Agricultural Workers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Job Outlook: The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 0% (Little or no change)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Advancement: Agricultural workers may advance to crew leader or other supervisory positions. The ability to speak both English and Spanish is helpful for agricultural supervisors.
Licenses/Certifications: Some agricultural workers, especially those who operate equipment, need a valid drivers license. Agricultural workers who handle pesticides might need a pesticide applicator license. And in a few states, certain types of animal breeders must be licensed.
Median pay: How much do Agricultural Workers make?: $22,540 Annual Salary; $10.83 per hour

Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend to livestock. They perform physical labor and operate machinery under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.

Agricultural workers typically do the following:

Harvest and inspect crops by hand
Irrigate farm soil and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps
Operate and service farm machinery and tools
Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungi, and weeds
Move shrubs, plants, and trees with wheelbarrows or tractors
Feed livestock and clean and disinfect their pens, cages, yards, and hutches
Examine animals to detect symptoms of illnesses or injuries and administer vaccines to protect animals from diseases
Use brands, tags, or tattoos to mark livestock in order to identify ownership and grade
Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures

The following are examples of types of agricultural workers:

Careers for Agricultural Workers