All About Crop Farmworkers and Laborers
Job 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.
Daily Life Of a Crop Farmworker or Laborer
- Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
- Clear and maintain irrigation ditches.
- Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
- Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.
- Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
- Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
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Things a Crop Farmworker or Laborer Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Crop Farmworkers and Laborers say are important on the job.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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.
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.
Related Job Titles
- Farm Rancher
- Field Hand
- Grape Picker
- Tassel Clipper
- Irrigator
Crop Farmworker or Laborer Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 503,700 jobs in the United States for Crop Farmworker or Laborer. 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
Crop Farmworkers and Laborers make between $21,900 and $35,200 a year.

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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Crop Farmworkers and Laborers
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
What kind of Crop Farmworker or Laborer requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Crop Farmworker or Laborer?

Where Crop Farmworkers and Laborers Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Crop Farmworkers and Laborers work:

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.
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