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Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

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Attend to live farm, ranch, open range or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines, poultry, rabbits, finfish, shellfish, and bees. Attend to animals produced for animal products, such as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, milking, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Includes workers who shear wool from sheep and collect eggs in hatcheries.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $36,670/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$27,360$54,080

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 31,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Critical ThinkingMonitoringOperations MonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningOperation and ControlReading ComprehensionCoordinationSpeakingComplex Problem Solving
Top knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingBiologyAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguageMechanicalFood ProductionMathematicsPublic Safety and Security
Core tasks

• Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies.

• Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures.

• Examine animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.

• Provide medical treatment, such as administering medications and vaccinations, or arrange for veterinarians to provide more extensive treatment.

• Mark livestock to identify ownership and grade, using brands, tags, paint, or tattoos.

• Drive trucks, tractors, and other equipment to distribute feed to animals.

• Segregate animals according to weight, age, color, and physical condition.

• Inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals?

The median pay for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals is $36,670 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals?

Employment for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals is projected to change -5% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals?

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

How many job openings are there each year for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals?

About 31,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.