Mini vic.gov.au

This is a low bandwidth version of vic.gov.au. Contents may not be up to date. © Copyright State Government of Victoria

Food and drink factory worker

Find out more about working as a food and drink factory worker and the possible pathways to job opportunities.

On this page

Food and drink factory workers help produce and package food and beverage products. Victorians are increasingly food savvy. This industry is growing and needs more workers.

Find out what a food and drink factory worker does and the related Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses and pathways you can take to secure a job.

What is a food and drink factory worker?

Food and drink factory workers produce and package food in an industrial setting. In this job you may work different hours of the day or night, which may be on a rotating basis. You might clean and sterilise work areas, mix ingredients, package and bottle products, and operate machines.

This is a good job for people who are organised, practical and delivery-focused.

Find out more about food and drink factory workers(opens in a new window) and these related jobs on the Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window):

Explore these related TAFE and training courses on the Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window):

You may be eligible for government funding to help pay for your course.

Median salary

The median weekly earnings for food and drink factory workers in Australia is $1,379.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia(opens in a new window)

Note this salary is current as of January 2025 and is indicative only. A range of salaries apply to different roles across the industry.

Job demand in Victoria

Below are the projected employment forecasts for food and drink factory worker jobs in Victoria. Figures show the number of workers in 2024 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2027 and 2034.

‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next 3 and 10 years. These projections are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.

Region Workers 2024 New workers expected by 2027 New workers expected by 2034
Victoria 13,921 876 4,625
Melbourne – inner metropolitan 586 54 233
Melbourne – inner south-east metropolitan 265 14 81
Melbourne – southern metropolitan 2,322 113 764
Melbourne – northern metropolitan 2,052 127 812
Melbourne – eastern metropolitan 1,648 54 468
Melbourne – western metropolitan 1,740 178 878
Ballarat and surrounds (Central Highlands) 633 52 198
Bendigo, Echuca and surrounds (Loddon Campaspe) 896 52 248
Geelong, Colac and surrounds (Barwon) 470 31 138
Gippsland 826 34 227
Horsham and surrounds (Wimmera Southern Mallee) 102 <10 22
Mildura, Swan Hill and surrounds (Mallee) 246 14 54
Shepparton, Seymour and surrounds (Goulburn) 989 61 241
Wangaratta, Wodonga and surrounds (Ovens Murray) 647 52 159
Warrnambool, Hamilton and surrounds (Great South Coast) 500 35 101

Source: Victorian Skills Authority Employment Projections Dashboard

Resources to plan your next steps

Visit our manufacturing industry profile to find out about:

Explore growing industries in your region

Training and careers in your region

Explore training, skills and job opportunities in your area of Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of job you could do, and what training you’ll need.

Training and careers in growing industries

Learn about high demand industries in Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of jobs you could do, and what training you’ll need.

Updated 19 December 2024

About the VIC Government

Grants and programs

Jobs and careers

Arts, culture and heritage

Business and the workplace

Communities

Education and training

Environment, water and energy

Finance and economy

Health and social support

Housing and property

Law and justice

Safety and emergencies

Science and technology

Sport and recreation

Traffic and transport

Working in the Victorian Government