How to become a Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer

Develops, implements and oversees monitoring, testing and application of quality assurance programs within a primary production or processing enterprise. May monitor production requirements as they relate to food safety, biosecurity and quality assurance.

Main tasks

• Develops, implements, audits and monitors quality assurance procedures at farms and primary product processing facilities to ensure compliance with standards
• Advises producers and processors on regulations related to grading, packing, processing and loading of products
• Ensures that hygiene standards are observed in storage, processing and packing facilities, and transport vehicles
• Informs producers and the general public of the health implications of diseases and impurities impacting primary products
• May monitor production requirements as they relate to food safety, biosecurity or quality assurance

Ways in

• University: Science degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Meat Safety Inspection (AMP30322); Certificate IV in Meat Safety Inspection (AMP40522); Certificate IV in Meat Processing (AMP40222); Certificate IV in Food Processing (FBP40321); Certificate IV in Food Science and Technology (FBP40421); Diploma of Food Safety Auditing (FBP50221); Diploma of Food Science and Technology (FBP50121)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $69,160 a year
• About 3,900 people work in this job group now, and about 4,100 are projected by 2035. (+5.4%)
• 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

• Agricultural and Agritech Technician
• Animal Husbandry Technician
• Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician
• Biosecurity Officer
• Fisheries Officer
• Irrigation Designer

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer?

Ways in include: Science degrees; Health & Public Health degrees; Certificate III in Meat Safety Inspection; Certificate IV in Meat Safety Inspection.

How much does a Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $69,160 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 3,900 to about 4,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer?

Not always. 47% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Science degrees; Health & Public Health degrees; Certificate III in Meat Safety Inspection; Certificate IV in Meat Safety Inspection.

Will AI change the work of a Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer?

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
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04