Agricultural Consultant
An agricultural consultant provides expert advice to farmers, agribusiness operators and land managers on crop production, livestock management, soil health and farm business planning. They diagnose on-farm problems using field inspection, soil testing and data analysis, then recommend practices aligned with Australian regulatory standards and market conditions.
What this job is
An agricultural consultant provides expert advice to farmers, agribusiness operators and land managers on crop production, livestock management, soil health and farm business planning. They diagnose on-farm problems using field inspection, soil testing and data analysis, then recommend practices aligned with Australian regulatory standards and market conditions. Consultants work across diverse farm types, grains, horticulture, viticulture, dairy, beef, and may specialise in organic certification, water management or export compliance.
Are employers advertising this role?
Fewer than 50 vacancies were advertised nationally in the latest month. The numbers are too small to draw a reliable trend.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Conduct on-site farm assessments including soil sampling, pest and disease scouting, and evaluation of crop or livestock health status. Analyse soil test results from NATA-accredited laboratories and provide nutrient management recommendations within Australian environmental guidelines. Advise on integrated pest management strategies and chemical application safety compliant with APVMA product labels and residue limits. Review farm financial data and production records to identify cost-saving opportunities and profitability improvements. Recommend farm practices that meet Australian Certified Organic Standards or other certification scheme requirements. Prepare written reports documenting findings, recommendations and implementation timelines for specific farm operations. Advise on water management strategies including irrigation efficiency, drainage design and compliance with state water authority licensing requirements. Guide farmers on regulatory compliance with biosecurity regulations, animal welfare standards (including RSPCA or equivalent codes) and environmental protection legislation.
Who does this now
About 1,800 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Bachelor degree or higher (ABS skill level 1)
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation had trouble finding suitable applicants in 2025. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation-ready qualification as:
Completing this qualification will provide the skills and knowledge to undertake this occupation. Further training and experience may be required to meet specific industry requirements including licensing and registration.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Requirements
The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). 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.
The honest hard part
You'll need deep technical knowledge in soil science, agronomy and livestock management, plus ongoing study to stay current with regulations and market shifts. Income is highly variable and often capped by farmer budgets in regional areas. Many consultants struggle with unpredictable work patterns, travel to remote farms, and the emotional burden of advising farmers facing drought or market collapse.
Where the jobs are
Consultants cluster in regional centres near farming hubs. Some work remotely from cities but travel regularly to farms.
Pay
Published for ANZSCO unit group 2341, 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.
Skills
- Active Listeningcore
- Advise on fertiliser and herbicidecore
- Attention to Detailcore
- Customer Needs Assessmentcore
- Goal Setting and Planningcore
- Negotiationcore
- Problem Solvingcore
- Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
- Report Writingcore
- Research and Analysiscore
- Risk Identificationcore
- Stakeholder Communicationcore
- Time Management and Prioritisationcore
- Verbal Communicationcore
- Written Communicationcore
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Climate smart agriculture
- Community Development
- Continuous Learning and Upskilling
- Digital Literacy
- Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
- Process Improvement Identification
- Record Management
- Team Collaboration
- Workload Self-Management
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- 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.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Want a hand with what comes next? The 12-week Sprint covers your resume, LinkedIn and interview practice, with up to three coach reviews of a targeted resume or an application from an Australian career coach, for A$299 paid once. Before you decide anything, you can read who we are or send us a question.