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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

45-2092 Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; or cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. Excludes “Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation” (37-3012), “Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products” (45-2041), and “Forest, Conservation, and Logging Workers” (45-4011 through 45-4029).


National estimates for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Industry profile for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Geographic profile for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

National estimates for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
284,000 1.0 % $ 16.49 $ 34,300 1.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 14.00 $ 14.93 $ 15.87 $ 16.93 $ 19.97
Annual Wage (2) $ 29,120 $ 31,040 $ 33,000 $ 35,210 $ 41,540


Industry profile for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Support Activities for Crop Production 210,370 61.04 $ 16.37 $ 34,050
Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers 16,100 8.40 $ 15.81 $ 32,890
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) 14,710 2.73 $ 16.38 $ 34,070
Employment Services 6,420 0.16 $ 15.96 $ 33,200
Beverage Manufacturing 4,890 1.59 $ 18.15 $ 37,760

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Support Activities for Crop Production 210,370 61.04 $ 16.37 $ 34,050
Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers 16,100 8.40 $ 15.81 $ 32,890
Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers 2,050 2.92 $ 17.95 $ 37,330
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) 14,710 2.73 $ 16.38 $ 34,070
Support Activities for Animal Production 570 1.77 $ 16.05 $ 33,380

Top paying industries for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Water, Sewage and Other Systems 100 0.18 $ 23.61 $ 49,110
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8) (8) $ 21.63 $ 44,990
Health and Personal Care Retailers (8) (8) $ 21.57 $ 44,870
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 30 (7) $ 20.91 $ 43,480
Scientific Research and Development Services 980 0.11 $ 20.51 $ 42,670


Geographic profile for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 188,580 10.69 5.57 $ 16.72 $ 34,790
Florida 11,480 1.25 0.65 $ 13.54 $ 28,170
Arizona 9,160 3.02 1.57 $ 15.55 $ 32,340
Washington 8,560 2.51 1.31 $ 17.13 $ 35,620
Oregon 7,130 3.76 1.96 $ 16.27 $ 33,850


Map of location quotient of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 188,580 10.69 5.57 $ 16.72 $ 34,790
Oregon 7,130 3.76 1.96 $ 16.27 $ 33,850
Arizona 9,160 3.02 1.57 $ 15.55 $ 32,340
Idaho 2,120 2.66 1.39 $ 15.51 $ 32,250
Washington 8,560 2.51 1.31 $ 17.13 $ 35,620


Map of annual mean wages of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 150 0.22 0.11 $ 20.88 $ 43,430
Vermont 270 0.91 0.48 $ 19.53 $ 40,630
Massachusetts 1,480 0.42 0.22 $ 19.52 $ 40,610
Nebraska 350 0.36 0.19 $ 19.00 $ 39,520
Hawaii 930 1.56 0.81 $ 18.88 $ 39,270



Map of employment of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Bakersfield, CA 39,130 120.64 62.82 $ 15.91 $ 33,090
Salinas, CA 29,710 163.44 85.11 $ 17.47 $ 36,330
Visalia-Porterville, CA 20,760 128.46 66.89 $ 16.44 $ 34,200
Fresno, CA 18,120 45.53 23.71 $ 16.12 $ 33,530
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 12,720 61.81 32.18 $ 16.86 $ 35,080
Madera, CA 7,720 152.19 79.25 $ 15.81 $ 32,880
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 5,940 3.64 1.90 $ 16.68 $ 34,700
Modesto, CA 5,860 30.89 16.09 $ 16.62 $ 34,580
Stockton-Lodi, CA 5,250 19.08 9.94 $ 17.16 $ 35,680
El Centro, CA 5,130 82.08 42.74 $ 16.09 $ 33,470


Map of location quotient of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Salinas, CA 29,710 163.44 85.11 $ 17.47 $ 36,330
Madera, CA 7,720 152.19 79.25 $ 15.81 $ 32,880
Visalia-Porterville, CA 20,760 128.46 66.89 $ 16.44 $ 34,200
Bakersfield, CA 39,130 120.64 62.82 $ 15.91 $ 33,090
El Centro, CA 5,130 82.08 42.74 $ 16.09 $ 33,470
Merced, CA 5,040 66.65 34.71 $ 16.47 $ 34,260
Yuma, AZ 4,340 64.29 33.48 $ 14.30 $ 29,740
Hanford-Corcoran, CA 2,830 64.09 33.37 $ 16.74 $ 34,820
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 12,720 61.81 32.18 $ 16.86 $ 35,080
Fresno, CA 18,120 45.53 23.71 $ 16.12 $ 33,530


Map of annual mean wages of farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,370 0.57 0.30 $ 20.52 $ 42,670
Burlington-South Burlington, VT 100 0.85 0.44 $ 20.33 $ 42,290
Grand Forks, ND-MN 90 1.83 0.96 $ 20.14 $ 41,890
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,380 1.23 0.64 $ 19.95 $ 41,500
Portland-South Portland, ME 80 0.41 0.22 $ 19.87 $ 41,340
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 60 0.79 0.41 $ 19.74 $ 41,050
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 890 0.33 0.17 $ 19.70 $ 40,980
Missoula, MT 60 0.91 0.47 $ 19.55 $ 40,660
Champaign-Urbana, IL 60 0.60 0.31 $ 19.47 $ 40,500
Barnstable Town, MA 70 0.70 0.36 $ 19.31 $ 40,170

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 1,800 17.85 9.29 $ 17.36 $ 36,110
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 1,690 16.88 8.79 $ 17.28 $ 35,950
Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area 1,180 16.60 8.65 $ 14.74 $ 30,660
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 1,120 10.77 5.61 $ 17.79 $ 36,990
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 1,030 13.06 6.80 $ 13.63 $ 28,360

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 1,800 17.85 9.29 $ 17.36 $ 36,110
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 1,690 16.88 8.79 $ 17.28 $ 35,950
Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area 1,180 16.60 8.65 $ 14.74 $ 30,660
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 1,030 13.06 6.80 $ 13.63 $ 28,360
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 1,120 10.77 5.61 $ 17.79 $ 36,990

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 140 2.28 1.19 $ 21.48 $ 44,680
West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area 290 1.78 0.93 $ 20.82 $ 43,310
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 150 1.03 0.54 $ 20.25 $ 42,120
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 40 1.19 0.62 $ 19.45 $ 40,460
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 120 1.25 0.65 $ 19.36 $ 40,270


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023