How to become a Cotton Farm Worker

Performs routine tasks on a cotton farm, such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting and irrigating crops. May spray pesticides on crops to treat disease and pests.

Main tasks

• Patrols, inspects and reports on the condition of cotton crops
• Undertakes soil preparation, cultivation and crop maintenance activities, such as thinning, weeding and hoeing
• Operates water and irrigation systems for cotton growth
• Maintains and cleans cotton farming infrastructure and equipment, such as sheds, fences and machinery
• Bales and packs cotton, and loads it into transporters
• May spray cotton crops with pesticides to control weed growth, insects, fungus growth and diseases

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate II in Agriculture (AHC20122); Certificate III in Agriculture (AHC30122); Certificate I in Agriculture (AHC10222)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 24,000 people work in this job group now, and about 25,300 are projected by 2035. (+5.5%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Fruit Picker
• Vegetable Picker
• Fruit Farm Worker
• Grain, Oilseed, Pulse and Pasture Farm Worker
• Mushroom Picker
• Nut Farm Worker

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Cotton Farm Worker?

Ways in include: Certificate II in Agriculture; Certificate III in Agriculture.

Is a Cotton Farm Worker a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 24,000 to about 25,300 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Cotton Farm Worker?

Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate II in Agriculture; Certificate III in Agriculture.

Will AI change the work of a Cotton Farm Worker?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04