Manages honey bee colonies for honey production and crop pollination, often moving hives between farms across the country. BLS does not publish separate figures for farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals; it counts them within farmworker, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal (SOC 45-2093), whose median pay is $36,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 45-2093
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Commercial Beekeeper in four numbers
- Median pay
- $36,670a year, or $17.63/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $27KTop 10% $54K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.2%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 26,600202,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025202.1K
- Projected 2035195.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 202.1K Projected 2035 195.7K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school18%
- High school25%
- Certificate8.5%
- Some college39.4%
- Associate's8.9%
- Bachelor's0.2%
Highest education held by farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals Segment Value Less than high school 18% High school 25% Certificate 8.5% Some college 39.4% Associate's 8.9% Bachelor's 0.2%
Also advertised as: Apiarist, Beekeeper, Migratory Beekeeper, Queen Breeder, Apiary Technician.
Pay
How much do Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals make?
Every commercial beekeeper in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$36,670
Middle half earn $31,020 to $45,700
- 10th
- $27,360
- 25th
- $31,020
- 75th
- $45,700
- 90th
- $54,080
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,360 |
| 25th | $31,020 |
| Median | $36,670 |
| 75th | $45,700 |
| 90th | $54,080 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $36,670
- Median hourly wage
- $17.63/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $39,260
- People employed
- 32,810
Versus all US occupations
At $36,670, Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals earn 28% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $14,310 a year.
Versus farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
Inside the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry group, where the middle occupation pays $45,005, this is 19% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $54,080 or more while the bottom 10% earn $27,360, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 4% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Alaska posts the highest raw median ($50,450), but once local prices are taken into account West Virginia leads at $54,147 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $50,450 | $49,287 | 40 |
| 2West Virginia | $48,460 | $54,147 | 40 |
| 3Hawaii | $47,050 | $42,792 | 160 |
| 4Minnesota | $46,020 | $46,663 | 580 |
| 5Washington | $45,370 | $42,397 | 1,100 |
| 6Maine | $42,170 | $43,452 | 140 |
| 7Maryland | $41,760 | $39,787 | 310 |
| 8Vermont | $40,730 | $41,579 | 80 |
| 9Idaho | $40,580 | $42,495 | 480 |
| 10North Dakota | $40,320 | $45,324 | 130 |
Job outlook
Is Commercial Beekeeper a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | −3.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals to change -3.2% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 6,400 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 26,600 openings are projected each year, 13.2% of the 202,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Commercial Beekeeper
There is no degree requirement. Most commercial beekeepers learn by working for an established operation, often starting on a seasonal crew, or by growing from a hobby apiary. University courses and extension programs teach bee biology and pest management.
The Eastern Apicultural Society runs a Master Beekeeper certification through written, lab, oral and field exams, and universities such as Cornell offer master beekeeper programs. The American Beekeeping Federation and the American Honey Producers Association support commercial operators. Most states require apiaries to register, and hives moved across state lines must pass inspections.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals.
- Some College Courses39.4%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)25%
- Less than a High School Diploma18%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree8.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Some College Courses | 39.4% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 25% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 18% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 8.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Commercial Beekeeper do?
Commercial beekeepers keep large numbers of honey bee colonies as a business. Many earn most of their income from pollination contracts, trucking hives to almond orchards in California and then to apples, blueberries, cherries and other crops. Others focus on honey production, or on raising queens and packaged bees for other beekeepers.
Day to day, beekeepers inspect hives for health and strength, treat for varroa mites and diseases, feed colonies when nectar is scarce, split strong colonies, replace failing queens, and extract and package honey. Running an operation also means managing crews, equipment, trucks, grower contracts and state registration and inspection rules.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect colonies for strength, disease and queen health
- Monitor and treat varroa mites and bee diseases
- Feed colonies during nectar shortages
- Move hives to farms for pollination contracts
- Raise queens and split colonies
- Harvest, extract and package honey
- Manage crews, equipment and grower contracts
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Beekeeping is outdoor, physical work, lifting heavy honey supers and moving hives, often in heat and in protective gear. Bee stings are part of the job. Migratory beekeepers travel long distances by truck, sometimes moving hives at night. The schedule follows bloom seasons, with the busiest stretches in late winter and spring pollination.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Writing2.6
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Equipment Selection2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
| Equipment Selection | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Commercial Beekeeper?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIC) built on O*NET's Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Commercial Beekeeper |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.8
- Conventional3.7
- Investigative3.7
- Social2.5
- Enterprising1.9
- Artistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Commercial Beekeeper
O*NET related occupations
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal
$36,670median a year
Most earn $27K to $54K
−3.2%No formal credential - Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
$35,660median a year
Most earn $33K to $46K
−2.4%No formal credential - Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Production
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter and Trimmer
$38,300median a year
Most earn $30K to $48K
+5.7%No formal credential - Production
More farming, fishing, and forestry careers
Median annual pay, with farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals highlighted
- First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320
- Cannabis Cultivation Director$59,320
- Faller$52,100
- Animal Breeder$51,130
- Agricultural Inspector$49,940
- Logging Equipment Operator$49,740
- Agricultural Equipment Operator$41,730
- Commercial Beekeeper$36,670
- Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 |
| Cannabis Cultivation Director | $59,320 |
| Faller | $52,100 |
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $49,940 |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 |
| Commercial Beekeeper | $36,670 |
| Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Commercial Beekeeper appears on
Questions
Commercial Beekeeper: frequently asked questions
How much do Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals. It counts them within farmworker, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal, whose median pay is $36,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $31,020 and $45,700, and the top 10% earn $54,080 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Commercial Beekeeper?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.4% hold some college courses.
Is Commercial Beekeeper a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.2% over 2025–2035, a loss of 6,400 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 26,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Commercial Beekeeper do?
Commercial beekeepers keep large numbers of honey bee colonies as a business. A typical task: inspect colonies for strength, disease and queen health. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals the most?
The highest state medians for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals are Alaska ($50,450), West Virginia ($48,460), Hawaii ($47,050) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, West Virginia moves to the top at $54,147.
What personality type suits a Commercial Beekeeper?
O*NET scores Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.