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Fruit and Vegetable Farming
Taylor Farms, Grimmway Farms, Driscoll's
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
These workers spend most of the day planting, tending, harvesting, loading, and moving crops in fields, nurseries, and greenhouses. The work stands out because it mixes physical labor with machinery, irrigation, and plant inspection, and the main tradeoff is that the job is easy to enter but physically demanding, seasonal, and not well paid.
Also known as Farm LaborerAgricultural LaborerFarm WorkerGreenhouse WorkerNursery Worker
Median Salary
$35,690
Mean $37,850
U.S. Workforce
~262K
71.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-3.3%
504.8K to 488.1K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse sits in the Agriculture 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 ~262K workers, with a median annual pay of $35,690 and roughly 71.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 504.8 K in 2024 to 488.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Seasonal Farm Laborer and can progress toward Farm Operations Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Tractors, Harvesters & Farm Machinery, and Irrigation Systems & Controls, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Check crops for pests, weeds, or disease and decide what needs to be treated.
- Keep supervisors updated on crop progress and maintain simple records on chemicals, yields, and costs.
- Repair and maintain tractors, trucks, and other farm equipment so the work can keep moving.
- Set up and run irrigation systems, including hoses, sprinklers, and pumps.
Keep exploring: more Agriculture careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check crops for pests, weeds, or disease and decide what needs to be treated.
02 Keep supervisors updated on crop progress and maintain simple records on chemicals, yields, and costs.
03 Repair and maintain tractors, trucks, and other farm equipment so the work can keep moving.
04 Set up and run irrigation systems, including hoses, sprinklers, and pumps.
05 Load harvested produce, move it onto trucks, and haul it to storage or market.
06 Operate tractors and other farm machinery, and help guide seasonal workers during planting and harvest.
Industries That Hire
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Greenhouses and Nurseries
Costa Farms, Monrovia, Ball Horticultural Company
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Produce Packing and Distribution
Dole Food Company, Fresh Del Monte Produce, Fresh Express
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Agricultural Machinery and Equipment
John Deere, Kubota, CNH Industrial
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a formal credential; BLS says the typical entry point is no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training.
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There are a lot of openings: even with projected employment slipping by 3.3%, the occupation is still expected to have about 71.7K annual openings through replacement needs.
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The work is varied instead of repetitive all day, shifting between inspecting crops, running irrigation, repairing equipment, and moving harvests.
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You build practical machine and repair skills that can help you move into crew leader or equipment-focused jobs later.
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The job exists in many settings, from open fields to nurseries and greenhouses, so workers can often find different kinds of employers.
Challenges
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Pay is modest for hard physical work, with a median annual wage of $35,690 and a mean of $37,850.
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The long-term outlook is weak: projected employment falls from about 504.8K to 488.1K by 2034, a drop of 16.8K jobs.
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A big part of the job is heavy lifting, bending, and working outdoors, which can be rough in heat, rain, cold, or mud.
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Schedules can be seasonal and unpredictable, so hours and income may swing with planting and harvest cycles.
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The career ladder can be narrow unless you move into supervision or machinery work, so many workers stay in lower-paying field labor roles for years.
Career Progression
Seasonal Farm Laborer
0-1 years
$28K-$33K
Beginners do basic field work like picking, weeding, cleaning, and moving supplies under close supervision.
Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
1-3 years
$34K-$40K
Workers handle the main day-to-day tasks in planting, irrigation, harvesting, equipment cleanup, and produce handling.
Crew Leader THIS ROLE
3-6 years
$41K-$49K
Experienced workers direct seasonal help, check output and quality, and make sure field tasks stay on schedule.
Farm Operations Supervisor
6-10 years
$50K-$63K
Supervisors coordinate labor, machinery, and field timing across larger parts of the operation.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
The most common entry point, held by 38.96% of workers in this role.
High school diploma
A common route into the job, held by 28.54% of workers.
Short-term on-the-job training
BLS says workers typically learn the basics after being hired, and many add a pesticide applicator certificate if they handle chemicals.
Bachelor's degree in agriculture or horticulture
A less common path, held by 15.33% of workers, often used by people aiming for lead or farm management jobs.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 50%
Tractors, Harvesters & Farm Machinery 45%
Irrigation Systems & Controls 45%
Pesticide & Fertilizer Application Equipment 45%
Repairing Farm Vehicles & Implements 44%
Operation and Control 44%
Monitoring 44%
Farm Recordkeeping & Yield Logs 42%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionTeamworkDependability Job Outlook and Trends
+-3.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
71.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 504.8K to 488.1 K over the next decade, representing -3.3% growth. Around 71.7 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.