Farmworkers, farm and ranch animals
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Farmworkers, Farm and Ranch Animals: Attend to live farm, ranch, or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines, poultry, finfish, shellfish, and bees. Attend to animals produced for animal products, such as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Include workers who shear wool from sheep, and collect eggs in hatcheries.
Agricultural workers held about 834,000 jobs in 2004. Of these, farmworkers were the most numerous, holding about 690,000 jobs. Graders and sorters held about 45,000 jobs, agricultural inspectors 14,000 jobs, agricultural equipment operators 60,000 jobs, and animal breeders 12,000 jobs. More than 66 percent of all agricultural workers worked for crop and livestock producers, while more than 5 percent worked for agricultural service providers, mostly farm labor contractors.
Median hourly earnings in May 2004 for each of the occupations found in this statement are as follows:
| Agricultural inspectors | $14.92 |
| Animal breeders | 13.55 |
| Agricultural workers, all other | 10.15 |
| Agricultural equipment operators | 8.88 |
| Farmworkers, farm and ranch animals | 8.31 |
| Graders and sorters, agricultural products | 7.90 |
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | 7.70 |
Few agricultural workers are members of unions.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Agricultural Workers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Farmworkers, farm and ranch animals | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 11,870 mean earnings: $20,080 (def) (IG) | $13,930 | $15,740 | $18,210 | $23,140 | $29,110 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 11,850 mean earnings: $20,080 | $13,930 | $15,730 | $18,210 | $23,130 | $29,100 |
| Mining employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,220 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,960 | $16,180 | $18,220 | $20,970 | $22,640 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: n.a. mean earnings: $18,420 | $14,910 | $16,090 | $18,060 | $20,720 | $22,380 |
| Construction employment: 210 mean earnings: $17,820 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,040 | $13,710 | $15,870 | $19,330 | $29,510 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: n.a. mean earnings: $16,860 | $14,180 | $14,950 | $16,220 | $17,490 | $21,700 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 110 mean earnings: $17,670 | $11,580 | $12,660 | $14,740 | $19,450 | $31,040 |
| Manufacturing employment: 6,440 mean earnings: $20,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,180 | $16,380 | $19,880 | $24,140 | $28,980 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 6,330 mean earnings: $20,870 | $14,150 | $16,350 | $19,870 | $24,180 | $29,000 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $21,200 | $18,100 | $19,160 | $20,920 | $23,120 | $26,100 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 12,200 mean earnings: $17,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,180 | $13,940 | $16,680 | $20,610 | $25,870 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 9,840 mean earnings: $17,840 | $12,240 | $14,060 | $16,620 | $20,410 | $25,770 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 2,340 mean earnings: $17,910 | $11,940 | $13,480 | $16,980 | $21,170 | $26,140 |
| Retail Trade employment: 330 mean earnings: $17,840 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,570 | $14,440 | $16,920 | $20,690 | $24,440 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: n.a. mean earnings: $17,930 | $12,100 | $13,480 | $18,320 | $21,260 | $23,030 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 160 mean earnings: $16,110 | $12,930 | $14,570 | $16,010 | $17,450 | $20,180 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 180 mean earnings: $17,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,080 | $13,940 | $17,930 | $20,720 | $23,210 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 70 mean earnings: $18,420 | $14,870 | $15,900 | $17,620 | $20,740 | $25,210 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 100 mean earnings: $17,590 | $11,610 | $12,820 | $18,460 | $20,870 | $22,320 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 90 mean earnings: $25,850 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,530 | $18,630 | $28,050 | $32,240 | $34,820 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 60 mean earnings: $27,540 | $13,560 | $20,050 | $29,410 | $33,100 | $35,320 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 400 mean earnings: $19,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,310 | $15,700 | $18,500 | $22,200 | $26,690 |
| Real Estate employment: 400 mean earnings: $19,410 | $13,310 | $15,700 | $18,500 | $22,200 | $26,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 990 mean earnings: $20,000 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,810 | $15,100 | $19,470 | $23,740 | $27,820 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 990 mean earnings: $20,000 | $12,810 | $15,100 | $19,470 | $23,740 | $27,820 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,530 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,410 | $15,280 | $19,920 | $22,870 | $26,970 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,530 | $12,410 | $15,280 | $19,920 | $22,870 | $26,970 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 10,040 mean earnings: $20,700 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,930 | $16,370 | $18,560 | $22,600 | $30,210 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $20,690 | $14,930 | $16,360 | $18,530 | $22,520 | $30,230 |
| Educational Services employment: 880 mean earnings: $22,110 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,110 | $15,990 | $20,740 | $27,750 | $33,820 |
| Educational Services employment: 880 mean earnings: $22,110 | $13,110 | $15,990 | $20,740 | $27,750 | $33,820 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 110 mean earnings: $17,720 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,220 | $13,930 | $16,250 | $20,530 | $26,870 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 40 mean earnings: $20,490 | $12,560 | $14,820 | $19,330 | $25,900 | $28,980 |
| Social Assistance employment: 40 mean earnings: $15,290 | $11,710 | $12,680 | $14,190 | $16,420 | $21,240 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 3,760 mean earnings: $19,710 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,670 | $15,750 | $18,680 | $23,160 | $27,430 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 3,240 mean earnings: $19,950 | $14,650 | $16,210 | $19,130 | $23,220 | $27,080 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 500 mean earnings: $18,000 | $11,630 | $12,810 | $15,430 | $21,910 | $31,200 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 330 mean earnings: $21,820 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,710 | $15,220 | $19,270 | $27,900 | $35,550 |
| Accommodation employment: n.a. mean earnings: $22,100 | $12,790 | $15,340 | $19,400 | $28,920 | $35,790 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 500 mean earnings: $21,590 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,620 | $15,410 | $18,590 | $25,040 | $37,040 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 50 mean earnings: $18,750 | $14,290 | $15,630 | $17,380 | $23,160 | $26,790 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $18,360 | $15,270 | $16,270 | $17,940 | $20,330 | $22,250 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 320 mean earnings: $23,250 | $14,080 | $15,080 | $20,610 | $27,490 | $40,620 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 740 mean earnings: $28,830 (def) (IG) | $14,780 | $22,250 | $27,760 | $36,480 | $42,990 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 740 mean earnings: $28,830 | $14,780 | $22,250 | $27,760 | $36,480 | $42,990 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.