Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator

An Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator uses self-propelled and towed machinery to prepare land, plant crops, apply inputs, and harvest produce in farming and horticulture settings across Australia. The role involves operating equipment such as tractors, combine harvesters, sprayers, and tillage machinery in compliance with farm health and safety standards and environmental regulations. Daily work includes machinery setup, operation over variable terrain, maintenance of equipment function, and adherence to chemical and biosecurity protocols.

Operate tractors and self-propelled machinery on paddocks and horticultural blocks, adjusting speed and depth controls for soil and crop conditions. Attach and detach towed implements including ploughs, harrows, seeders, and sprayers using three-point linkage and hydraulic systems. Perform pre-operation checks on engines, hydraulic systems, brakes, and tyres before commencing daily operations. Apply herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides using boom sprayers and handheld equipment while maintaining Safe Work Australia compliance and chemical label requirements. Operate combine harvesters to thresh and collect grain crops, adjusting separation mechanisms and feed rates according to crop moisture and variety. Monitor and manage fuel consumption, engine temperature, and hydraulic pressure gauges during extended operations. Navigate and position mobile plant on uneven terrain, slopes, and waterlogged paddocks with awareness of vehicle stability and rollover risk. Maintain farm biosecurity protocols by cleaning machinery between paddocks and properties to prevent spread of pests and diseases.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll work seasonal peaks of 60 to 70 hour weeks during planting and harvest, then face quiet months with uncertain work. Pay is tied to farm profitability and commodity prices, not guaranteed. You're also exposed to diesel fumes, pesticides, and rollover risk daily. Many farms now use GPS-guided machinery and autonomous systems, which may reduce how many operators are needed over time.

Regional towns near grain, cotton, and horticulture production are where most work is. Remote work doesn't apply. Work is seasonal and tied to farm locations, not metro areas.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7211, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Active Listening
• Address problems critically
• Advise client on technical possibilities
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Delivery Scheduling
• Dispatch Documentation
• Forklift Licence Coordination
• Inventory Tracking
• Record Management
• Supplier Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026