Nut Farm Worker

A nut farm worker performs manual labour in the cultivation, harvesting, and post-harvest processing of tree nuts such as macadamias, almonds, and cashews on Australian agricultural properties. They operate farm machinery, maintain orchard infrastructure, and prepare nuts for storage or sale under direction from farm supervisors or managers.

Operate harvesting machinery including mechanical shakers, sweepers, and elevators to collect nuts from trees and ground. Inspect nut trees for pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies, reporting findings to supervisors to inform treatment decisions. Apply fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides according to farm protocols and relevant food safety standards. Prune and thin tree canopies using chainsaws, handsaws, and loppers to promote nut yield and tree health. Maintain and repair orchard irrigation systems including drip lines, sprinklers, and valves. Grade, shell, sort, and package nuts using mechanical and manual processes in post-harvest facilities. Operate forklifts and other farm vehicles to transport nuts, equipment, and materials around the property. Clean and maintain harvesting and processing equipment to prevent contamination and equipment failure.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). 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 work is physically demanding and seasonal. Harvest periods mean long days in heat, heavy lifting, and repetitive strain injuries from sorting and shelling. Pay caps out quickly without moving into management. Weather and crop failures directly affect your hours and income, making it unstable for career changers with bills to pay.

Seasonal contract work is common, so stable full-time positions can be scarce outside peak harvest months.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Carry picking work aidscore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stock Counting and Stocktakecore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Active Listening
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Goods Receipt Processing
• Problem Solving
• Process Improvement Identification
• Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
• Supplier Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• 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