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.
π¬Career Video
π€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
How we calculated this:
6% of tasks can be accelerated by AI
-5% projected (2024-2034)
EPOCH score: 10/25
πKey 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.
π‘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 specializationβone 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.
πCareer 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.
πEducation & 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
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Find jobs and training programs for agricultural workers- Median salary: $36K/year
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π»Technology Skills
βKey Abilities
π·οΈAlso Known As
πSpecializations
This career includes 7 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.
| Specialization | Median Pay | AI Outlook | O*NET Code | Find Jobs | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48,010 | π | 45-2011.00 | View details | ||
| $47,540 | π‘ | 45-2021.00 | View details | ||
| $40,620 | π | 45-2099.00 | View details | ||
| $39,690 | π‘ | 45-2091.00 | View details | ||
| $35,120 | π | 45-2093.00 | View details |
πRelated Careers
Other careers in agriculture
πData Sources
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