Guide contents
Overseer and head stockperson salary in Australia
An overseer or head stockperson earns a base of $75,000 to $110,000. The two titles describe the same band of senior on-station leadership below the manager, and operation scale sets rank more than the title does.
All figures are base salary in Australian dollars. They exclude superannuation (12 per cent) and the package on top (housing, vehicle and bonuses). Figures as at June 2026.
| Band | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single national band | $75,000 | $85,000 | $110,000 |
Comparing these bands with advertised salaries. Packages for on-farm roles frequently include accommodation, and a housed role advertises a materially lower base than the same role unhoused. Before measuring an advertised salary against these bands, establish whether housing is included. Housing and vehicle values are shown separately throughout this guide.
A head stockperson on a large station outranks an overseer on a small one, so we publish one band for both. The top end belongs to a de-facto 2IC on a larger operation, whatever the title on the contract. Neither title is advertised with a figure very often; packages tend to be quoted after an enquiry and lean on housing, meals and station amenity.
Benefits on top.
Housing and meals are standard on-station, worth $15,000 to $25,000, and usually advertised as part of the package without a figure. A work vehicle is common, $10,000 to $15,000. Bonuses run up to 10 per cent of base, with stud bonuses at seedstock operations.
What moves the number.
Span of control and crew size set the base. Stud and seedstock work carries a premium over commercial livestock, as does breeding-program responsibility. A feedlot prices differently from extensive grazing, and any mixed cropping load lifts the figure. Remoteness shows up in keep and amenity more than in base.
Also advertised as.
Farm Overseer, Station Overseer, Livestock Overseer, Head Stockman, Livestock Leading Hand, Senior Stockperson (the band below).
The role above this is the station manager, and the experienced hand below is the station hand.
Part of the Australian Agricultural Salary Guide 2026. How we built these bands: methodology.
Who produced this guide?
The Australian Agricultural Salary Guide is produced by March Talent Partners, a specialist agricultural recruitment consultancy that places the roles it benchmarks: permanent operational and management staff for Australian agribusiness operators across broadacre, horticulture, livestock and cotton. Role-specific benchmarking against a live brief is available on request.
Hiring an overseer or head stockperson?
March Talent Partners benchmarks and fills these roles for agribusinesses across Australia. For a band against your brief, not a headline number.
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