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Food and Drink Factory Workers

Food and Drink Factory Workers perform routine tasks in manufacturing food and beverages.

ManufacturingANZSCO 8311
$1,647/wkMedian full-time pay
28kPeople employed
+3% ▲Growth to 2035
82%Work full time
44Median 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 8311.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

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

weighing, measuring, mixing, dissolving and boiling ingredientsadding materials, such as spices and preservatives, to food and beveragesoperating heating, chilling, freezing, pasteurising, carbonating, sulphuring and desulphuring plantmonitoring product quality before packaging by inspecting, taking samples and adjusting treatment conditions when necessaryoperating machines to peel, core, slice, dice, pit and juice fruit and vegetablescleaning equipment, pumps, hoses, storage tanks, vessels and floors, and maintaining infestation control programs
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 8311 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

A steady field: around 29k jobs in food and drink factory workers through 2035

The field shrank 2.3% in the year to February 2026, losing about 600 workers. Most of the jobs are in VIC and NSW, with QLD 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 8311.More about our sources: How we check our facts
28.1k2025
27.9k2030 PROJ.
28.9k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

There is no single way in. 26% trained through VET, 15% hold a degree.

Both paths are common in this field. 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 8311. 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

FBP30121Certificate III

Certificate III in Food Processing

Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical.

See 24 providers
FBP20122Certificate II

Certificate II in Food Processing

Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical.

See 15 providers
FBP30921Certificate III

Certificate III in Wine Industry Operations

Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical.

See 6 providers
See all 8 mapped courses
FBP30121Certificate III in Food Processing · 24 providers
FBP20122Certificate II in Food Processing · 15 providers
FBP30921Certificate III in Wine Industry Operations · 6 providers
FBP10121Certificate I in Food Processing · 5 providers
FBP20521Certificate II in Wine Industry Operations · 5 providers
FBP10221Certificate I in Baking · 3 providers
FBP31121Certificate III in High Volume Baking · 3 providers
FBP30721Certificate III in Rice Processing · 0 providers

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

Jobs open right now

28k 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 8311.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

VIC9.7k
NSW7.7k
QLD4.4k
SA2.2k
TAS1.4k
WA0.9k
ACT0.2k
NT0.1k