What does a farm hand do?
Farm hands usually assist with the day-to-day work on a farm, often under the supervision of a senior farm hand or the farm owner. Their specific duties can change from farm to farm, but the role is generally very physically demanding.
Farm hands often start their working day early in the morning and work on fields or pastures. They normally help with harvesting crops or milk and move animals around the farm. Driving farm vehicles and carrying out repair or maintenance tasks, e.g. on fencing or animal stables, is also part of the farm hand job.
Many farms are in remote or rural locations, so farm hands usually move onto the property and live on site for the duration of their contract.
Farm hand skills and qualifications
To do their job well, a farm hand should have the following skills and aptitudes:
- Aptitude for practical, manual work
- Comfortable working outdoors and in varying weather conditions
- Ability to work independently and with limited social interactions
- Some mechanical aptitude
- Ability to confidently work with animals
- Physical capability to perform heavy work
Farm hand experience requirements
Farm hand is an entry-level role that does not require any previous experience. All skills can be acquired on the job. As long as a candidate is motivated to work hard and has the right aptitudes for the job, they are suitable for hiring.
Some farms offer traineeships to enable farm hands to gain additional skills and progress to a more senior role with more responsibility .
Farm hand education and training requirements
Working as a farm hand in Australia does not require any special training or qualifications. However, you may want to look for candidates who have a regular or tractor licence in order to be able to drive vehicles around the farm.
Furthermore, applicants who have chosen to complete a TAFE qualification such as the Certificate III in Agriculture or the Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management may have an edge over other applicants, as they will have relevant industry knowledge.
Farm hand salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a farm hand is $27.80 per hour. The reported rates for farm hands are relatively consistent across all Australian states and territories, with only minimal differences.
Job description samples for similar positions
There are a couple of related roles that share some similarities with that of a farm hand. Take a look to see if you may need to hire one of these experts instead of a farm hand:
Farm hand job description FAQs
Is farm hand a physically demanding role?
Farm hands work outdoors in ever-changing weather conditions, from hot to cold. The role is physically demanding and requires heavy work and a lot of physical tasks such as lifting or carrying items. During harvest times, fruit or vegetables may need to be picked, packed and carried.
A farm hand, therefore, needs to be physically fit enough to perform these manual duties, able to spend long hours on their feet and be happy to work in an outdoor environment.
What makes a good farm hand?
A good farm hand is someone who is happy to learn on the job and aware that a lot of physical labour is required. A positive, proactive attitude goes a long way in this environment. Look for applicants who demonstrate a clear understanding of the role and are happy to perform physical tasks in a potentially uncomfortable environment.
As social contact can be limited, especially on remote farms, a budding farm hand should be aware of the potential isolation and be comfortable working alone for long periods of time.
Is farm hand a permanent or a seasonal job?
Farms hands are often required on a seasonal basis to help with different harvests, but it can also be a permanent job. Seasonal farm hands are often young people or international backpackers who join on a temporary or part-time basis.
Full-time farm hands are to be paid in accordance with the Australian Government’s Pastoral Award of 2010, so if you are hiring a permanent farm hand, make sure you are familiar with the requirements set out in this award.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
