Invasive Pest, Weed and Disease Inspector

An Invasive Pest, Weed and Disease Inspector monitors, surveys, and reports on the presence and spread of invasive species, weeds, and plant diseases across agricultural, horticultural, and natural environments in Australia. They conduct field inspections, collect samples, document findings, and prepare reports to support biosecurity enforcement and compliance with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) regulations and state-based quarantine requirements.

Conduct field surveys and inspections of agricultural land, nurseries, ports, and natural areas to detect invasive pests, weeds, and plant pathogens using visual assessment and diagnostic tools. Collect and preserve plant and pest samples following DAFF protocols, labelling and documenting chain of custody for laboratory analysis. Use GPS mapping and spatial data collection systems to record locations of infestations and create distribution maps for biosecurity reporting. Identify plant species, pest insects, and fungal or bacterial diseases using field guides, dichotomous keys, and microscopic examination. Prepare detailed inspection reports documenting the presence, extent, severity, and recommended control measures for identified pests, weeds, or diseases. Collaborate with laboratory staff to submit samples for pathological testing and obtain confirmatory identification results. Assess biosecurity risk and compliance with Biosecurity Act 2015 requirements, identifying breaches of quarantine zones or prohibited species thresholds. Communicate findings to landholders, farmers, and horticultural businesses, advising on eradication or containment strategies.

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 spend a lot of time in the field in all weather, often on your feet trudging through farms, bushland, and ports looking for things that might not be obvious. The pay ceiling is modest because most positions are government or government-contracted work with limited advancement. You also need strong ID skills for plants, insects, and diseases: if you get it wrong, biosecurity breaches can cost industries millions, so the pressure to be accurate is real.

Most positions are with state agriculture departments and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, plus quarantine agencies at major ports. Regional areas with intensive farming (horticulture zones, grain regions) also have positions. Remote work is rare: the job requires field presence.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 5995, 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.

• Act with a high level of safety awarenesscore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Policy Interpretationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Community Development
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Correspondence Drafting
• Digital Literacy
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Negotiation
• Workload Self-Management

• 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.

Last updated: 30 October 2026