Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals earn a median of $36,670 per year ($17.63/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 3.2% through 2035, with about 26,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 45-2093
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal 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: Cowboy, Farm Hand, Farrowing Worker, Herdsman, Livestock Handler, Milking Worker.
Pay
How much do Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals make?
Every farmworker, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal 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 Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal 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.
Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many 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.
Projected employment of agricultural workers varies by occupation (see table).
Despite increased demand for crops and other agricultural products, demand for some types of farmworkers and agricultural workers is expected to be limited as agricultural establishments continue to use technologies that increase farmworkers’ productivity.
Getting in
How to become a Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal
Most agricultural workers do not need a formal educational credential to enter these occupations; however, animal breeders typically need at least a high school diploma. Agricultural workers typically receive on-the-job training.
- 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 Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal do?
Attend to live farm, ranch, open range or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines, poultry, rabbits, finfish, shellfish, and bees. Attend to animals produced for animal products, such as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, milking, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Includes workers who shear wool from sheep and collect eggs in hatcheries.
Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend livestock. They perform physical labor and operate machinery under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies.
- Inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences.
- Move equipment, poultry, or livestock from one location to another, manually or using trucks or carts.
- Examine animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.
- Segregate animals according to weight, age, color, and physical condition.
- Clean stalls, pens, and equipment, using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, water hoses, or pumps.
- Provide medical treatment, such as administering medications and vaccinations, or arrange for veterinarians to provide more extensive treatment.
- Mark livestock to identify ownership and grade, using brands, tags, paint, or tattoos.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
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.
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
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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 Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| 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.
- Realistic6.8
- Conventional3.0
- Investigative2.7
- 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 Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal
O*NET related occupations
- 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
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Grader and Sorter, Agricultural Products
$35,730median a year
Most earn $30K to $44K
−3.4%No formal credential
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
- Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal$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 |
| Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal | $36,670 |
| Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within farmworker, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal appears on
Questions
Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal: frequently asked questions
How much do Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals make?
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals earn a median of $36,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 28% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $17.63/hr. The middle half earn between $31,020 and $45,700. The top 10% earn $54,080 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal?
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 Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal 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 Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal do?
Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend livestock. A core O*NET task: feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies. 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 Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal?
O*NET scores Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals highest on the Realistic interest area, which means hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. 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.