What Does it Take to Be a Crop Farmworker or Laborer?
Career Description Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; cleaning, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
Life As a Crop Farmworker or Laborer
- Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
- Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops.
- Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
- Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.
- Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
- Clear and maintain irrigation ditches.
Featured schools near , edit
Things a Crop Farmworker or Laborer Should Know How to Do
Crop Farmworkers and Laborers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Hoe Worker
- Farm Laborer
- Carrot Tier
- Vegetable Tier
- Weeder
Is There Going to be Demand for Crop Farmworkers and Laborers?
There were about 503,700 jobs for Crop Farmworker or Laborer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.1% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,500 new jobs for Crop Farmworker or Laborer by 2026. There will be an estimated 76,800 positions for Crop Farmworker or Laborer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Crop Farmworker or Laborer are Alaska, Nevada, and Vermont. Watch out if you plan on working in South Carolina, Florida, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Crop Farmworker or Laborer Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Crop Farmworker or Laborer ranges between $21,900 and $35,200.

Crop Farmworkers and Laborers who work in District of Columbia, Wyoming, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
How much do Crop Farmworkers and Laborers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $22,820 |
Alaska | $26,030 |
Arizona | $25,120 |
Arkansas | $22,020 |
California | $26,240 |
Colorado | $31,870 |
Connecticut | $29,760 |
Delaware | $28,390 |
District of Columbia | $38,760 |
Florida | $24,520 |
Georgia | $23,410 |
Hawaii | $32,740 |
Idaho | $24,340 |
Illinois | $30,020 |
Indiana | $24,820 |
Iowa | $30,630 |
Kansas | $28,450 |
Kentucky | $27,180 |
Louisiana | $26,060 |
Maine | $29,520 |
Maryland | $31,900 |
Massachusetts | $34,500 |
Michigan | $25,130 |
Minnesota | $31,510 |
Mississippi | $25,040 |
Missouri | $29,010 |
Montana | $24,850 |
Nebraska | $31,430 |
Nevada | $24,720 |
New Hampshire | $28,640 |
New Jersey | $27,810 |
New Mexico | $21,360 |
New York | $32,720 |
North Carolina | $24,770 |
North Dakota | $30,830 |
Ohio | $25,730 |
Oklahoma | $29,930 |
Oregon | $26,440 |
Pennsylvania | $29,270 |
South Carolina | $27,700 |
South Dakota | $28,560 |
Tennessee | $22,700 |
Texas | $22,120 |
Utah | $26,870 |
Vermont | $31,680 |
Virginia | $27,910 |
Washington | $29,430 |
West Virginia | $25,430 |
Wisconsin | $26,870 |
Wyoming | $35,260 |
What Tools do Crop Farmworkers and Laborers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Crop Farmworkers and Laborers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- BCL Landview Systems WinCrop
- Farm Works Software Trac
Becoming a Crop Farmworker or Laborer
Learn what Crop Farmworker or Laborer education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Crop Farmworker or Laborer?

Who Employs Crop Farmworkers and Laborers?

Crop Farmworkers and Laborers work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Crop Farmworker or Laborer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |