Annual Average Salary Information
Annual Average Salary: $34,730
What does a Farming earn?
Farming is typically a well-paid profession in the U.S., with an average annual salary of $34,730. Farmers work in a variety of contexts, from small family-run businesses to large-scale operations. Responsibilities of a farmer vary widely, including crop production, livestock management, and other agricultural activities. Farmers may decide to specialise in areas like sustainable farming, agribusiness, or soil conservation.
How to earn more as a Farming
To become a farmer, you will need either a diploma or a degree in agricultural science, agronomy, or horticulture. Alternatively, you could take a career path through apprenticeship and training. To earn more in farming, become a specialist in a particular type of crop, livestock, or farm machinery. You could also diversify your farm by having additional crops, starting an aquaculture venture, or setting up a farm shop. Finally, you could become self-employed, or own and manage a farm business.
Farming responsibilities
The average farming salary is affected by many factors, including market conditions, whether you work in one of the highest-paying cities, and the job title. The job title could be for an entry-level to a senior position, such as Farm Worker, Farmer, Animal Breeder, Forest Worker, or Agricultural Equipment Operator.
Most careers working in farming will see you responsible for duties where you may care for livestock, plant and harvest crops, manage the landscape, and use manual tools and mechanical equipment.
Farm Managers earn higher salaries focusing on delegating tasks to farm laborers, ordering materials and supplies, and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.
Skills and education level
Your education level will also affect your pay, just as previous experience will. Most farms or agricultural companies will expect you to have a high school diploma for entry-level jobs. A qualified professional will be paid higher salaries per hour, reflecting whether you have a relevant high school degree, associate degree, bachelor's, or master’s. Commissions may be an important part of your compensation and could be linked to production and profit.
If you don’t have a U.S. high school diploma, you can complete the General Education Development Test (GED) to show you have the same level of knowledge and education as a high school graduate. You can take the GED test from 90 countries around the world or within the United States.
To earn the average farmer salary, you will need the top skills employers seek. Skills include physical fitness, familiarity working with animals or crops, practical know-how, attention to detail, stamina, and customer service skills.
What to expect from Farming careers
You can start your farming career as a trainee or junior Farm Laborer, Forest Worker, or Animal Breeder. Graduate-level jobs are also available, with the average salary for a position reflecting the education attained. You will most likely be expected to work outdoors or in farm buildings, and your workload and variety of tasks will reflect the operations of the farm. Small farms often seek professionals who have broader knowledge and can complete a wide variety of farming and animal handling tasks. Larger farms may seek workers who will specialize in one or two core tasks, responsibilities, or duties.
While hours may vary across farming industries, you should expect to work longer shifts than office jobs, and the work can require physical strength and stamina. A farm position can involve repetitive tasks, while for some farmers, no two days are the same.
Farming job title
There are numerous job titles within the farming industry. Examples of farming-related job titles include Agricultural Grader and Sorter, Agricultural Inspector, Faller, and Log Graders and Scalers.
You can search for farming vacancies and the average salary for farm roles on Checkasalary.com for all junior and senior positions.
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Highest-paying locations for Farming jobs
The location of your farming job in America and the United States can significantly affect your pay and compensation. You can use our Salary Calculator to check the annual salary and hourly average salary for jobs in any location in America. We have salary and pay data for locations such as California, Colorado, Virginia, South Carolina, Washington, New York, and more.
You could consider relocating to improve your compensation. However, if you do not wish to relocate, this does not mean you cannot improve your pay. A short commute and working for a business in an inner city location will often mean access to better salaries. If you are interested in a job in a rural location or city, you can use our annual salary data to check if employers are offering a below, above or average salary.
Farming professional development
Farming professional salaries vary based on career level and experience. Entry-level positions have lower pay, while experienced and senior staff earn more. Relevant qualifications can lead to higher starting salaries. To increase your earning potential, consider taking training opportunities such as workshops or online courses. Our data provides guidance on wages and earnings for junior, intermediate, and senior industry roles.
Farming work experience
Having previous farming experience in your chosen career can greatly improve your chances of getting hired and earning a competitive salary. Gaining practical experience through internships, apprenticeships, shadowing, and vacation work can provide valuable skills and knowledge in the field. If direct experience is not available, showcasing transferable skills gained from other experiences can also be beneficial to potential employers and demonstrate your level of experience.
Farming working hours
The number of working hours for a farming job can affect monthly pay and salaries. Companies may offer higher overtime pay or additional compensation for working non-traditional hours, such as evenings, weekends, or holidays. The type of employment, such as part-time, full-time, permanent, temporary, or contract, can also affect the salary received and should be considered when evaluating compensation fairness.
Farming salary negotiations
To be well-prepared for salary negotiations with farming employers, it’s important to research and understand typical salaries and compensation factors, such as average bonuses, for prospective positions. Use salary comparison tools and search for different job titles and locations to determine your worth. Keep in mind that compensation is not limited to financial benefits and performance-related commission, and consider other benefits such as the ability to work from home, additional paid vacation, gym membership, or private healthcare.
Annual salary, median salary, and taxes
When you review the median salary or annual salary for a farming role, it is vital to remember that you will pay taxes on salaries paid. When you receive your pay, you may be liable for various employment taxes, either deducted by your employer or required by self-payment. U.S. government taxes can include Federal Income Tax, Federal and State Unemployment Tax, Social Security and Medicare Tax, and Additional Medicare Taxes.
Farming job search
If you are seeking a better salary, start your farming job search today. You can search for jobs by job title and set up job alerts to get notified as soon as an employer posts their vacancy.