Pastoral Award 2020 — Pay Rates July 2026
Minimum pay rates effective 1 July 2026 under the Pastoral Award 2020. All rates verified directly against the official Fair Work Commission pay guide published 24 June 2026.
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Effective 1 July 2026 · Adult rates only · Source: Fair Work Commission
| Classification | Full-time / Part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Piggery attendant level 1 | $25.74/hr | $32.18/hr |
| Poultry farm worker level 1 | $25.74/hr | $32.18/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 1 | $25.74/hr | $32.18/hr |
| Piggery attendant level 2 | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 2 | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 3 | $26.49/hr | $33.11/hr |
| Poultry farm worker level 2 | $26.49/hr | $33.11/hr |
| Piggery attendant level 3 | $27.08/hr | $33.85/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 4 | $27.08/hr | $33.85/hr |
| Poultry farm worker level 3 | $27.55/hr | $34.44/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 5 | $27.55/hr | $34.44/hr |
| Piggery attendant level 4 | $27.97/hr | $34.96/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 6 | $27.97/hr | $34.96/hr |
| Piggery attendant level 5 | $28.68/hr | $35.85/hr |
| Piggery attendant level 6 | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 7 | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr |
| Poultry farm worker level 4 | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr |
| Piggery attendant level 7 | $30.38/hr | $37.98/hr |
| Farm and livestock hand level 8 | $31.64/hr | $39.55/hr |
Junior, apprentice & trainee rates
Reduced rates that apply by age, apprenticeship year or training stage — check which classification matches your situation.
| Classification | Full-time / Part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Piggery attendant U16 level 1 | $12.87/hr | $16.09/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 1 | $12.87/hr | $16.09/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker U16 level 1 | $12.87/hr | $16.09/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 2 | $13.22/hr | $16.53/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant U16 level 2 | $13.22/hr | $16.53/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker U16 level 2 | $13.25/hr | $16.56/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 3 | $13.25/hr | $16.56/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant U16 level 3 | $13.54/hr | $16.93/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 4 | $13.54/hr | $16.93/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 5 | $13.78/hr | $17.23/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker U16 level 3 | $13.78/hr | $17.23/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant U16 level 4 | $13.99/hr | $17.49/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 6 | $13.99/hr | $17.49/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant U16 level 5 | $14.34/hr | $17.93/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 7 | $14.73/hr | $18.41/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant U16 level 6 | $14.73/hr | $18.41/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker U16 level 4 | $14.73/hr | $18.41/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant U16 level 7 | $15.19/hr | $18.99/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 1 | $15.44/hr | $19.30/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 16yo level 1 | $15.44/hr | $19.30/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 16yo level 1 | $15.44/hr | $19.30/hr |
| Junior Farm hand U16 level 8 | $15.82/hr | $19.78/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 16yo level 2 | $15.86/hr | $19.83/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 2 | $15.87/hr | $19.84/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 16yo level 2 | $15.89/hr | $19.86/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 3 | $15.90/hr | $19.88/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 4 | $16.25/hr | $20.31/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 16yo level 3 | $16.25/hr | $20.31/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 5 | $16.53/hr | $20.66/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 16yo level 3 | $16.53/hr | $20.66/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 6 | $16.78/hr | $20.98/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 16yo level 4 | $16.78/hr | $20.98/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 16yo level 5 | $17.21/hr | $21.51/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 16yo level 4 | $17.67/hr | $22.09/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 16yo level 6 | $17.67/hr | $22.09/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 7 | $17.67/hr | $22.09/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 1 | $18.02/hr | $22.53/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 17yo level 1 | $18.02/hr | $22.53/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 17yo level 1 | $18.02/hr | $22.53/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 16yo level 7 | $18.23/hr | $22.79/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 17yo level 2 | $18.51/hr | $23.14/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 2 | $18.51/hr | $23.14/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 17yo level 2 | $18.54/hr | $23.18/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 3 | $18.55/hr | $23.19/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 4 | $18.96/hr | $23.70/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 17yo level 3 | $18.96/hr | $23.70/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 16yo level 8 | $18.99/hr | $23.74/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 5 | $19.29/hr | $24.11/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 17yo level 3 | $19.29/hr | $24.11/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 6 | $19.58/hr | $24.48/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 17yo level 4 | $19.58/hr | $24.48/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 17yo level 5 | $20.08/hr | $25.10/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 18yo level 1 | $20.59/hr | $25.74/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 1 | $20.59/hr | $25.74/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 18yo level 1 | $20.59/hr | $25.74/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 17yo level 6 | $20.62/hr | $25.78/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 17yo level 4 | $20.62/hr | $25.78/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 7 | $20.62/hr | $25.78/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 18yo level 2 | $21.15/hr | $26.44/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 2 | $21.16/hr | $26.45/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 18yo level 2 | $21.19/hr | $26.49/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 3 | $21.20/hr | $26.50/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 17yo level 7 | $21.27/hr | $26.59/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 18yo level 3 | $21.66/hr | $27.08/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 4 | $21.67/hr | $27.09/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 5 | $22.04/hr | $27.55/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 18yo level 3 | $22.04/hr | $27.55/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 17yo level 8 | $22.15/hr | $27.69/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 6 | $22.38/hr | $27.98/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 18yo level 4 | $22.38/hr | $27.98/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 18yo level 5 | $22.94/hr | $28.68/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 19yo level 1 | $23.17/hr | $28.96/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 1 | $23.17/hr | $28.96/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 19yo level 1 | $23.17/hr | $28.96/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 18yo level 4 | $23.56/hr | $29.45/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 18yo level 6 | $23.56/hr | $29.45/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 7 | $23.56/hr | $29.45/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 19yo level 2 | $23.80/hr | $29.75/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 2 | $23.80/hr | $29.75/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 19yo level 2 | $23.84/hr | $29.80/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 3 | $23.85/hr | $29.81/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 18yo level 7 | $24.30/hr | $30.38/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 19yo level 3 | $24.37/hr | $30.46/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 4 | $24.37/hr | $30.46/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 5 | $24.80/hr | $31.00/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 19yo level 3 | $24.80/hr | $31.00/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 19yo level 4 | $25.17/hr | $31.46/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 6 | $25.17/hr | $31.46/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 18yo level 8 | $25.32/hr | $31.65/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 1 | $25.74/hr | $32.18/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 20yo level 1 | $25.74/hr | $32.18/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 20yo level 1 | $25.74/hr | $32.18/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 19yo level 5 | $25.81/hr | $32.26/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 2 | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 20yo level 2 | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 3 | $26.49/hr | $33.11/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 20yo level 2 | $26.49/hr | $33.11/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 7 | $26.51/hr | $33.14/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 19yo level 6 | $26.51/hr | $33.14/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 19yo level 4 | $26.51/hr | $33.14/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 20yo level 3 | $27.08/hr | $33.85/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 4 | $27.08/hr | $33.85/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 19yo level 7 | $27.34/hr | $34.18/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 5 | $27.55/hr | $34.44/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 20yo level 3 | $27.55/hr | $34.44/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 6 | $27.97/hr | $34.96/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 20yo level 4 | $27.97/hr | $34.96/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 19yo level 8 | $28.48/hr | $35.60/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 20yo level 5 | $28.68/hr | $35.85/hr |
| Junior Poultry worker 20yo level 4 | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 7 | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 20yo level 6 | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr |
| Junior Piggery attendant 20yo level 7 | $30.38/hr | $37.98/hr |
| Junior Farm hand 20yo level 8 | $31.64/hr | $39.55/hr |
Penalty rates — Piggery attendant level 1
Full-time/part-time and casual rates often differ — casual employees receive a higher percentage on top of the 25% casual loading.
| When | Full-time / Part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | $38.61/hr 150% | $45.05/hr 140% |
| Sunday overtime | $51.48/hr 200% | $57.92/hr 180% |
| Sunday Continuous Shiftwork | $51.48/hr 200% | $57.92/hr 180% |
| Public Holiday Not Shiftwork | $64.35/hr 250% | $70.80/hr 220% |
| Public Holiday Shiftwork | $51.48/hr 200% | $57.92/hr 180% |
| Overtime Monday Saturday First 2hrs | $38.61/hr 150% | $45.05/hr 140% |
| Overtime Monday Saturday After 2hrs | $51.48/hr 200% | $57.92/hr 180% |
| Afternoon Shift 5plus Successive | $29.60/hr 115% | $36.04/hr 112% |
| Afternoon Shift Less Than 5 Shifts First 3hrs | $38.61/hr 150% | $45.05/hr 140% |
| Afternoon Shift Less Than 5 Shifts After 3hrs | $51.48/hr 200% | $57.92/hr 180% |
| Night Shift 5plus Successive | $29.60/hr 115% | $36.04/hr 112% |
| Night Shift Less Than 5 Shifts First 3hrs | $38.61/hr 150% | $45.05/hr 140% |
| Night Shift Less Than 5 Shifts After 3hrs | $51.48/hr 200% | $57.92/hr 180% |
| Permanent Night Shift | $33.46/hr 130% | $39.90/hr 124% |
Common questions about the Pastoral Award
What is the minimum wage under the Pastoral Award?
The minimum full-time rate under the Pastoral Award from 1 July 2026 is $25.74 per hour. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading, making the minimum casual rate $32.18 per hour.
What is the casual loading under the Pastoral Award?
Casual employees receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate, which compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements. Casual penalty rates for weekends, evenings and public holidays are usually higher again than the full-time/part-time penalty rates - not just the base rate plus 25% - so check the specific casual figures in the table above rather than estimating.
When did the Pastoral Award rates last change?
Current rates took effect 1 July 2026 following the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review decision, which applied a 4.75% increase to Modern Award minimum rates (the National Minimum Wage floor for award-free workers rose separately, by 5.97%, to $26.44/hr). Rates are reviewed and updated every 1 July.
What happens if my employer pays me less than the Pastoral Award minimum?
Paying below the award minimum is a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009. You can report underpayment to the Fair Work Ombudsman at fairwork.gov.au or call 13 13 94. Investigations are free and you may be entitled to back pay for up to 6 years.
Check your pay against these rates
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Start free wage checkAll rates sourced from Fair Work Commission pay guides effective 1 July 2026. Rates verified against official FWC published documents and updated annually on 1 July. This is factual information only — not legal advice. FairLanding (ABN 34 583 311 963) operates under Section 280 of the Migration Act 1958. For advice specific to your situation, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman at fairwork.gov.au or 13 13 94.