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Agriculture & Farm Operations
Driscoll's, Grimmway Farms, Taylor Farms
Farm Labor Contractors
Farm labor contractors recruit workers, line up crews for different fields, and handle the messy details that keep harvest work moving. The job stands out because it mixes people management with payroll, transportation, and basic workplace compliance, so one mistake can affect wages, safety, or the whole picking schedule.
Also known as Agricultural Labor ContractorFarm Labor ContractorField Labor ContractorAgricultural Crew ContractorFarm Labor Supervisor
Median Salary
$48,690
Mean $51,910
U.S. Workforce
~410
0.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+6%
3.9K to 4.2K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Farm Labor Contractors sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~410 workers, with a median annual pay of $48,690 and roughly 0.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 3.9 K in 2024 to 4.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential with short-term on-the-job training, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Farmworker / Harvest Crew Member and can progress toward Agricultural Labor Operations Manager. High-value skills usually include OSHA/Cal/OSHA Field Safety Compliance, GPS Route Planning & Crew Transport, and Field Supply, Water & Sanitation Logistics, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Management of Personnel Resources.
Core Responsibilities
- Recruit seasonal farmworkers and line up the right crew for each job.
- Track hours, calculate wages, and make sure contracted workers get paid correctly.
- Provide tools, drinking water, food, and sanitation supplies for crews working in the field.
- Assign workers to tasks, supervise foremen, and keep the crew moving through the day’s work.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Recruit seasonal farmworkers and line up the right crew for each job.
02 Track hours, calculate wages, and make sure contracted workers get paid correctly.
03 Provide tools, drinking water, food, and sanitation supplies for crews working in the field.
04 Assign workers to tasks, supervise foremen, and keep the crew moving through the day’s work.
05 Arrange rides and directions so workers get to the right farm or work site on time.
06 Check that labor rules, safety standards, and contract terms are being followed.
Industries That Hire
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Staffing & Recruiting
Manpower, TrueBlue, Adecco
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Produce Packing & Food Processing
Dole, Fresh Del Monte, Del Monte Foods
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Logistics & Transportation
J.B. Hunt, Schneider, Ryder
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Government & Workforce Oversight
U.S. Department of Labor, California Department of Industrial Relations, Texas Workforce Commission
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is respectable for work that typically does not require a formal degree, with a median of $48,690 and a mean of $51,910.
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BLS says the usual entry route is no formal educational credential, and training is typically short-term, which makes the field accessible to people with practical experience.
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The role builds real management experience because you recruit workers, schedule crews, supervise foremen, and handle payroll details.
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Projected growth of 6% and about 0.3 thousand annual openings point to steady replacement demand, even in a small occupation.
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Workers who know agriculture, logistics, and labor rules can use this job as a bridge into larger farm operations or workforce management roles.
Challenges
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The occupation is very small, with only 410 workers currently, so openings are limited and often depend on local farming conditions.
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Growth is only 6% through 2034, which is modest rather than fast, and the projected increase is just 0.2 thousand jobs.
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The pay can feel modest for the responsibility, especially when you are also dealing with wages, transportation, and compliance issues.
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The work is tied to harvest seasons, weather, and long days in the field, so schedules can be unpredictable and physically demanding.
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There is a real legal and reputational risk if workers are not paid correctly or do not get proper water, sanitation, or safety support.
Career Progression
Farmworker / Harvest Crew Member
0-2 years
$28K-$35K
This entry point focuses on learning crop work, pace, safety rules, and how field crews operate day to day.
Crew Leader / Field Supervisor
2-5 years
$36K-$45K
At this stage, the worker starts assigning tasks, coaching new workers, and helping keep a crew on schedule.
Farm Labor Contractor THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$46K-$57K
This level matches the occupation and includes recruiting workers, handling pay and records, and supervising labor across multiple sites.
Senior Farm Labor Contractor
10-15 years
$58K-$72K
Experienced contractors manage larger crews, more contracts, and more compliance responsibilities while solving scheduling and transportation problems.
Agricultural Labor Operations Manager
15+ years
$73K-$90K
Top-level work is broader and more strategic, with oversight of labor supply, contracts, payroll systems, and regional workforce planning.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential with short-term on-the-job training
BLS lists this as the typical entry route, so many workers learn the job directly in the field rather than through a degree program.
Some college courses
This is the most common education pattern shown in the O*NET distribution, at 8.9%, and it usually pairs well with hands-on farm or crew experience.
Associate's degree in agriculture, business, or management
A smaller share of workers report an associate's degree, at 0.14%, which can help with payroll, supervision, and recordkeeping.
Workplace safety or farm management certificate
Not shown in the distribution data, but a practical alternative for people moving up from seasonal farm work who need training in labor rules, supervision, and documentation.
Key Skills
Technical
OSHA/Cal/OSHA Field Safety Compliance 67%
GPS Route Planning & Crew Transport 63%
Field Supply, Water & Sanitation Logistics 60%
Crew Training & Work Instructions 60%
QuickBooks Payroll, Timesheets & Wage Tracking 56%
Crew Scheduling & Personnel Management 56%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningManagement of Personnel ResourcesCoordinationTime ManagementSocial Perceptiveness Job Outlook and Trends
+6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 3.9K to 4.2 K over the next decade, representing 6% growth. Around 0.3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.