Agricultural Workers
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend to livestock.
Work Environment: Agricultural workers usually perform their duties outdoors in all kinds of weather.
How to Become One: Agricultural workers typically receive on-the-job training. A high school diploma is not needed for most jobs as an agricultural worker; however, a high school diploma typically is needed for animal breeders.
Salary: median annual wage for agricultural workers is $29,680.
Job Outlook: Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to show little or no change over the next ten years.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of agricultural workers with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as an agricultural worker with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Agricultural Worker Jobs
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Maintenance Technician
- AGRI-associates
- Township of Dakota, SD
Must have working knowledge of maintenance procedures for centrifuges, drying equipment, boilers, cooling towers, chillers, air compressors, pumps, valves, electrical circuits and equipment
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UCCE Area Director Marin, Napa and Sonoma Counties, Job ID 72024
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Novato, CA
Maintain positive working relationships with partnering public and private agencies * Support and grow partnerships with city and county government departments (including Agricultural Commissioner ...
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Dental Hygienist - On Call
- Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
- Outlook, WA
Yakima County, Washington's fruit basket, is a hub of agricultural abundance, renowned for its hops ... Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic ensures community health through accessible healthcare services ...
What Agricultural Workers Do[About this section] [To Top]
Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend to livestock. They perform physical labor and operate machinery under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.
Duties of Agricultural Workers
Agricultural workers typically do the following:
- Harvest and inspect crops by hand
- Irrigate farm soil and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps
- Operate and service farm machinery and tools
- Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungi, and weeds
- Move shrubs, plants, and trees with wheelbarrows or tractors
- Feed livestock and clean and disinfect their pens, cages, yards, and hutches
- Examine animals to detect symptoms of illnesses or injuries and administer vaccines to protect animals from diseases
- Use brands, tags, or tattoos to mark livestock in order to identify ownership and grade
- Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures
The following are examples of types of agricultural workers:
Agricultural equipment operators use a variety of farm equipment to plow and sow seeds, as well as maintain and harvest crops. They may use tractors, fertilizer spreaders, balers, combines, threshers, and trucks. These workers also operate machines such as conveyor belts, loading machines, separators, cleaners, and dryers. Workers may make adjustments and minor repairs to equipment.
Animal breeders use their knowledge of genetics and animal science to select and breed animals that will produce offspring with desired traits and characteristics. For example, they breed chickens that lay more eggs, pigs that produce leaner meat, and sheep with more desirable wool. Others breed and raise cats, dogs, and other household pets.
To know which animals to breed and when to breed them, animal breeders keep detailed records. Breeders note animals' health, size, and weight, as well as the amount and quality of the product they produce. Animal breeders also track the traits of animals' offspring.
Some animal breeders may consult with farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers about their livestock.
Crop, nursery, and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers perform numerous tasks related to growing and harvesting grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other crops. They plant, seed, prune, irrigate, and harvest crops, and pack and load them for shipment.
Farmworkers also apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to crops. They repair fences and some farm equipment.
Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. They also plant, water, prune, weed, and spray the plants. They may cut, roll, and stack sod; stake trees; tie, wrap, and pack plants to fill orders; and dig up or move field-grown shrubs and trees.
Farm and ranch animal farmworkers care for live animals, including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, poultry, finfish, shellfish, and bees. These animals usually are raised to supply meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, or honey.
These farmworkers may feed, herd, brand, weigh, and load animals. They also keep records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides.
Many workers clean and maintain animal housing areas every day. On dairy farms, animal farmworkers operate milking machines.
Work Environment for Agricultural Workers[About this section] [To Top]
Agricultural workers hold about 876,900 jobs. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up agricultural workers is distributed as follows:
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | 562,900 |
| Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals | 228,500 |
| Agricultural equipment operators | 66,600 |
| Agricultural workers, all other | 11,600 |
| Animal breeders | 7,300 |
The largest employers of agricultural workers are as follows:
| Crop production | 54% |
| Animal production and aquaculture | 26% |
| Wholesale trade | 4% |
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 3% |
Agricultural workers usually do their tasks outdoors in all kinds of weather.
Agricultural workers' jobs can be difficult. To harvest fruits and vegetables by hand, workers frequently bend and crouch. They also lift and carry crops and tools that may be heavy.
Injuries and Illnesses for Agricultural Workers
Agricultural work may be dangerous. Although agricultural workers may be exposed to pesticides applied on crops or plants, the risk is minimized if workers follow safety procedures. Tractors and other farm machinery may cause serious injuries, so workers must stay alert. Additionally, agricultural workers who deal directly with animals risk being bitten, kicked, or stung.
