USA Career Guide- Agricultural Workers
Education & Training needed to be Agricultural Workers
Most agricultural workers do not need a high school diploma. Instead, they usually get up to a year of on-the-job training, depending on their responsibilities. In addition to on-the-job training, some animal breeders have a bachelor’s degree in animal science and genetics.
Pay of Agricultural Workers
The median annual wage of agricultural workers was $18,970 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,810, and the top 10 percent earned more than $29,740.
Job Prospects of Agricultural Workers
As reported by BLS employment of agricultural workers is expected to decline by about three percent between 2010 and 2020. However, agricultural workers should have good job prospects overall.
Opportunities should be good because workers regularly leave these jobs, which pay relatively low wages and have relatively high physical demands. This is especially true for agricultural equipment operators and crop, greenhouse, and nursery farm workers.
Those who work with animals tend to have a more settled lifestyle, because the work does not require them to follow crops for harvest. The average age of agricultural workers is rising, which may lead to further job turnover.
About a quarter of all crop workers are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. California, Florida, and Oregon have the most nursery workers.
Processing...