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Agriculture and Natural Resources

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
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Median pay

$35,690
Median annual pay for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-3.3%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

71,700
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

504,800
Estimated U.S. employment for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-16,800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

No formal educational credential
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Speaking
  2. 2Active Listening
  3. 3Critical Thinking
  4. 4Monitoring
  5. 5Reading Comprehension
  6. 6Writing

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Biology
  2. 2Food Production
  3. 3Mechanical
  4. 4Administration and Management
  5. 5Chemistry
  6. 6Mathematics

Abilities

  1. 1Trunk Strength
  2. 2Arm-Hand Steadiness
  3. 3Control Precision
  4. 4Extent Flexibility
  5. 5Manual Dexterity
  6. 6Multilimb Coordination

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Enterprising
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Social
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Perseverance
  3. 3Attention to Detail
  4. 4Integrity
  5. 5Stress Tolerance
  6. 6Cautiousness

Work activities

  1. 1Performing General Physical Activities
  2. 2Handling and Moving Objects
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  5. 5Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  6. 6Controlling Machines and Processes

Work context

  1. 1Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  2. 2Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
  3. 3Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
  4. 4Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  5. 5Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
  6. 6Time Pressure

Representative tasks

  • Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
  • Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
  • Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
  • Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
  • Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
  • Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
  • Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
  • Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyBCL Landview Systems WinCropFarm Works Software TracGlobal positioning system GPS softwareIBM Lotus NotesWeb browser software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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