Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Farmworkers in farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal settings support the production and care of animals used in agriculture and aquaculture. National employment is 225,000, so this is a sizable field with opportunities across many locations. The role typically does not require a formal educational credential, making it accessible to people entering the workforce or changing careers. At the same time, it draws on a wide mix of abilities, including physical strength and stamina, mechanical aptitude, science, mathematics, problem solving, and leadership. The national median annual salary is $36,150, with higher median pay in some states and metro areas. Workers can find additional options in related careers such as other agricultural workers, crop and greenhouse farmworkers, separating and filtering machine operators, rail car repairers, and wellhead pumpers. Overall, this path combines hands-on work with the chance to apply both physical and analytical skills in an agricultural environment.
The national median annual salary for farmworkers in farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal roles is $36,150. Pay varies by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington has the highest listed median salary at $45,370, followed by Colorado at $39,740 and California at $38,640. Massachusetts and New York offer median salaries of $38,280 and $34,860, respectively. At the metro level, the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area shows a median salary of $50,100, which is the highest among the highlighted metros. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara reports $45,140, San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont $44,300, New York–Newark–Jersey City $38,350, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton $38,410. These differences show that earnings potential can shift significantly depending on the state or metro where you work, even within the same occupation.
Farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal farmworkers account for 225,000 jobs nationally. Projected employment growth for this occupation is -5.0%, indicating a decline in overall employment levels over the projection period. Even with this projected decrease, there are still 31,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect the need to replace workers who leave the occupation, retire, or move to other roles. The combination of a negative growth rate and a relatively large number of annual openings suggests that while the total number of positions may trend downward, people interested in entering the field may continue to see opportunities to step into available jobs as they arise. Job seekers should pay attention to local conditions and the geographic variations highlighted in the location data when planning their paths in this field.
Location plays a key role in opportunity for farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal farmworkers. Among states, California has an opportunity score of 67.38, with a median salary of $38,640 and employment of 3,600. Massachusetts and New York also stand out, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, though their employment levels are lower at 270 and 530, respectively. Colorado and Washington show opportunity scores in the mid-50s, with Washington offering the highest listed state median salary at $45,370. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara and New York–Newark–Jersey City lead by opportunity score, both above 77, with median salaries of $45,140 and $38,350. The Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metro has the highest median salary among metros at $50,100. These figures illustrate that both opportunity scores and pay can differ between states and metros, giving workers multiple ways to prioritize location, salary, or overall opportunity.
This occupation typically requires no formal educational credential, which can make it approachable for people who want to enter the workforce directly or shift from another field without returning to school. Even without a formal education requirement, success in these roles relies on a broad skill set. Key skills include physical strength and stamina, mechanical abilities, science, and mathematics, supporting both the physical and technical aspects of the work. Fine motor skills, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making contribute to handling detailed tasks and responding to day-to-day challenges. Project management and leadership skills are also important, along with creativity and innovation, which can support improvements in how work is organized or carried out. Together, these skills suggest that while formal schooling is not required, developing strong practical, cognitive, and interpersonal abilities can be valuable for long-term performance and advancement within this field or related occupations.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
