Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals (SOC 45-2093) earn a median $36,670 a year ($17.63 an hour) in the United States, with 32,810 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals do
Farmworkers who tend farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals care for live animals such as poultry, rabbits, finfish, shellfish, bees, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and horses and other equines, including animals raised for meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Typical chores are feeding and watering, herding and grazing, milking, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading. They feed and water livestock and monitor supplies of food and water, herd animals to pastures or to scales, trucks, or enclosures, and drive trucks, tractors, and other equipment to distribute feed. They look animals over for signs of illness, injury, or disease and monitor traits such as how fast they gain weight, give medications and vaccinations or arrange for a veterinarian to treat them, and may assist in birth deliveries. Animals are marked with brands, tags, paint, or tattoos and sorted by weight, age, color, and condition. Workers inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, buildings, pens, yards, and fences. Workers who shear sheep and collect eggs in hatcheries are included.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report some college coursework as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Agricultural Worker, Animal Care Taker, Animal Feeder, Animal Herder, Animal Husbandry Worker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.15 | $14.91 | $17.63 | $21.97 | $26.00 | $18.88 | 32,810 |
| Annual | $27,360 | $31,020 | $36,670 | $45,700 | $54,080 | $39,260 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $17.10 | $22.40 | $24.26 | $28.70 | $38.59 | $26.39 | 40 | 0.13 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $35,560 | $46,590 | $50,450 | $59,700 | $80,260 | $54,900 | ||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $15.72 | $21.79 | $23.30 | $27.60 | $32.62 | $24.20 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $32,700 | $45,310 | $48,460 | $57,410 | $67,840 | $50,340 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $18.83 | $20.31 | $22.62 | $24.74 | $27.45 | $22.93 | 160 | 0.26 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $39,160 | $42,250 | $47,050 | $51,450 | $57,100 | $47,690 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $11.13 | $17.61 | $22.12 | $26.40 | $38.46 | $22.87 | 580 | 0.20 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $23,150 | $36,640 | $46,020 | $54,910 | $79,990 | $47,570 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $17.11 | $18.94 | $21.81 | $26.72 | $30.98 | $23.01 | 1,100 | 0.31 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $35,590 | $39,400 | $45,370 | $55,570 | $64,430 | $47,860 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.59 | $13.54 | $16.31 | $20.74 | $24.27 | $17.29 | 3,750 | 0.27 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $24,110 | $28,160 | $33,920 | $43,130 | $50,480 | $35,960 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.72 | $17.19 | $18.58 | $22.25 | $26.59 | $20.58 | 3,600 | 0.20 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $34,780 | $35,760 | $38,640 | $46,270 | $55,310 | $42,810 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $14.01 | $16.93 | $17.82 | $21.23 | $22.88 | $18.72 | 1,340 | 0.93 | 4.41 |
| Annual | $29,130 | $35,210 | $37,060 | $44,160 | $47,590 | $38,940 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $10.43 | $13.80 | $17.00 | $20.70 | $23.03 | $17.13 | 1,330 | 0.22 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $21,700 | $28,700 | $35,360 | $43,050 | $47,900 | $35,620 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $13.75 | $14.73 | $15.84 | $21.11 | $27.60 | $18.77 | 1,310 | 0.45 | 2.11 |
| Annual | $28,600 | $30,650 | $32,950 | $43,900 | $57,410 | $39,040 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $17.18 | $21.01 | $30.07 | $31.27 | $39.02 | $27.55 | 70 | 0.37 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $35,730 | $43,700 | $62,540 | $65,040 | $81,160 | $57,310 | ||||
