Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
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.
How to read this profile
BLS projects U.S. employment for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals to decrease by -3.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 202,100 to 195,700 jobs. Its estimate of 26,600 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($36,670), education (No formal educational credential), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.
Base employment (2024)
202,100
Projected employment (2034)
195,700
Projected change (2024–2034)
-3%
Annual openings (projected average)
26,600
Pay & Preparation
$36,670
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
Essential Skills
Critical Thinking (3.38/5) • Monitoring (3.25/5) • Active Listening (3.12/5) • Operations Monitoring (3.12/5) • Operation and Control (3.12/5) • Judgment and Decision Making (3.12/5)
O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.
BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.
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