An official website of the United States government
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 "Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products" (45-2041) and "Forest, Conservation, and Logging Workers" (45-4011 through 45-4029).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 282,300 | 1.8 % | $12.05 | $25,070 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $10.00 | $10.28 | $11.24 | $12.47 | $15.99 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $20,810 | $21,380 | $23,380 | $25,930 | $33,270 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Crop Production | 222,490 | 64.60 | $11.88 | $24,700 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | 15,760 | 2.91 | $11.99 | $24,930 |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores | 11,550 | 7.17 | $12.26 | $25,490 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 5,850 | 2.39 | $13.79 | $28,690 |
| Employment Services | 5,210 | 0.15 | $11.59 | $24,110 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Crop Production | 222,490 | 64.60 | $11.88 | $24,700 |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores | 11,550 | 7.17 | $12.26 | $25,490 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | 15,760 | 2.91 | $11.99 | $24,930 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 5,850 | 2.39 | $13.79 | $28,690 |
| Florists | 780 | 1.22 | $11.52 | $23,960 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Food Manufacturing | 40 | 0.02 | $17.64 | $36,700 |
| Utility System Construction | 40 | 0.01 | $16.55 | $34,430 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 110 | 0.04 | $16.07 | $33,420 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | (8) | (8) | $15.78 | $32,830 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | 250 | 0.12 | $15.76 | $32,770 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 189,930 | 11.38 | 5.74 | $11.96 | $24,870 |
| Florida | 13,250 | 1.57 | 0.79 | $10.99 | $22,850 |
| Arizona | 10,700 | 3.96 | 2.00 | $11.23 | $23,350 |
| Washington | 9,710 | 3.05 | 1.54 | $13.94 | $29,000 |
| Texas | 5,520 | 0.46 | 0.23 | $9.98 | $20,750 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 189,930 | 11.38 | 5.74 | $11.96 | $24,870 |
| Arizona | 10,700 | 3.96 | 2.00 | $11.23 | $23,350 |
| Idaho | 2,140 | 3.12 | 1.58 | $10.66 | $22,160 |
| Washington | 9,710 | 3.05 | 1.54 | $13.94 | $29,000 |
| Oregon | 5,160 | 2.82 | 1.42 | $12.61 | $26,230 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 770 | 0.80 | 0.40 | $17.59 | $36,580 |
| Rhode Island | (8) | (8) | (8) | $17.24 | $35,860 |
| District of Columbia | 60 | 0.08 | 0.04 | $16.61 | $34,540 |
| Wyoming | 50 | 0.18 | 0.09 | $16.26 | $33,820 |
| New York | (8) | (8) | (8) | $15.56 | $32,360 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 39,810 | 131.12 | 66.21 | $11.01 | $22,890 |
| Salinas, CA | 29,050 | 169.02 | 85.35 | $12.99 | $27,010 |
| Fresno, CA | 26,590 | 71.33 | 36.02 | $11.15 | $23,190 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 23,020 | 151.00 | 76.25 | $12.48 | $25,960 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 8,770 | 36.14 | 18.25 | $12.48 | $25,970 |
| Yuma, AZ | 7,000 | 115.86 | 58.50 | $10.78 | $22,410 |
| Madera, CA | 6,660 | 152.28 | 76.90 | $11.42 | $23,760 |
| El Centro, CA | 6,340 | 105.30 | 53.17 | $11.63 | $24,200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 6,320 | 34.06 | 17.20 | $11.91 | $24,780 |
| Modesto, CA | 6,210 | 34.27 | 17.30 | $12.48 | $25,970 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | 29,050 | 169.02 | 85.35 | $12.99 | $27,010 |
| Madera, CA | 6,660 | 152.28 | 76.90 | $11.42 | $23,760 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 23,020 | 151.00 | 76.25 | $12.48 | $25,960 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 39,810 | 131.12 | 66.21 | $11.01 | $22,890 |
| Yuma, AZ | 7,000 | 115.86 | 58.50 | $10.78 | $22,410 |
| El Centro, CA | 6,340 | 105.30 | 53.17 | $11.63 | $24,200 |
| Fresno, CA | 26,590 | 71.33 | 36.02 | $11.15 | $23,190 |
| Merced, CA | 3,750 | 54.26 | 27.40 | $11.52 | $23,960 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 2,100 | 49.74 | 25.12 | $11.64 | $24,210 |
| Yakima, WA | 4,040 | 45.06 | 22.75 | $14.48 | $30,110 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | 160 | 4.06 | 2.05 | $21.18 | $44,060 |
| Ithaca, NY | 30 | 0.64 | 0.32 | $18.63 | $38,760 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | (8) | (8) | (8) | $17.76 | $36,940 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $17.33 | $36,050 |
| Columbia, MO | 30 | 0.33 | 0.17 | $16.68 | $34,700 |
| Waterbury, CT | 60 | 0.81 | 0.41 | $16.63 | $34,590 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | (8) | (8) | (8) | $16.25 | $33,790 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $16.24 | $33,770 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 200 | 0.60 | 0.30 | $16.23 | $33,770 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $16.17 | $33,640 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Valley Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 1,780 | 56.87 | 28.72 | $11.76 | $24,460 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 1,220 | 6.60 | 3.33 | $10.05 | $20,910 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | 1,190 | 15.29 | 7.72 | $11.38 | $23,660 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 970 | 5.07 | 2.56 | $9.52 | $19,800 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 970 | 9.29 | 4.69 | $13.07 | $27,180 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Valley Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 1,780 | 56.87 | 28.72 | $11.76 | $24,460 |
| Central Washington nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 16.21 | 8.19 | $14.32 | $29,780 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | 1,190 | 15.29 | 7.72 | $11.38 | $23,660 |
| East Washington nonmetropolitan area | 800 | 13.25 | 6.69 | $14.86 | $30,910 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 970 | 9.29 | 4.69 | $13.07 | $27,180 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 2.86 | 1.44 | $19.68 | $40,940 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.76 | 0.39 | $18.73 | $38,950 |
| Southwest Washington nonmetropolitan area | 290 | 4.35 | 2.20 | $16.69 | $34,710 |
| South Nevada nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $16.04 | $33,370 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $15.97 | $33,220 |
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.
(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 OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018