How Much Do Fruit Picking Jobs in Australia Pay in 2026?

This is where many readers lean forward. Fair Work says that, from 1 July 2025, Australia’s National Minimum Wage is A$24.95 per hour or A$948 per week. But fruit-picking jobs are often covered by the Horticulture Award, and award rates can work differently from the general national minimum. Fair Work notes that employees covered by an award are entitled to the rates in that award, even where some award rates may sit below the National Minimum Wage due to how the system now works.

Under the Horticulture Award, the Fair Work horticulture pay page says a Level 1 full-time or part-time employee earns A$24.28 per hour, while a Level 1 casual adult employee earns A$30.35 per hour, which includes the 25% casual loading. The same page says that if a casual Level 1 worker works 7.6 hours in a day, the minimum wage guarantee is A$230.66 for that day. It also says employees with more than 3 months experience must progress to Level 2 classification.

A lot of applicants fail because they focus only on the word “sponsorship” and ignore the business reality behind it. Employers do not sponsor foreign workers out of generosity. They sponsor when the role is hard to fill, the candidate solves an expensive problem, or the industry has an ongoing shortage.

Why a Job in the Australia Is Still a Big Opportunity

Working in the Australia provides one of the highest purchasing powers for
construction professionals globally. Below are the estimated annual
salary ranges for sponsored roles in 2026:

Best Visa Options for Getting a Job in Australia

For getting a job in Australia, the best visa depends on your skill level, qualifications, English level, work experience, and whether an Australian employer is ready to sponsor you.

Based on your nursing assistant / care background, these are the best options:

1. Skills in Demand Visa — Subclass 482

2. 2. Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement

3. Skilled Nominated Visa — Subclass 190

4. Skilled Work Regional Visa — Subclass 491

5. Student Visa Pathway

Apply for aged care / disability support / nursing support jobs with sponsorship first.
Search for employers using words like:

“482 visa sponsorship aged care Australia”
“personal care assistant sponsorship Australia”
“nursing support worker sponsorship Australia”
“aged care labour agreement Australia jobs”
“disability support worker visa sponsorship Australia”