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | Hourly | $23.61 | $26.72 | $28.80 | $30.98 | $35.03 | $28.93 | 50 | 0.93 | 4.41 |
| Annual | $49,100 | $55,570 | $59,900 | $64,430 | $72,860 | $60,170 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $17.26 | $18.59 | $24.09 | $34.13 | $38.14 | $26.60 | 290 | 0.09 | 0.45 |
| Annual | $35,890 | $38,670 | $50,100 | $70,990 | $79,330 | $55,330 | ||||
| Richmond, VA | Hourly | $16.22 | $17.59 | $23.50 | $28.72 | $29.57 | $24.66 | 40 | 0.07 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $33,740 | $36,580 | $48,880 | $59,730 | $61,500 | $51,280 | ||||
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | Hourly | $14.60 | $18.91 | $23.50 | $24.30 | $24.30 | $22.37 | 70 | 0.95 | 4.50 |
| Annual | $30,360 | $39,340 | $48,870 | $50,540 | $50,540 | $46,530 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.50 | $17.46 | $18.14 | $22.24 | $25.38 | $19.89 | 610 | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $36,310 | $37,720 | $46,260 | $52,800 | $41,360 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $12.67 | $13.10 | $16.84 | $20.74 | $26.03 | $17.90 | 600 | 0.15 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $26,340 | $27,250 | $35,030 | $43,140 | $54,130 | $37,230 | ||||
| Kansas City, MO-KS | Hourly | $15.07 | $17.17 | $17.17 | $20.96 | $23.13 | $18.75 | 470 | 0.43 | 2.03 |
| Annual | $31,340 | $35,710 | $35,710 | $43,590 | $48,100 | $39,000 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $12.59 | $14.33 | $17.24 | $21.67 | $25.18 | $18.02 | 460 | 0.14 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $26,180 | $29,800 | $35,850 | $45,070 | $52,370 | $37,480 | ||||
| Lancaster, PA | Hourly | $13.24 | $14.29 | $17.63 | $22.26 | $22.67 | $17.80 | 430 | 1.71 | 8.09 |
| Annual | $27,540 | $29,710 | $36,670 | $46,300 | $47,160 | $37,020 | ||||
Top industries employing farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
Support Activities for Animal Production employ 33.6% of farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals nationally (11,010 jobs) at a median $36,100 a year ($17.36 an hour), followed by Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (18.0%) and Support Activities for Crop Production (5.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Animal Production NAICS 115200 | 11,010 | 33.6% | $36,100 | $17.36 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 424500 | 5,920 | 18.0% | $34,540 | $16.61 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production NAICS 115100 | 1,760 | 5.4% | $34,880 | $16.77 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing NAICS 311600 | 1,630 | 5.0% | $43,860 | $21.09 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 1,490 | 4.5% | $37,230 | $17.90 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (32,810). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,630 for farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals in May 2021 and $36,670 in May 2025, with employment of 34,140 and 32,810.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,630 | $14.25 | 34,140 |
| May 2022 | $34,150 | $16.42 | 33,020 |
| May 2023 | $35,120 | $16.88 | 32,590 |
| May 2024 | $36,150 | $17.38 | 35,420 |
| May 2025 | $36,670 | $17.63 | 32,810 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $24.26 | $50,450 | $35,560 | $80,260 | 40 | 0.13 | 0.61 |
| 2 | West Virginia profile | $23.30 | $48,460 | $32,700 | $67,840 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.30 |
| 3 | Hawaii profile | $22.62 | $47,050 | $39,160 | $57,100 | 160 | 0.26 | 1.23 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $22.12 | $46,020 | $23,150 | $79,990 | 580 | 0.20 | 0.93 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $21.81 | $45,370 | $35,590 | $64,430 | 1,100 | 0.31 | 1.46 |
| 6 | Maine profile | $20.27 | $42,170 | $31,850 | $57,180 | 140 | 0.22 | 1.06 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | $20.08 | $41,760 | $31,200 | $64,340 | 310 | 0.11 | 0.53 |
