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Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations

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Employment in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations is projected to show little or no change from 2016 to 2026. Projected increases in some agricultural worker occupations and for fishing and hunting workers will be offset by declines in logging occupations.

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations was one of the lowest paid occupational groups, with a median annual wage of $24,390 in May 2017 compared to the median annual wage for all occupations of $37,690.

OCCUPATION	JOB SUMMARY	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2017 MEDIAN PAY
Agricultural Workers	Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend to livestock. They perform physical labor and operate machinery under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.	See How to Become One	$23,730
Fishing and Hunting Workers	Fishing and hunting workers catch and trap various types of animal life. The fish and wild animals they catch are for human food, animal feed, bait, and other uses.	No formal educational credential	$28,530
Forest and Conservation Workers	Forest and conservation workers measure and improve the quality of forests. Under the supervision of foresters and forest and conservation technicians, they develop, maintain, and protect forests.	High school diploma or equivalent	$27,650
Logging Workers	Logging workers harvest thousands of acres of forests each year. The timber they harvest provides the raw material for many consumer goods and industrial products.	High school diploma or equivalent	$38,840