Vegetable Grower

A vegetable grower manages the cultivation, harvesting, and marketing of vegetables on a commercial farm or horticultural enterprise. They oversee all aspects of production from soil preparation and planting through to crop management, pest and disease control, and preparation of produce for sale or distribution. The role requires knowledge of crop varieties, growing seasons, water management, and compliance with food safety and agricultural regulations.

Plan crop rotations and seasonal plantings based on market demand, soil conditions, and climate patterns. Prepare and maintain soil fertility through composting, soil testing, and application of fertilisers or soil amendments. Source, propagate, and plant vegetable seedlings or seeds according to production schedules and spacing requirements. Operate and maintain irrigation systems to deliver water according to crop requirements and seasonal conditions. Monitor plants for pests, diseases, and nutritional deficiencies, and apply appropriate control measures including pesticides and fungicides in compliance with label instructions. Harvest vegetables at optimal maturity using hand-picking or mechanical harvesting equipment. Grade, wash, pack, and store harvested produce to maintain quality and meet food safety standards. Maintain production records including planting dates, crop inputs, yield data, and pest or disease incidents.

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.

Your income depends entirely on crop success and market prices, which you can't control. A bad season, disease outbreak, or supermarket price collapse can wipe out your year's profit. You'll also do physically demanding work in all weather, and switching careers means starting without established land, equipment, or buyer relationships that take years to build.

Most jobs are on established farms or horticultural enterprises rather than remote work.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Goal Setting and Planningcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Supplier Communicationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• ERP and Inventory Systems
• Negotiation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Research and Analysis
• Stock Counting and Stocktake
• Verbal Communication
• Written 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