| 8 | Vermont profile | $19.58 | $40,730 | $31,490 | $74,860 | 80 | 0.26 | 1.24 |
| 9 | Idaho profile | $19.51 | $40,580 | $24,670 | $52,960 | 480 | 0.56 | 2.64 |
| 10 | North Dakota profile | $19.39 | $40,320 | $32,950 | $46,550 | 130 | 0.30 | 1.42 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $19.10 | $39,740 | $32,120 | $57,160 | 1,270 | 0.44 | 2.09 |
| 12 | New Hampshire profile | $19.00 | $39,520 | $24,230 | $60,650 | 130 | 0.19 | 0.91 |
| 13 | New Jersey profile | $18.73 | $38,960 | $34,320 | $54,810 | 250 | 0.06 | 0.28 |
| 14 | Wyoming profile | $18.71 | $38,920 | $22,560 | $47,760 | 470 | 1.68 | 7.94 |
| 15 | North Carolina profile | $18.63 | $38,750 | $29,050 | $54,960 | 910 | 0.18 | 0.87 |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $18.59 | $38,670 | $29,530 | $62,010 | 630 | 0.15 | 0.73 |
| 17 | California profile | $18.58 | $38,640 | $34,780 | $55,310 | 3,600 | 0.20 | 0.94 |
| 18 | Massachusetts profile | $18.40 | $38,280 | $35,000 | $56,260 | 270 | 0.07 | 0.35 |
| 19 | Kentucky profile | $18.29 | $38,030 | $24,820 | $54,760 | 700 | 0.35 | 1.67 |
| 20 | South Dakota profile | $18.27 | $38,000 | $32,260 | $51,260 | 100 | 0.21 | 1.00 |
| 21 | Indiana profile | $18.05 | $37,530 | $27,520 | $45,380 | 420 | 0.13 | 0.62 |
| 22 | Mississippi profile | $17.99 | $37,430 | $20,800 | $84,390 | 290 | 0.25 | 1.19 |
| 23 | Nebraska profile | $17.90 | $37,220 | $37,210 | $48,040 | 570 | 0.56 | 2.65 |
| 24 | Kansas profile | $17.82 | $37,060 | $29,130 | $47,590 | 1,340 | 0.93 | 4.41 |
| 25 | Montana profile | $17.79 | $37,010 | $30,620 | $55,930 | 660 | 1.30 | 6.15 |
| 26 | Delaware profile | $17.76 | $36,940 | $31,200 | $46,240 | 90 | 0.19 | 0.89 |
| 27 | Florida profile | $17.69 | $36,790 | $29,730 | $52,540 | 820 | 0.08 | 0.39 |
| 28 | Alabama profile | $17.61 | $36,620 | $22,190 | $53,040 | 1,300 | 0.62 | 2.92 |
| 29 | Iowa profile | $17.54 | $36,480 | $28,950 | $50,540 | 1,240 | 0.80 | 3.77 |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | $17.50 | $36,400 | $24,960 | $49,990 | 330 | 0.38 | 1.78 |
| 31 | Oregon profile | $17.06 | $35,480 | $32,410 | $45,060 | 700 | 0.36 | 1.69 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.00 | $35,360 | $21,700 | $47,900 | 1,330 | 0.22 | 1.04 |
| 33 | Arizona profile | $16.90 | $35,160 | $31,210 | $48,100 | 650 | 0.20 | 0.95 |
| 34 | Connecticut profile | $16.90 | $35,140 | $34,010 | $49,390 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.25 |
| 35 | South Carolina profile | $16.87 | $35,090 | $16,310 | $78,560 | 190 | 0.08 | 0.40 |
| 36 | New York profile | $16.76 | $34,860 | $32,240 | $50,770 | 530 | 0.06 | 0.26 |
| 37 | Texas profile | $16.31 | $33,920 | $24,110 | $50,480 | 3,750 | 0.27 | 1.26 |
| 38 | Illinois profile | $16.27 | $33,840 | $31,200 | $49,240 | 450 | 0.07 | 0.35 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $16.21 | $33,720 | $26,550 | $47,560 | 450 | 0.14 | 0.65 |
| 40 | Oklahoma profile | $16.19 | $33,670 | $20,560 | $57,980 | 420 | 0.25 | 1.16 |
| 41 | Utah profile | $15.85 | $32,970 | $24,060 | $48,520 | 80 | 0.05 | 0.22 |
| 42 | Wisconsin profile | $15.85 | $32,970 | $23,320 | $50,550 | 930 | 0.32 | 1.50 |
| 43 | Missouri profile | $15.84 | $32,950 | $28,600 | $57,410 | 1,310 | 0.45 | 2.11 |
| 44 | Michigan profile | $15.70 | $32,660 | $27,440 | $50,470 | 750 | 0.17 | 0.80 |
| 45 | Louisiana profile | $15.35 | $31,940 | $20,800 | $61,500 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.19 |
| 46 | Nevada profile | $15.24 | $31,700 | $28,530 | $47,040 | 210 | 0.14 | 0.66 |
| 47 | Ohio profile | $15.00 | $31,200 | $24,410 | $51,270 | 1,160 | 0.21 | 0.99 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $14.11 | $29,340 | $23,700 | $50,640 | 460 | 0.36 | 1.68 |
| 49 | Georgia profile | $13.66 | $28,410 | $21,880 | $59,890 | 690 | 0.14 | 0.67 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (45-2090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 45-2093 Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 45-2093, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 45-2093.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.