Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Qualification Level
Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Farming stays a key part of the Australian economy. Farmers and graziers manage land across roughly 61% of the country. The field covers crop growing, stock farming and fish farming, and it keeps shifting with the climate and world markets. Despite a mostly dry landscape, our producers have built a name for good grain, beef, wool and dairy.
Median weekly pay in farming, forestry and fishing sits at $1,358 (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026). The workforce skews older too, with a median age of 51. That gives real openings for career changers ready to learn new skills, as farms take up sensors and self-driving gear.
Study options run from short, hands-on certificates to postgrad study in agribusiness and farm science. You can start at the level that suits your own experience. Many courses mix classroom time with placements, so you leave with real farm exposure, not just theory. Groups such as AgriFutures Australia fund the research that shapes what these courses teach.
Funded training spots exist in some states for eligible learners. StudySelect lists government-funded course options to cut the cost of getting started. Whether you want farm management, agronomy or agribusiness, there is a path that fits your goals.
Agriculture workers may earn between $55000 and $115000 per year
Median weekly earnings across agriculture, forestry and fishing sit at $1,358 (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026). PayScale (2026) puts the average base agriculture salary at around $80,000 a year. SEEK career advice (2026) lists farmhand salaries between $70,000 and $85,000. Farm manager salaries sit between $95,000 and $115,000, depending on experience and location.
Finishing a course in farming, forestry or fishing opens a genuinely broad set of career paths. Based on your chosen focus, you might move into farm management, agribusiness, land care work or hands-on production roles. Many graduates find that the placement time in their course points them toward the exact type of work they end up doing.
People working across farms, forests and fisheries keep Australia’s food supply moving. Here is what the work often looks like:
Many workers also help shape policy, working on the rules that guide the industry. Others focus on teaching, sharing practical tips with farmers and the public. This hands-on work shapes what ends up on dinner tables across the country.
Farm, forest and fishing work suits people who like being outdoors and solving problems on the spot. Useful skills for this line of work include:
Jobs across farming, forestry and fishing vary a lot by place and market demand. A big share of roles sit in regional areas. The field employs around 292,200 people nationwide (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026), with sheep, beef cattle and grain farms the biggest employer group.
Staff shortages and weather swings stay ongoing problems. Even so, the field keeps changing. New roles keep popping up in green farming, land care and agribusiness support. Graduates can find work across government bodies, private farms and agribusiness firms. Clear paths run from entry-level field roles up to farm management and expert advisory work.
Career changers often ask how study compares to on-the-job farm experience. In practice, the two work well together. A course builds skills that hands-on work alone does not always teach, such as compliance and money management.
A diploma in agriculture or agribusiness sets you up to lead a team, run day-to-day operations and manage the money side of a farm business.
Yes. Green and digital farming are national goals. Farm technology, climate resilience and export growth are all key focus areas right now.
Yes, you can. You can pick a focused study path in grape growing, farm machinery, soil science or precision farming tools.
Modern farming balances output with care for land and water. Courses now build these green practices into most units of study.
Yes, especially degrees from registered training bodies or universities. Many graduates go on to work in export roles or farm projects overseas.
