Cares for a guest ranch's horses and leads guests on trail rides, matching riders to horses and teaching basic horsemanship. 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
Dude Ranch Wrangler 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: Wrangler, Trail Guide (Horseback), Head Wrangler, Guest Ranch Wrangler, Horseback Riding Guide.
Pay
How much do Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals make?
Every dude ranch wrangler 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 Dude Ranch Wrangler 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 Dude Ranch Wrangler
No degree is required. Ranches look for strong horsemanship, experience handling and caring for horses, and people skills. Certification through the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), which certifies riding instructors and trail guides, helps applicants stand out, and first aid and CPR are commonly required.
Many wranglers start as seasonal summer staff on guest ranches, and the Dude Ranchers' Association lists member ranches that hire seasonal staff. Experienced wranglers can become head wranglers who manage the herd and the horse program.
- 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 Dude Ranch Wrangler do?
Wranglers on dude and guest ranches care for and work the ranch's horse herd. Mornings start with bringing in horses from pasture, feeding, saddling, and checking for injuries. They match guests to suitable horses, teach basic riding, and lead trail rides through ranch country, keeping riders safe and comfortable.
Wranglers also shoe or help the farrier, doctor minor injuries, maintain tack and corrals, and train young horses. Many help with ranch activities such as team penning, cattle work, rodeos, and cookouts, and they spend a lot of time talking with guests about horses and the West.
Day-to-day tasks
- Bring in, feed, and care for the horse herd
- Saddle and check horses before rides
- Match guests to suitable horses
- Lead trail rides and teach basic horsemanship
- Maintain tack, corrals, and fences
- Treat minor horse injuries and assist the farrier
- Help with cattle work, rodeos, and guest activities
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Wranglers work outdoors on ranches in all weather, with very early mornings and long days. The work is physical, involving lifting saddles, handling horses, and riding for hours. Most jobs are seasonal, often summer, and include on-ranch housing and meals in rural areas.
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 Dude Ranch Wrangler?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RSE) built on O*NET's Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Dude Ranch Wrangler |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
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 teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic6.8
- Social3.6
- Enterprising3.0
- Conventional3.0
- Investigative2.7
- 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 Dude Ranch Wrangler
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
- Dude Ranch Wrangler$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 |
| Dude Ranch Wrangler | $36,670 |
| Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Dude Ranch Wrangler appears on
Questions
Dude Ranch Wrangler: 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 Dude Ranch Wrangler?
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 Dude Ranch Wrangler 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 Dude Ranch Wrangler do?
Wranglers on dude and guest ranches care for and work the ranch's horse herd. A typical task: bring in, feed, and care for the horse herd. 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 Dude Ranch Wrangler?
O*NET scores Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals highest on the Realistic, Social and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.