Agricultural Worker Work Schedules
Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because living crops and animals need constant care, workers' schedules may vary to include early mornings, weekends, and holidays.
Many agricultural workers have seasonal schedules. Seasonal schedules typically include longer periods of work during planting or harvesting or when animals must be sheltered and fed.
Some agricultural workers, called migrant farmworkers, move from location to location as crops ripen. Their unsettled lifestyles and periods of unemployment between jobs may cause stress.
How to Become an Agricultural Worker[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Agricultural Workers near you!
Agricultural workers typically receive on-the-job training. A high school diploma is not needed for most jobs as an agricultural worker; however, a high school diploma typically is needed for animal breeders.
Education and Training for Agricultural Workers
Most agricultural workers do not need a high school diploma; however, a high school diploma typically is needed for animal breeders. Some jobs as an animal breeder may require obtaining postsecondary education.
Many agricultural workers receive short-term on-the-job training lasting up to a month. Employers instruct them on how to use simple farming tools and more complex machinery while following appropriate safety procedures. Agricultural equipment operators, however, may need more extensive training before being allowed to operate expensive farming equipment.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Agricultural Workers
Some agricultural workers, especially those who operate equipment, need a valid driver's license. Agricultural workers who handle pesticides might need a pesticide applicator license. And in a few states, certain types of animal breeders must be licensed.
Important Qualities for Agricultural Workers
Dexterity. Agricultural workers need excellent hand-eye coordination to harvest crops and operate farm machinery.
Listening skills. Agricultural workers need to work well with others. Because they take instructions from farmers and other agricultural managers, effective listening is critical.
Physical stamina. Agricultural workers need to be able to perform laborious tasks repeatedly.
Physical strength. Agricultural workers must be strong enough to lift heavy objects, including tools and crops.
Mechanical skills. Agricultural workers must be able to operate complex farm machinery. They also occasionally do routine maintenance on the machinery.
Other Experience for Agricultural Workers
Animal breeders sometimes need previous work experience interacting with livestock. Ranch workers may transition into animal breeding after they become more familiar with animals and learn how to handle them.
Some agricultural equipment operators might need previous work experience on a farm or operating heavy equipment.
Advancement for Agricultural Workers
Agricultural workers may advance to crew leader or other supervisory positions. The ability to speak both English and Spanish is helpful for agricultural supervisors.
Some agricultural workers aspire to become farmers, ranchers, or agricultural managers or to own their own farms and ranches. Knowledge of produce and livestock may provide an excellent background for becoming buyers or purchasing agents of farm products. Those who earn a college degree in agricultural science could become agricultural or food scientists.
Agricultural Worker Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for agricultural workers is $29,680. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,170, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $39,660.
Median annual wages for agricultural workers are as follows:
| Animal breeders | $40,090 |
| Agricultural equipment operators | $36,360 |
| Agricultural workers, all other | $32,550 |
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | $29,630 |
| Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals | $29,630 |
The median annual wages for agricultural workers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Wholesale trade | $29,990 |
Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because living plants and animals need constant care, workers' schedules may vary to include early mornings, weekends, and holidays.
Many agricultural workers have seasonal work schedules. Seasonal schedules typically include longer periods of work during planting or harvesting or when animals must be sheltered and fed.
Some agricultural workers, called migrant farmworkers, move from location to location as crops ripen. Their unsettled lifestyles and periods of unemployment between jobs can cause stress.
Job Outlook for Agricultural Workers[About this section] [To Top]
Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to show little or no change over the next ten years.
Despite limited employment growth, about 141,800 openings for agricultural workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Agricultural Workers
Projected employment of agricultural workers varies by occupation. Despite increased demand for crops and other agricultural products, employment growth is expected to be limited as agricultural establishments continue to use technologies that increase farmworkers' productivity.
Employment of agricultural equipment operators is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations and faster than any other type of agricultural worker over the next ten years. Increased use of mechanization on farms is expected to lead to more jobs for agricultural equipment operators relative to farmworkers and laborers.
Small farms that sell their products directly to consumers through venues such as farmers' markets might create opportunities for some agricultural workers.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Agricultural workers | 876,900 | 883,700 | 1 | 6,900 |
| Animal breeders | 7,300 | 7,600 | 4 | 300 |
| Agricultural equipment operators | 66,600 | 74,700 | 12 | 8,000 |
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | 562,900 | 575,700 | 2 | 12,800 |
| Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals | 228,500 | 213,600 | -6 | -14,800 |
| Agricultural workers, all other | 11,600 | 12,100 | 5 | 600 |
More Agricultural Worker Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about agricultural workers, visit
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs
For more information about careers in agriculture, visit
AgExplorer , National FFA Organization
New Farmers , U.S. Department of Agriculture
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.