Considering a career in agriculture? Entering the industry can mean a fulfilling, successful and thriving job working towards creating a more sustainable planet. Whether you’re currently completing a degree in agriculture or close to graduating, it’s important to gain a clear understanding of what a job in the industry could look like.
University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Lecturer and Research Fellow Dr Derek Long spoke to Insider Guides about working in the agriculture sector, the roles available for graduates, and his advice for anyone looking for a rewarding career in the field.
What jobs are available in agriculture?
Agriculture jobs in Australia aren’t just limited to farm work. Dr Long explains that the range of jobs available in Australian agriculture is broad and not restricted to those with traditional agriculture degrees.
“Within the sciences, graduates from a large range of specialisations are helping us better understand and better manage our crops, animals, soils and surrounding ecosystem,” he shares.
Agriculture roles include:
- Farm manager: This involves looking after the day-to-day operations of a farm including crops and animals
- Agricultural consultant: A consultant provides expert advice on how a farm should run
- Agricultural engineer: Engineers develop equipment and technology to improve the farm’s needs
- Field scientist: A field scientist conducts research and experiments on the land to help improve growing conditions
- Horticulturist: This is an expert in plant and crop care
Looking at roles beyond farm work? Agricultural jobs also use skills gained from other industries such as marketing, communications, logistics and IT. These include:
- Data analyst
- Cyber security Specialist
- App developer
- System engineer
Where can you work in agriculture?
With such a diverse range of roles within the agriculture sector, there are many different areas you can work in.
A career in farming work could take you to regional Australia to work with small to large-scale businesses, you could be employed by state governments to help oversee the local industry, and roles in science and engineering could have you working for major Australian agriculture companies.
“Within engineering, there is a need to develop new equipment, technologies and practices that enable us to continue on the journey towards precision agriculture and be more productive,” adds Dr Long.
“The types of companies offering these roles range from small and corporate farming operations to equipment manufacturers and technology/service providers.”
The types of places you can work include, but are not limited to:
- Farms
- Laboratories
- Nurseries
- Garden centres
- Nature reserves
- Agriculture government departments
What is the average salary in agriculture?
Like any industry, each role in agriculture comes with its own average earnings. For example, an agricultural engineer’s salary in Australia can range from $89,000 to $100,000 a year. An agricultural consultant’s salary can go from $70,000 to $80,000 a year. A typical salary for an agricultural technician in Australia is around $65,000 to $85,000.
However, you should use these as a guide only, as several factors can contribute to your salary – such as the company you work for, your experience and growth opportunities.
What’s the best thing about working in agriculture?
There are so many great things about working in agriculture. Some of these include:
- The opportunity to drive real and sustainable change in how we grow crops and raise livestock
- Diverse career choices ranging from farm work to marketing and logistics
- The ability to work in a growing industry, with employment up 4.7% since 2016
- The chance to change up your work environment and work outdoors
If you’ve never worked in agriculture before, Dr Long says you shouldn’t worry about getting into the industry.
“Don’t be deterred if you don’t have a background in agriculture (I didn’t!). It is highly likely that you are going to be able to adapt your previous skills and experiences to work in a new setting if you have the drive,” he says.
“I love working in agriculture because it is a fundamental pillar of our society and it is very fulfilling to watch your work have an impact. I also get a lot of variety in my role and get to work with very friendly people that make the workplace fun. And a lot of those things are going to be true for graduate positions as well (it’s not just me!).”
Discover more about completing a degree in agriculture on the UniSQ website, and find out answers to some of the most frequently asked agriculture questions.
