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Please enable javascript to play this video. Quick Facts: Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$67,950 per year$32.67 per hourHigh school diploma or equivalent5 years or moreNone975,400-1% (Little or no change)-9,000Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers operate establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers typically work outdoors, but may spend some time in offices. They often do strenuous physical work.Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers usually have at least a high school diploma and typically gain skills through work experience.The median annual wage for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $67,950 in May 2018.Employment of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers is projected to show little or no change from 2018 to 2028. Over the past several decades, the efficiencies of large-scale crop production have led to the consolidation of acreage under fewer, but larger, farms.Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers with similar occupations.Learn more about farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers by visiting additional resources, including O.NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. Some farmers work primarily with crops and vegetables, whereas other farmers and ranchers handle livestock.Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers operate establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers typically work outdoors, but they may spend some time in offices.Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers held about 975,400 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers were as follows: Self-employed workers68%Crop production19Animal production and aquaculture12Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers typically work outdoors, but may spend some time in offices. They often do strenuous physical work.Some farmers work primarily with crops and vegetables. Other farmers and ranchers handle livestock. Injuries and IllnessesThe work environment for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers can be hazardous. Tractors, tools, and other farm machinery can cause serious injury, so workers must be alert on the job. They must operate equipment and handle chemicals properly to avoid accidents and safeguard the surrounding environment.
Work SchedulesMost farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers work full time. Farm work can be seasonal, and the number of hours worked may change according to the season. Farmers and farm managers on crop farms usually work from sunrise to sunset during the planting and harvesting seasons. During the rest of the year, they plan the next season’s crops, market their output, and repair and maintain machinery. Some work more than 40 hours per week.On livestock-producing farms and ranches, work goes on throughout the year. Animals must be fed and cared for every day.On large farms, farmers and farm managers spend time meeting with farm supervisors.
Managers who oversee several farms may divide their time between traveling to meet farmers and landowners and staying in their offices to plan farm operations. Farmers and ranchers that care for animals keep livestock in pens, barns, and other farm buildings.Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers usually have at least a high school diploma and typically gain skills through work experience. EducationFarmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers usually have at least a high school diploma. As farm and land management has grown more complex and costly, farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers have increasingly needed postsecondary education, such as an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in agriculture or a related field.All state university systems have at least one land-grant college or university with a school of agriculture.
Common programs of study include business (with a concentration in agriculture), plant breeding, farm management, agronomy, dairy science, and agricultural economics.There are a number of government programs that help new farmers get an education in farming. The (USDA) has service centers across the country that assist new farmers in accessing programs offered by USDA.
These programs include those that provide financial assistance for land and capital, help with finalizing a business plan, and assistance with conservation planning. Work Experience in a Related OccupationProspective farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers typically work as for several years where they gain the knowledge and experience needed to operate their own farm or switch to management. Some of them may grow up on a family farm and learn that way. The amount of experience that is needed varies with the complexity of the work and the size of the farm. Those with postsecondary education in agriculture may not need previous work experience.
Universities and various forms of government assistance give prospective farmers alternatives to working on a farm or growing up on one. Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsTo show competency in farm management, agricultural managers may choose to become certified. The (ASFMRA) offer the (AFM) credential. The AFM requires 85 hours of coursework in land management and business ethics; a bachelor’s degree; 4 years of experience in farm or ranch management; and passing an exam. A complete list of requirements is available from ASFMRA.
Important QualitiesAnalytical skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers must monitor and assess the quality of their land or livestock. These tasks require precision and accuracy.Critical-thinking skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers make tough decisions through sound reasoning and judgment.
They determine how to improve their harvest and livestock, while reacting appropriately to external factors such as unfavorable weather or insect infestations.Initiative. Many farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers are self-employed and must be motivated in order to maximize crop or livestock production.Interpersonal skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers supervise laborers and other workers, so effective communication is critical.Mechanical skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers operate complex machinery and occasionally perform routine maintenance.Physical strength. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers—particularly those who work on small farms—must be able to perform physically strenuous, repetitive tasks, such as lifting heavy objects and bending at the waist. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment StatisticsThe median annual wage for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $67,950 in May 2018.The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,440, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $136,940.Incomes of farmers and ranchers vary from year to year because prices of farm products fluctuate with weather conditions and other factors. In addition to earning income from their farm business, farmers can receive government subsidies or other payments that add to their income and reduce some of the risks of farming.Also, more farmers, especially operators of small farms, are relying more on off-farm sources of income, such as community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.Most farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers work full time. Farm work can be seasonal and the number of hours worked may change according to the season. Farmers and farm managers on crop farms usually work from sunrise to sunset during the planting and harvesting seasons.
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During the rest of the year, they plan the next season’s crops, market their output, and repair and maintain machinery. Some work more than 40 hours per week.On livestock-producing farms and ranches, work goes on throughout the year. Animals must be fed and cared for every day.
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections programEmployment of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers is projected to show little or no change from 2018 to 2028.
Over the past several decades, the efficiencies of large-scale crop production have led to the consolidation of acreage under fewer, but larger, farms. As farms become larger, they are able to invest more in productivity-enhancing technologies, reinforcing this effect.Despite steady demand for agricultural products, many small farms operate with slim profit margins and are vulnerable to poor market conditions. As in the past, operators of smaller farms will likely continue to exit the business over the next decade. Job ProspectsProspective farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers may face competition. Some job opportunities will arise from retirements of older workers.Some small-scale farmers may improve their job prospects by developing successful market niches that involve personalized, direct contact with their customers. Many are finding opportunities in organic food production. Others sell their output at farmers’ markets that cater directly to urban and suburban consumers, allowing the farmers to capture a greater share of consumers’ food dollars.
Employment projections data for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers, 2018-28 Occupational TitleSOC CodeEmployment, 2018Projected Employment, 2028Change, 2018-28Employment by IndustryPercentNumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections programFarmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers,400966,500-1-9,000. State & Area Data Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)The (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area.Projections CentralOccupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at.
Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. CareerOneStopCareerOneStop includes hundreds of with data available by state and metro area.
There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a to search for wages by zip code. PayThe Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation.
It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.
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