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.
Common Job Titles
What You'll Need to Succeed
AI-generatedKey competencies for this occupation at a glance
- Hands-onPerform routine animal care tasks including feeding, watering, herding, and cleaning housing areas for multiple livestock species in farm and ranch settings.Developing
- KnowledgeIdentify signs of animal disease, injury, and abnormal behavior through systematic monitoring of livestock health and wellbeing.Developing
- Hands-onOperate mechanized farm equipment including tractors, loaders, and milking machines following safety protocols and production schedules.Developing
- Hands-onExecute animal husbandry procedures such as vaccinating, castrating, debeaking, and branding under supervision using specialized tools and equipment.Developing
- KnowledgeApply knowledge of animal biology and production processes to optimize feeding schedules, breeding practices, and health interventions.Developing
- KnowledgeEvaluate animal weight, growth rates, and product quality metrics to ensure compliance with production standards and market requirements.Developing
- Hands-onHandle livestock during herding, loading, and transport activities using low-stress techniques to ensure animal welfare and worker safety.Developing
- KnowledgeDiscuss animal health observations and production issues with supervisors, veterinarians, and team members to coordinate care.Developing
- KnowledgeDemonstrate proper use of farm record-keeping systems to document animal health events, breeding records, and production data.Developing
- Hands-onManipulate mechanical equipment and tools for facility maintenance and repair to ensure operational readiness of animal housing and feeding systems.Developing
- MindsetParticipate in training programs on animal welfare practices and safety procedures to maintain current knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements.Developing
Annual wage data for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
35,420
Wage Distribution by Percentile
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $27,110 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $51,840 |
| Workers on average earn | $38,580 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Biology3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.1/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Mechanical3.1/5
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings