Pastoral Award pay rates from 1 July 2026: farm and livestock hands at levels 1 to 8, casual, overtime and public holiday rates, the keep deduction, shearer rates per 100 sheep, and take-home pay in 2026–27.
A farm hand starts at $25.74 an hour ($32.18 casual). Shearers get at least $409.96 per 100 flock sheep. Open in the pay calculator.
Farm and livestock hand pay rates
| Level | Hourly | Casual hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 | $50,861 | $1,704 |
| Level 2 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1,004.90 | $52,255 | $1,740 |
| Level 3 | $26.49 | $33.11 | $1,006.80 | $52,354 | $1,742 |
| Level 4 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1,029.10 | $53,513 | $1,772 |
| Level 5 | $27.55 | $34.44 | $1,046.90 | $54,439 | $1,795 |
| Level 6 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $1,062.90 | $55,271 | $1,817 |
| Level 7 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,119.10 | $58,193 | $1,891 |
| Level 8 | $31.64 | $39.55 | $1,202.50 | $62,530 | $2,002 |
Full-time weekly rate for 38 hours; take-home pay is after income tax and the Medicare levy for a full year in 2026–27. Where keep is provided the employer may deduct $165.86 a week. Piggery and poultry workers have separate rates in the pay guide.
Overtime and public holiday rates
| Level | Overtime Mon-Sat | Public holiday | Casual public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $38.61 | $51.48 | $57.92 |
| Level 2 | $39.66 | $52.88 | $59.49 |
| Level 3 | $39.74 | $52.98 | $59.60 |
| Level 4 | $40.62 | $54.16 | $60.93 |
| Level 5 | $41.33 | $55.10 | $61.99 |
| Level 6 | $41.96 | $55.94 | $62.93 |
| Level 7 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $66.26 |
| Level 8 | $47.46 | $63.28 | $71.19 |
Shearer rates per 100 sheep
| Sheep | Per 100 sheep | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Flock sheep (wethers, ewes and lambs) | $409.96 | $819.92 |
| Stud ewes and their lambs | $512.45 | $1,024.90 |
| Rams (other than special stud rams) and ram stags | $819.92 | $1,639.84 |
Machine shearing, not double fleeced, shearer doesn't provide their own stud comb. Other combinations (hand shearing, double fleeced, own comb), crutching, shed hands, wool pressers and shearing cooks are in the pay guide. Found shearers: deduct $42.05 a day.
How it works
- The Pastoral Award 2020 covers farming and grazing, including livestock, shearing and wool, piggeries and poultry farms.
- Casuals get a 25% loading instead of paid leave. Super is paid on top.
- Fruit and vegetable growing is under the Horticulture Award.
Common questions
What is the Pastoral Award pay rate?
From 1 July 2026, a Level 1 farm and livestock hand gets $25.74 an hour ($978.10 a week), or $32.18 as a casual, up to $31.64 at Level 8.
How much do shearers get paid per 100 sheep?
Under the award, $409.96 per 100 flock sheep (wethers, ewes and lambs) for machine shearing of sheep that aren't double fleeced, when the shearer doesn't provide their own stud comb. Stud ewes are $512.45 and rams $819.92 per 100.
Can my employer deduct board?
Yes. Where keep is provided, the employer may deduct $165.86 a week from a farm hand's wages. Found shearers have $42.05 a day deducted from shearing rates.
What do learner shearers get?
The same per-100 rates as shearers, with a minimum payment of $75.47 per run.
What is the overtime rate on a farm?
Time and a half Monday to Saturday ($38.61 at Level 1). Public holidays are double time ($51.48).
When do the rates go up?
Each year from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Next: 1 July 2027 (Annual Wage Review).
See also the Horticulture Award, sole trader tax calculator for contract shearers and the casual loading calculator.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide and award text, Pastoral Award 2020 [MA000035], rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Take-home pay: ATO tax rates. Checked 2026-10-22. General information only.