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Agricultural Workers

Agricultural workers perform essential hands-on tasks in farming, ranching, and food production operations across rural and agricultural settings. These professionals handle diverse responsibilities including operating farm equipment, caring for livestock, planting and harvesting crops, inspecting food products for safety and quality, and ensuring compliance with agricultural regulations. Their work spans everything from breeding animals and grading produce to maintaining greenhouse operations and supporting sustainable food production systems.

Median Annual Pay
$35,558
Range: $25,500 - $77,420
Training Time
6 months to 2 years
AI Resilience
🟠In Transition
Education
Some college, no degree

🎬Career Video

πŸ€–AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 2/6: low AI task exposure, declining job demand, limited human advantage indicates this career is being transformed by AI

🟠In Transition

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Low+2

6% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Declining+0

-5% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Weak+0

EPOCH score: 10/25

Total Score2/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

πŸ“‹Key Responsibilities

  • β€’Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
  • β€’Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
  • β€’Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
  • β€’Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
  • β€’Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
  • β€’Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
  • β€’Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics.
  • β€’Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury.

πŸ’‘Inside This Career

Agricultural workers begin their days early, often before sunrise, as they tend to crops, livestock, and farm operations that follow natural rhythms. Throughout the morning hours, they might inspect fields for signs of disease or pest damage, operate specialized machinery for planting or harvesting, or carefully sort and grade freshly picked produce to meet quality standards. The work varies dramatically by season and specializationβ€”one day might involve selecting breeding pairs of cattle to improve genetic lines, while another focuses on monitoring greenhouse conditions for optimal plant growth or ensuring that farm operations comply with safety regulations.

The physical nature of agricultural work takes these professionals across diverse environments, from climate-controlled facilities where they examine products under precise lighting to open fields where they operate tractors and irrigation equipment. Many agricultural workers collaborate closely with farmers, veterinarians, and food safety experts, sharing observations about crop conditions, animal health, or equipment performance. Their expertise proves essential whether they're detecting early signs of plant disease, managing the delicate process of animal reproduction, or operating complex harvesting machinery that requires both technical skill and timing.

As the day progresses, agricultural workers often shift between hands-on tasks and detailed documentation, recording everything from inspection results to breeding records to quality assessments. The work demands both physical stamina and keen observation skills, as these professionals serve as the crucial link between farm production and the food that reaches consumers, ensuring quality, safety, and compliance with industry standards throughout the agricultural supply chain.

πŸ“ˆCareer Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$25,500
$22,950 - $28,050
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$29,600
$26,640 - $32,560
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$35,120
$31,608 - $38,632
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$42,850
$38,565 - $47,135
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$50,300
$45,270 - $55,330

πŸ“šEducation & Training

Requirements

  • β€’Entry Education: Some college, no degree
  • β€’Experience: Some experience helpful
  • β€’On-the-job Training: Few months to one year

Time & Cost

Education Duration
1-2 years (typically 1)
Estimated Education Cost
$0 - $5,000
Can earn while learning
Source: college board (2024)
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πŸ’»Technology Skills

Inspection softwareMicrosoft OfficeDatabase systemsMobile inspection appsGIS softwareBreeding management softwareRecord keepingQuality tracking systemsInventory softwareGPS/precision agricultureEquipment monitoringFarm management softwareTimekeeping softwareGPS devicesMobile apps

⭐Key Abilities

β€’Problem Sensitivity
β€’Oral Comprehension
β€’Deductive Reasoning
β€’Inductive Reasoning
β€’Near Vision
β€’Oral Expression
β€’Written Comprehension
β€’Flexibility of Closure
β€’Far Vision
β€’Speech Clarity

🏷️Also Known As

Agricultural WorkersAgricultural Commodities InspectorAgricultural Commodity GraderAgricultural InspectorAgriculture InspectorBrand InspectorCattle ExaminerCattle InspectorCertifierCompliance Analyst+20 more

πŸ“‘Specializations

This career includes 7 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

πŸ”—Related Careers

Other careers in agriculture

πŸ”—Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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