Factory and warehouse work is one of the most common jobs for people without a degree. In Australia, factories, food plants and warehouses need people to pack, sort and move goods every day. This guide shows what the work is like, what it pays in Australia, which papers you need and the safe way to apply.
| Legal minimum pay | $26.44 an hour ($33.05 for casual workers) |
|---|---|
| Week | $1,004.90 for 38 hours at the minimum |
| Education | No degree needed for the work itself |
| Visa | Hard: general factory work is not on the skilled jobs list |
| Language | English |
What the work is like
In a factory you may work on a production line, pack products into boxes, check that goods have no faults, or clean machines at the end of a shift. In a warehouse you load and unload trucks, move boxes, pick orders with a hand scanner and keep the shelves in order. Some workers drive a forklift after training.
The work is physical and it repeats. You stand or walk for most of the day, and you may lift boxes many times an hour. Many sites run day and night, so shifts can start early in the morning, in the afternoon or late in the evening. Food plants can be cold and wet. Other plants can be loud, so you wear ear and eye protection.
Common job titles are warehouse worker, material handler, packer, picker, production worker, machine operator and general labourer.
Who can do this job
You do not need a degree, and many employers train new workers in the first days. What employers look for is simple:
- You are fit enough to stand, walk and lift for a full shift.
- You come on time, every day. This matters more than anything else.
- You can follow safety rules and understand simple instructions.
- You are ready to work shifts, nights or weekends.
Past work in a factory, a shop storeroom or a farm helps. A forklift licence or experience with machines can bring better pay. Men and women both do this work.
How much you can earn in Australia
Since 1 July 2026 the national minimum wage in Australia is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. Casual workers get at least $33.05 an hour. Many factory and warehouse jobs fall under an “award”, a legal pay table for the industry, and award pay rose by 4.75% in July 2026. Night shifts, weekends and public holidays pay more.
All amounts are in Australian dollars. The Fair Work website has a free pay calculator that shows the legal pay for your exact job.
The visa reality: general factory and warehouse work is not on Australia’s skilled jobs list. A sponsored visa is possible mainly in meat processing, where some employers have a labour agreement for trained meat workers. If you are a mechanic, welder or machine fitter, apply in your trade instead. Those jobs are much easier to sponsor.
Hours and shifts
A normal week is about 40 hours, often in shifts of eight hours. Busy seasons, such as the months before the end of the year, bring extra hours. Ask how overtime is paid before you sign. Also ask how you get to the site, because many factories and warehouses are outside the city and public transport may not run at night.
What you need before you can work in Australia
This is the most important part of this guide. Pay in Australia is high, but Australia does not have a simple work visa for jobs that need no training. Be careful with anyone who says it does.
The main work visa is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). For it you need:
- An employer in Australia who is an approved sponsor and offers you a job.
- A job that is on the government’s list of skilled jobs.
- Skills and at least one year of experience in that job, and enough English.
- A salary of at least about $79,400 a year in the main stream of this visa.
Some lower-paid jobs can still get this visa through a labour agreement. This is a special deal between one employer, or one region, and the government. It exists in fields such as aged care, meat processing and some regional areas. The employer must already have the agreement.
The visa can last up to four years. It has no upper age limit. The government fee for the visa is high, about $4,000 for the main applicant.
These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.
Costs to plan for
Australia is an expensive country. Rent is the biggest cost, mostly in Sydney and Melbourne. Smaller towns and regional areas are cheaper, and they are also where many employers cannot find workers. The visa fee, the English test, the skills check, the medical exam and the flight all cost money before you earn anything. An employer may pay part of it, but the law does not make them pay your visa fee. Plan your budget before you start, and do not borrow money for a job that is not confirmed in writing.
How to apply safely
- Search on Workforce Australia and SEEK, the main job websites. Add the word “sponsorship” to your search.
- Apply only to adverts that say the employer can sponsor a visa.
- Send a clear résumé in English with your skills, your trade papers and letters from past employers.
- If an employer answers, ask if they are an approved sponsor or have a labour agreement. Ask for this in writing.
- Apply for the visa only on the official Home Affairs website. If you want help, use a registered migration agent.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying yes to a job without knowing the pay per hour and the hours per week.
- Hiding a health problem that makes lifting unsafe for you.
- Ignoring safety rules to work faster. Most injuries happen this way.
- Paying an agent who promises a factory job. Real employers do not sell jobs.
Your rights as a worker in Australia
- You must be paid at least the legal minimum for your job, the same as an Australian worker.
- Your employer must give you a payslip and pay money into a retirement fund for you, on top of your wage.
- Nobody can ask you to pay for visa sponsorship. This is against the law.
- Your employer cannot cancel your visa. Only the government can.
- The Fair Work Ombudsman helps all workers for free, whatever visa they hold.
Protect yourself from fake job offers
- Never pay for a job or for sponsorship. In Australia this is illegal for the employer and for you.
- Be very careful with adverts for “unskilled jobs in Australia with free visa”. For most people outside the Pacific region, this visa does not exist.
- A real employer does not hire by WhatsApp only and does not ask for a “visa deposit”.
- If someone gives you visa advice for money, check that they are a registered migration agent. The public register is on the website of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Questions people ask
Do I need experience for factory work in Australia?
Often no. Many packing and warehouse jobs train you at the start. Experience and a forklift licence help you get hired faster and can raise your pay.
Is the work hard?
It is physical. You stand for hours and you may lift boxes all day. If you are healthy and used to manual work, you can do it.
Can I get a work visa for Australia without a trade or training?
It is very hard. The main work visa is for skilled jobs. A few lower-paid jobs are possible through labour agreements, mainly in aged care, meat processing and some regional areas.
Is there an age limit for the 482 visa?
No. The temporary 482 visa has no upper age limit. Some permanent visas do have one.
More guides for Australia
- Driver jobs in Australia
- Hotel and cleaning jobs in Australia
- Construction jobs in Australia
- All jobs in Australia for foreign workers
- How to apply for jobs in Australia
- Australia work visa guide
Last checked: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and pay change, so always confirm on the official websites before you decide. We are not a recruiter and we never ask for money.
These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.