Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Also called: Farmworkers, 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.
Also called: Agricultural Worker, Animal Care Taker, Animal Feeder, Animal Herder, Animal Husbandry Worker, Animal Keeper
Median pay
$36,670
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$27,360 – $54,080
People employed
32,810
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 4.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 5.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 6.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Work outdoors in all weather
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals salary in every state →
What farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals do
- 01Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies.
- 02Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures.
- 03Examine animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.
- 04Provide medical treatment, such as administering medications and vaccinations, or arrange for veterinarians to provide more extensive treatment.
- 05Mix feed, additives, and medicines in prescribed portions.
- 06Shift animals between grazing areas to ensure that they have sufficient access to food.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Biology
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Mechanical
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers82% · +4%
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers79% · +9%
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation76% · +26%
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders76% · +41%
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers76% · +12%
Change into farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers82% · $38,300
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers79% · $40,130
Majors that lead here
- Apiculture
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.