Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals: Career Profile
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.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals Take On?
Typical responsibilities of farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals cover:
- Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies.
- Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures.
- Examine animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.
- 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.
- Drive trucks, tractors, and other equipment to distribute feed to animals.
- Segregate animals according to weight, age, color, and physical condition.
- Inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences.
What Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals Need to Know
Top farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Agricultural Worker
- Animal Care Taker
- Animal Feeder
- Animal Herder
- Animal Husbandry Worker
- Animal Keeper
- Aquaculture Worker
- Aquatic Laborer
How Many Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals Are There?
There are about 235,787 farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -1.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $35,854 |
| Hourly median | $17.24 |
| 10th percentile | $21,049 |
| 25th percentile | $28,452 |
| 75th percentile | $43,256 |
| 90th percentile | $50,658 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,990 |
| Alaska | $48,440 |
| Vermont | $47,230 |
| Washington | $43,540 |
| Minnesota | $42,650 |
| Utah | $42,120 |
| Louisiana | $41,720 |
| Idaho | $41,360 |
| Maine | $41,320 |
| Colorado | $41,230 |
| New York | $40,750 |
| North Dakota | $40,560 |
| New Jersey | $39,140 |
| Wyoming | $38,920 |
| South Dakota | $38,580 |
| Indiana | $38,120 |
| Massachusetts | $37,970 |
| Arizona | $37,470 |
| Mississippi | $37,440 |
| Nebraska | $37,440 |
| Virginia | $37,340 |
| Montana | $37,110 |
| Kansas | $36,940 |
| Delaware | $36,800 |
| Wisconsin | $36,100 |
| New Hampshire | $36,020 |
| Connecticut | $35,640 |
| Nevada | $35,480 |
| Maryland | $35,390 |
| Oregon | $35,360 |
| California | $35,310 |
| North Carolina | $35,230 |
| Alabama | $35,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,040 |
| Florida | $34,960 |
| Iowa | $34,740 |
| Illinois | $34,680 |
| Missouri | $34,400 |
| Tennessee | $34,350 |
| Kentucky | $33,850 |
| Texas | $33,050 |
| Michigan | $33,030 |
| South Carolina | $32,820 |
| Georgia | $32,810 |
| Oklahoma | $32,670 |
| New Mexico | $32,320 |
| West Virginia | $31,980 |
| Ohio | $30,890 |
| Arkansas | $28,410 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $40,161 | 9.0% | 3.42 |
| New England | $38,855 | 2.4% | 0.72 |
| Far Western US | $36,668 | 23.3% | 1.51 |
| Middle Atlantic | $36,434 | 7.1% | 0.73 |
| Plains States | $36,416 | 15.9% | 2.92 |
| Southeast | $34,756 | 17.6% | 1.21 |
| Great Lakes | $34,205 | 9.1% | 0.90 |
| Southwest | $33,375 | 15.5% | 1.28 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $53,950 | 50 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $53,190 | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | IA | $51,840 | 40 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $49,860 | 30 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | TN | $48,680 | 30 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $47,850 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $47,440 | 320 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $46,990 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12,680 | $35,990 |
| Wholesale Trade | 6,910 | $34,610 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,910 | $34,130 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2,240 | $36,640 |
| Manufacturing | 2,170 | $40,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,360 | $37,340 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,220 | $36,680 |
| Construction | 1,000 | $37,720 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Standing
- Contact With Others
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
Education and Training
Most farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (Supplemental)
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products (Supplemental)
- Animal Scientists (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (Supplemental)
- Animal Caretakers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers (Primary-Long)
- Animal Breeders (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals typically earn programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.