How much does a farmworker and laborer make?
The median farmworker and laborer in the United States earns $35,660 per year, about $17.15 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all farmworkers and laborers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 45-2092.
Farmworker and laborer salary range
Pay for farmworkers and laborers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $32,900 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $45,690. The average (mean) wage of $37,630 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,900 | $15.82 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,660 | $17.15 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $38,840 | $18.67 | |
| 90th percentile | $45,690 | $21.96 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (SOC 45-2092), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Farmworker and laborer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Farmworkers and laborers earn the most in Wyoming at $55,180 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $30,250. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $55,180 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $42,260 | 190 |
| Montana | $41,390 | 720 |
| Illinois | $41,050 | 2,850 |
| New York | $40,930 | 2,760 |
| Nebraska | $39,530 | 440 |
| Washington | $39,170 | 13,490 |
| Maine | $39,060 | 280 |
| Michigan | $38,680 | 5,410 |
| Maryland | $38,420 | 1,380 |
| Massachusetts | $38,220 | 1,340 |
| Colorado | $38,170 | 2,450 |
| Minnesota | $38,080 | 1,200 |
| New Jersey | $37,710 | 2,430 |
| Iowa | $37,590 | 930 |
| Rhode Island | $37,540 | 230 |
| Ohio | $37,470 | 1,990 |
| Kansas | $37,020 | 900 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,010 | 2,940 |
| Hawaii | $36,990 | 700 |
| Indiana | $36,980 | 910 |
| Connecticut | $36,950 | 460 |
| Alaska | $36,780 | 120 |
| Missouri | $36,280 | 2,600 |
| New Hampshire | $35,920 | 220 |
| California | $35,580 | 172,260 |
| Virginia | $35,580 | 1,590 |
| Wisconsin | $35,360 | 1,490 |
| Vermont | $35,170 | 220 |
| South Carolina | $35,110 | 680 |
| Arizona | $35,080 | 7,110 |
| Idaho | $34,470 | 2,420 |
| Oregon | $34,070 | 6,780 |
| Alabama | $33,870 | 740 |
| North Carolina | $33,870 | 2,510 |
| Utah | $33,490 | 670 |
| Nevada | $33,280 | 660 |
| Louisiana | $33,260 | 570 |
| Delaware | $33,090 | 220 |
| Oklahoma | $33,090 | 1,080 |
| Kentucky | $33,050 | 510 |
| Arkansas | $32,970 | 390 |
| Texas | $32,840 | 4,290 |
| New Mexico | $31,150 | 1,960 |
| North Dakota | $31,080 | 60 |
| West Virginia | $31,050 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $31,020 | 1,080 |
| Florida | $30,640 | 9,180 |
| Georgia | $30,300 | 1,610 |
| Mississippi | $30,250 | 300 |
State median wages for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (SOC 45-2092), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for farmworkers and laborers
The BLS projects employment of farmworkers and laborers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 2.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 546,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 533,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 72,500 openings a year for farmworkers and laborers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a farmworker and laborer
The typical entry-level education for farmworkers and laborers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a farmworker and laborer earns
Employer, season, region, and level of responsibility shape pay. Supervisory and specialized roles pay above seasonal and entry-level work.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Wyoming, $55,180) and the lowest (Mississippi, $30,250) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 265,500 people work as farmworkers and laborers in the United States. At $35,660 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Farmworker and laborer salary FAQ
How much does a farmworker and laborer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a farmworker and laborer is $17.15. The middle half of farmworkers and laborers earn between $16.50 and $18.67 per hour.
What is the highest farmworker and laborer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of farmworkers and laborers earn more than $45,690 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a farmworker and laborer make a year?
The median annual salary for a farmworker and laborer is $35,660. The average (mean) wage of $37,630 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a farmworker and laborer a well paid job?
At $35,660 a year, a farmworker and laborer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 265,500 people work as farmworkers and laborers in the United States.
Which state pays farmworkers and laborers the most?
Wyoming has the highest median salary for farmworkers and laborers at $55,180 a year. South Dakota ($42,260) and Montana ($41,390) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a farmworker and laborer a good career?
Employment of farmworkers and laborers is projected to shrink 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 72,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a farmworker and laborer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for farmworkers and laborers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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