Dairy Farm Jobs Australia
Year-round dairy farming work. Milking, feeding, general farm duties. Earn $25-33/hr, counts toward 88 days.
Why Work on a Dairy Farm?
Year-Round Work
Cows need milking every day, 365 days a year. Consistent work regardless of season.
Good Pay
Earn $25-33/hr with potential for overtime. Higher pay than most fruit picking jobs.
Counts Toward 88 Days
Dairy farming is specified work that counts toward your second-year visa extension.
Regular Hours
Predictable schedule. Morning and afternoon milking shifts. Full-time hours available.
Types of Dairy Farm Work
Milking
Operating milking machines, cleaning equipment, moving cows
- • Early morning starts (4-5am)
- • Afternoon shifts (3-4pm)
- • 2-3 hours per milking
- • Pay: $25-30/hr
Feeding & General Farm Work
Feeding cows, cleaning sheds, fence maintenance, pasture work
- • Between milking shifts
- • Physical outdoor work
- • Tractor operation (training provided)
- • Pay: $25-33/hr
Maintenance & Calf Rearing
Equipment maintenance, calf feeding, health checks
- • Specialized roles
- • Training provided
- • Higher responsibility
- • Pay: $28-33/hr
Top Dairy Regions
Gippsland, VIC
Victoria
Largest dairy region in Australia. Hundreds of farms. Consistent work.
$25-33/hr
Murray Valley, VIC/NSW
Victoria/NSW
Major dairy region. Good infrastructure. Close to regional towns.
$25-30/hr
South East QLD
Queensland
Subtropical dairy farming. Year-round green pastures.
$25-30/hr
South West WA
Western Australia
Growing dairy region. Good pay rates. Less competition.
$28-33/hr
What to Expect
Early Morning Starts
Morning milking typically starts at 4-5am. Afternoon milking is around 3-4pm.
- • Morning shift: 4am-8am (milking + feeding)
- • Break during the day
- • Afternoon shift: 3pm-7pm (milking + cleaning)
- • 7-8 hours total per day
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Year-round work availability
- • Good pay rates ($25-33/hr)
- • Regular, predictable hours
- • Counts toward 88 days
- • Learn valuable farming skills
- • Often includes accommodation
Cons
- • Very early morning starts
- • 7 days a week (rotating roster)
- • Physical work in all weather
- • Rural/remote locations
- • Need to be comfortable with animals
- • Repetitive tasks
Pay Rates
Dairy Work Rates
- Dairy Hand (Milking)$25-30/hr
- General Farm Hand$25-28/hr
- Experienced Dairy Worker$28-33/hr
- Overtime (after 38hrs/week)1.5x - 2x
Minimum casual rate: $24.95/hr (National Minimum Wage 2026). Many farms offer accommodation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience to work on a dairy farm?
Does dairy farm work count toward 88 days?
What are the working hours like?
Find Dairy Farm Jobs
Search ABN-verified dairy farms across Australia. Year-round work available.