Fruit picking jobs in Austria: orchards, fields and vegetable farms

This page in other languages : Deutsch · Français

What does fruit picking in Austria involve?

A picker, known locally as an Erntehelfer, harvests, sorts and packs fruit and vegetables for farm shops, cooperatives or processors. The work is done standing or crouching, often from early morning to avoid the heat, with crates to carry and output that supervisors monitor closely.

Where are the orchards and fields?

Styria, especially the south-east around Gleisdorf, Weiz and Feldbach, holds most of the country's apple orchards as well as its elderberry plantations. The Wachau and the Krems area are famous for Marillen, the Austrian apricot picked during a short window in summer.

The Marchfeld, east of Vienna, is the main asparagus and field-vegetable area. The Seewinkel in Burgenland grows early vegetables and fruit, while strawberries are picked on many farms in Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Styria, often for direct sale to the public.

When are the harvests?

Asparagus is cut from April to late June, strawberries mainly in May and June, cherries in June and Wachau apricots in July. Styrian apples are picked from August to October, elderberries in late August and September, and vegetable harvests continue into November.

What profile do farms want?

Farms look for people with stamina who are punctual and available for the whole harvest, including Saturdays. Farm experience helps but is not essential. A driving licence and the ability to handle a tractor or forklift open the door to better-paid roles.

Who can work as a picker in Austria?

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work freely. Many pickers come from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia or Croatia. The employer must register them with the ÖGK health insurance fund before the first working day, even for a harvest lasting only a few weeks.

How does the agricultural quota work?

Third-country nationals go through the agriculture and forestry quota, kept at previous levels for 2026. The special six-week harvest-helper quota was abolished, and its 119 places were merged into the regular agricultural quota, which may be exceeded by 30 percent in peak months.

The employer applies to the AMS for a Beschäftigungsbewilligung, at the earliest six weeks before hiring. It lasts up to six months, can be extended to nine months within twelve, and lapses if work does not begin within six weeks of its start date.

What does Stammsaisonier status bring?

A worker employed for at least three months per season in at least three of the last five calendar years in agriculture can register as a Stammsaisonier. Permits are then issued outside the quota, and a Red-White-Red Card becomes possible after two seven-month seasons and A2 German.

How is the visa obtained?

Once the permit is granted, the picker applies in person for a D visa, or a C visa for stays under 90 days, at an Austrian embassy or consulate. Regular seasonal workers with a clean record can obtain a multi-year C visa valid for up to five years.

How much do fruit pickers earn in Austria?

Pay follows each province's agricultural collective agreement. In Styria, the farm-workers agreement negotiated in late 2024 set, for 2025, 1,864.73 euros gross a month for field hands and 10.76 euros an hour for casual day labourers who are not permanently employed.

The hourly rate equals the monthly wage divided by 173.3. A pro-rata 13th and 14th salary and paid leave come on top. Some farms pay piece rates, for example per kilo of asparagus, but the collective-agreement hourly minimum must still be guaranteed.

Hours and contract

The contract is fixed-term and must state pay, duration, workplace and accommodation. Days often start around six in the morning. Overtime is paid with a supplement, and unpaid breaks must not be disguised as working time, nor working time recorded as unpaid breaks.

How is accommodation handled?

Many farms house pickers on site, in shared rooms or fitted containers. In Styria, full board and lodging, called freie Station, was valued at 196.20 euros a month in 2025, which is the deduction ceiling to check on each payslip.

Costs and documents at a glance

How to land a picking job in Austria

1. Pick a crop and period: asparagus in spring, strawberries and apricots in summer, apples in autumn.
2. Search the AMS alle jobs engine using the keywords Erntehelfer or Erntearbeit.
3. Contact farms and fruit cooperatives directly, ideally from February onwards.
4. Ask in writing for the hourly rate, expected duration, accommodation and any deduction.
5. Third-country nationals have the farm file the permit application with the AMS.
6. Obtain the visa, then check your ÖGK registration on arrival before starting work.
7. Keep your own record of hours and kilos picked throughout the season.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Using an intermediary who keeps your passport or charges placement fees.
• Accepting cash day rates with no contract and no payslip.
• Letting breaks or transfers be counted as unpaid when they are working time.
• Working without suitable clothing or access to water and toilets in the field.
• Ignoring support groups such as Sezonieri when a pay dispute arises.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common situations faced by foreign pickers in Austria. Amounts vary by province and are renegotiated every year, so always check the agreement that applies in the region where the farm is located before signing anything.

Is piece-rate pay legal?

Yes, payment per piece or per kilo is allowed, but it cannot fall below the collective-agreement hourly minimum. If output is too low to reach that minimum, the farm must top up pay to the agreed minimum for every hour actually worked.

Can I pick fruit without speaking German?

Yes, most crews work with simple instructions and multilingual team leaders. It still helps to learn a few German words and to read your contract with an advice service such as Sezonieri, which provides information in thirteen languages, including English, Romanian and Hungarian.

How long does a season last?

It depends on the crop: a few weeks for strawberries or apricots, two to three months for asparagus or apples. Farms prefer pickers who stay until the end, and combining several harvests can provide work from April through to October.

What if my wages are not paid?

Gather your contract, time records and payslips, then contact the provincial Landarbeiterkammer or the Sezonieri campaign, which offers free and anonymous advice. Agricultural agreements often set short deadlines for claims, so it is important to act quickly after the season ends.