tend to command a premium over general stablehand experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Veterinary Nurse pays a typical $36,800 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."
Stablehand salary questions
How much do stablehands earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a stablehand is $49,900 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is stablehand pay rising or falling?
The median stablehand salary is up $10,500 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than stablehand?
Veterinary Nurse pays a typical $36,800 a year more and draws on similar skills to stablehand.