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Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: Career Profile
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, 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; or cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
The Daily Work of Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse span:
- Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
- Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
- Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
- Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
- Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
- Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
- Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
- Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Agriculture Laborer
- Agriculture Worker
- Apple Picker
- Apple Thinner
- Apple Turner
- Asparagus Cutter
- Bale Sewer
- Baller
Employment and Demand
There are about 72,906 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -4.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $31,937 |
| Hourly median | $15.35 |
| 10th percentile | $23,040 |
| 25th percentile | $27,489 |
| 75th percentile | $36,386 |
| 90th percentile | $40,835 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $44,760 |
| Nebraska | $43,980 |
| Maine | $43,870 |
| Montana | $41,840 |
| District of Columbia | $41,610 |
| Illinois | $40,400 |
| Massachusetts | $40,370 |
| New York | $39,370 |
| Minnesota | $38,900 |
| Colorado | $38,870 |
| Maryland | $38,170 |
| Indiana | $37,930 |
| New Jersey | $37,580 |
| Rhode Island | $37,200 |
| Washington | $37,090 |
| South Dakota | $36,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,940 |
| Missouri | $36,760 |
| Virginia | $36,750 |
| Michigan | $36,440 |
| Connecticut | $36,180 |
| Hawaii | $36,110 |
| Vermont | $35,860 |
| California | $35,770 |
| Alaska | $35,750 |
| Nevada | $35,540 |
| South Carolina | $35,230 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
| Wisconsin | $34,880 |
| Arizona | $34,180 |
| Iowa | $33,950 |
| North Carolina | $33,690 |
| Kansas | $33,530 |
| Alabama | $33,280 |
| Oklahoma | $33,210 |
| Ohio | $33,200 |
| Utah | $33,200 |
| Idaho | $33,050 |
| Texas | $31,790 |
| Kentucky | $31,400 |
| North Dakota | $31,290 |
| New Hampshire | $31,230 |
| Arkansas | $31,220 |
| Tennessee | $31,200 |
| Mississippi | $30,670 |
| Louisiana | $30,170 |
| Delaware | $29,860 |
| Florida | $29,780 |
| New Mexico | $29,690 |
| West Virginia | $29,320 |
| Georgia | $28,990 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,460 |
Where Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Earn the Most
Pay for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $38,582 | 1.1% | 0.23 |
| Middle Atlantic | $37,698 | 4.4% | 0.35 |
| Plains States | $36,756 | 1.9% | 0.28 |
| Great Lakes | $36,604 | 4.1% | 0.32 |
| Rocky Mountains | $36,513 | 2.3% | 0.81 |
| Far Western US | $35,794 | 72.5% | 5.38 |
| Southwest | $32,708 | 5.1% | 0.71 |
| Southeast | $31,160 | 8.1% | 0.41 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $46,450 | 70 |
| Bozeman, MT | MT | $45,590 | 170 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $44,680 | 3,680 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $44,150 | 980 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $44,100 | 50 |
| Bangor, ME | ME | $43,920 | 40 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $43,860 | 190 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $43,820 | 840 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 195,350 | $35,540 |
| Wholesale Trade | 21,260 | $36,200 |
| Retail Trade | 20,390 | $36,060 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 8,110 | $36,940 |
| Manufacturing | 6,840 | $39,310 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,670 | $40,080 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,330 | $35,660 |
| Educational Services | 1,190 | $37,800 |
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse work in the following industries:
Software Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
Getting Started in This Career
Most farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (Supplemental)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Technicians (Supplemental)
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (Primary-Short)
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (Primary-Short)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers (Supplemental)
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (Primary-Short)
Sources
Data on this page comes from 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: 45-2092.00 (Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse).
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