Head shepherds' mean annual salaries rose 4.3per cent to $49,690 in the past year and their total package value - wages plus accommodation, power, food and other benefits - rose 5.6per cent to $53,921, according to Federated Farmers and Rabobank's 2015/16 employee remuneration report.
The head shepherds' pay rise was the most substantial for the 1648 dairy farm employees, 846 sheep and beef and 157 grain farm staff surveyed for the report
And while salaries in the dairy industry remained stable, for the first time there was a drop in the value of extras farmers provide their staff, pushing the total value of their packages (TPV) down.
The Feds-Rabobank report has dairy farm employees in five ranks with farm assistants - staff working under direct supervision - at the bottom of the ladder with mean salaries of $40,695 a year (0.3per cent more than last year) and TPV of $42,279 (1.2 per cent less than last year).
Up a rank are assistant herd managers - two years experience or a relevant qualification - with mean salaries of $45,753 (up 0.9 per cent) and TPV of $47,871 (down 0.9 per cent).
They are followed by herd managers - usually responsible for cow health and pasture management - with mean salaries of $52,654 (0.9 per cent more) and TPV of $55,810 (0.3 per cent less).