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Agricultural worker: pay, job outlook and how to get started

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,660median pay per year, or $17.15 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $32,900lowest 10% earn less
  2. $34,32025th percentile
  3. $35,660median
  4. $38,84075th percentile
  5. $45,690top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Crop, nursery and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers had a median pay of $35,660 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall 2.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2.4%[2]
Openings per year
72,500[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do agricultural workers make?

This page covers the BLS category Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse. The median wage was $35,660 a year, or $17.15 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $37,630 a year, or $18.09 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

Here is how pay spreads across the range:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $32,900 $15.82
25th[3][8] $34,320 $16.50
75th[3][8] $38,840 $18.67
90th[3][8] $45,690 $21.96

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $32,900, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $45,690[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 265,500 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 50 states with published data[12], Wyoming was listed first with a median of $55,180, though it had only about 50 jobs[12]. South Dakota followed at $42,260, then Montana at $41,390[12]. Georgia ($30,300) and Mississippi ($30,250) were at the bottom of the list[12].

The states with the most jobs were California (172,260), Washington (13,490), Florida (9,180), Arizona (7,110) and Oregon (6,780)[13]. California's median was $35,580[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Champaign-Urbana, IL had the highest median at $48,390[14]. Bozeman, MT followed at $45,150, then Napa, CA at $44,370[14]. Bakersfield-Delano, CA had the most jobs at 32,500, followed by Fresno, CA at 28,570[15].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Wyoming[12]$55,18050
South Dakota$42,260190
Montana$41,390720
Illinois$41,0502,850
New York$40,9302,760
Nebraska$39,530440
Washington$39,17013,490
Maine$39,060280
Michigan$38,6805,410
Maryland$38,4201,380
Massachusetts$38,2201,340
Colorado$38,1702,450
Minnesota$38,0801,200
New Jersey$37,7102,430
Iowa$37,590930
Rhode Island$37,540230
Ohio$37,4701,990
Kansas$37,020900
Pennsylvania$37,0102,940
Hawaii$36,990700
Indiana$36,980910
Connecticut$36,950460
Alaska$36,780120
Missouri$36,2802,600
New Hampshire$35,920220
California$35,580172,260
Virginia$35,5801,590
Wisconsin$35,3601,490
Vermont$35,170220
South Carolina$35,110680
Arizona$35,0807,110
Idaho$34,4702,420
Oregon$34,0706,780
Alabama$33,870740
North Carolina$33,8702,510
Utah$33,490670
Nevada$33,280660
Louisiana$33,260570
Delaware$33,090220
Oklahoma$33,0901,080
Kentucky$33,050510
Arkansas$32,970390
Texas$32,8404,290
New Mexico$31,1501,960
North Dakota$31,08060
West Virginia$31,050100
Tennessee$31,0201,080
Florida$30,6409,180
Georgia$30,3001,610
Mississippi$30,250300

How to get started as an agricultural worker

BLS lists the typical path into this occupation like this[6]:

In an O*NET survey of 53 workers, 39% said less than a high school diploma was required, 29% said a high school diploma or equivalent, and 15% said a bachelor's degree[16]. This is a small survey, so read it as a rough guide.

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile on this topic covers a wider group of occupations, so the details below describe that group[17]. It says many agricultural workers get short-term on-the-job training of up to 1 month, where employers teach tools, machinery and safety rules[18]. Some workers, especially those who run equipment, need a valid driver's license. Those who handle pesticides might need a pesticide applicator license[19]. The handbook says to check with your state licensing boards[19].

Workers may move up to crew leader or other supervisor jobs. Speaking both English and Spanish helps for supervisors[20].

What agricultural workers do

These workers plant, tend and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties and field crops, by hand with tools such as shovels, hoes and shears[21]. O*NET lists these tasks[22]:

The handbook lists qualities that matter in the wider group, including hand-eye coordination, listening skills, physical stamina and strength[23][24][25][26].

Where they work

In the wider group, crop production was the largest employer in 2025, at 53% of jobs[27]. In 2025, 8.9% of workers in this occupation were self-employed[28].

The work is usually done outdoors in all kinds of weather[29]. It can be hard. Workers often bend, crouch, and lift or carry heavy crops and tools[30]. The handbook calls the work potentially dangerous. Pesticide exposure, farm machinery and animals are among the risks, and following safety procedures keeps the pesticide risk low[31].

Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[32]. Schedules can include early mornings, weekends and holidays[32]. Many have seasonal schedules, with longer periods of work during planting or harvest[33]. Some workers, called migrant farmworkers, move from place to place as crops ripen. The handbook says the unsettled lifestyle and gaps between jobs may cause stress[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 546,800 jobs to 533,600[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[35]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the 265,500 wage and salary jobs counted in the wage survey[11][2].

BLS still expects about 72,500 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 6.4% of workers leave the labor force and 7.3% move to a different occupation[36].

BLS names one factor behind the decline. Machines are expected to do more of the work, which lowers demand for these workers and raises demand for equipment operators[37].

Is it a good fit?

The job has a low barrier to entry. No formal credential or work experience is listed, and the training is short[6]. Median pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4], and pay is bunched in a narrow range, with the 90th percentile at $45,690[3]. The work is physical, outdoors and seasonal[29][30][33]. Employment is projected to shrink slightly, though many openings still come from workers leaving[2][5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an agricultural worker make a year?
For crop, nursery and greenhouse farmworkers, the median pay was $35,660 a year in May 2025, and the average was $37,630[1][7].
How much does an agricultural worker make an hour?
The median was $17.15 an hour and the average was $18.09 an hour[1][7].
What education do you need to be an agricultural worker?
BLS lists no formal educational credential for entry, plus short-term on-the-job training[6].
Are agricultural workers in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][35]. About 72,500 openings a year are still expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for agricultural workers?
Wyoming is listed first with a median of $55,180, followed by South Dakota at $42,260 and Montana at $41,390[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in the US was $35,660 per year and $17.15 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse is projected to decline 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 546,800 to 533,600 jobs (a change of -13,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: 10th percentile $32,900, 25th percentile $34,320, 75th percentile $38,840, 90th percentile $45,690. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 72,500 openings for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse was $37,630 per year and $18.09 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: 10th percentile $15.82, 25th percentile $16.50, 75th percentile $18.67, 90th percentile $21.96. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 265,500 people were employed as Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse jobs: California 172,260; Washington 13,490; Florida 9,180; Arizona 7,110; Oregon 6,780. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse (areas with at least 100 jobs): Champaign-Urbana, IL $48,390; Bozeman, MT $45,150; Napa, CA $44,370; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $43,970; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $43,690; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $43,200; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $43,140; Boulder, CO $43,020. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse jobs: Bakersfield-Delano, CA 32,500 (median $34,620); Fresno, CA 28,570 (median $34,610); Salinas, CA 26,830 (median $36,700); Visalia, CA 21,420 (median $34,800); Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 11,020 (median $36,230); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 5,310 (median $35,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 45-2092.00 survey of workers (53 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 39%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 29%, Bachelor's Degree 15%, Some College Courses 5%, Master's Degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Agricultural Workers" covers Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET description of Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of agricultural workers in 2025: Crop production 53%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: 8.9% of Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: 6.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as the mechanization of agricultural operations is expected to reduce demand for these workers, with a corresponding increase in demand for agricultural equipment operators. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.