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Occupations / Agricultural And Forestry Scientists

Agricultural and Forestry Scientists

Agricultural and Forestry Scientists advise farmers, rural industries and government on aspects of farming, develop techniques for increasing productivity, and study and develop plans and policies for the management of forest areas.

Agriculture & environmentANZSCO 2341
$2,074/wkMedian full-time pay
8,856People employed
+17% ▲Growth to 2035
81%Work full time
38Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2341.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

collecting and analysing data and samples of produce, feed, soil and other factors affecting productionadvising farmers and farm managers on techniques for improving the production of crops and livestock, and alternative agricultural optionsadvising farmers on issues such as livestock and crop disease, control of pests and weeds, soil improvement, animal husbandry and feeding programsstudying the environmental factors affecting commercial crop production, pasture growth, animal breeding, and the growth and health of forest treesstudying the effects of cultivation techniques, soils, insects and plant diseases on animal, crop and forest productiondeveloping procedures and techniques for solving agricultural problems and improving the efficiency of production
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 2341 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 1,700 more people in agricultural and forestry scientists by 2035 ▲

The field grew 0.5% in the year to February 2026. Most of the jobs are in QLD and NSW, with VIC third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2341.More about our sources: How we check our facts
9.4k2025
10.3k2030 PROJ.
11.1k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

7 in ten people here have a degree. You can still get in without one.

18% came through a VET qualification. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 2341. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

AHC60319Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management

Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.

See 6 providers
AHC51920Diploma

Diploma of Applied Agronomy

Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.

See 3 providers
FWP40121Certificate IV

Certificate IV in Forest Operations

Forest and Wood Products Training Package.

See 1 provider
See all 4 mapped courses
AHC60319Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management · 6 providers
AHC51920Diploma of Applied Agronomy · 3 providers
FWP40121Certificate IV in Forest Operations · 1 provider
FWP50121Diploma of Forest Operations · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

8,856 Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2341.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

QLD2.4k
NSW1.4k
VIC1.4k
SA0.9k
WA0.9k
TAS0.6k
ACT0.2k
NT0.1k

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