What Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse this way: "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 core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them"; "Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops"; "Set up and operate irrigation equipment"; "Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment"; "Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is no formal educational credential. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is short-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 546,800 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 533,600 in 2035, a decrease of 13,200 jobs (-2.4%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 72,500 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 13.3% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. 8.9% of workers in this occupation are self-employed; the wage figures below cover wage and salary workers. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $35,660, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse earn the most
Published data currently covers California, where the employment-weighted average of local median wages is $35,884. More states are added as pages are published.
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: pay against the cost of living
We compare 5 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Tulare County, CA (Visalia, CA) at $6,779. The weakest market is Santa Barbara County, CA, where the basics cost $11,365 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 3 of the 5 markets and falls short in 2. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 44.8% and 105.7% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Frequently asked questions about Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
What is the national median wage for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $35,660.
What is the job outlook for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?
BLS projects employment to shrink by 2.4% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 72,500 openings a year.
What education do Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse need?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Tulare County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $6,779 on a median wage of $34,800.