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Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $36,670 Median per year · $17.63/hr Most earn $27,360–$54,080

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Provide medical treatment, such as administering medications and vaccinations, or arrange for veterinarians to provide more extensive treatment.
  • Mark livestock to identify ownership and grade, using brands, tags, paint, or tattoos.
  • Maintain growth, feeding, production, and cost records.
  • Shift animals between grazing areas to ensure that they have sufficient access to food.
  • Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies.
  • Move equipment, poultry, or livestock from one location to another, manually or using trucks or carts.

Job outlook

United States
3% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 26,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Animal production and aquaculture83.6%
  • Farm product raw material merchant wholesalers2.9%
  • Self-employed (their own business)2.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

This is an entry-level job. Many people start with a high school diploma and learn on the job, and it usually takes about 6 months to 1 year of hands-on animal work before you feel fully comfortable in the role.

  1. High school diploma with agriculture or science classes

    4 years

    Classes in biology, animal science, or agriculture teach basic animal care and farm safety, which makes you a stronger candidate for hands-on work.

  2. Farm or ranch hand experience, or a livestock certificate or apprenticeship

    6 months to 1 year

    Working with animals on a farm, ranch, hatchery, or fish operation, or completing a short livestock or animal science certificate, builds the skills employers look for in feeding, handling, and checking animal health.

  3. Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal Worker

    Entry-level job

    You care for animals every day, including feeding, herding, checking health, keeping records, and cleaning housing, and you keep learning from experienced workers.

Where it can lead

  1. Animal Breeder

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move from daily animal care into planning matings, tracking bloodlines, and choosing animals to improve herd or flock quality, which requires good record-keeping and knowledge of animal genetics.

  2. First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

    2-4 years of experience first

    You take charge of a crew or operation, assigning tasks, training workers, and making sure animals and work meet standards, which takes strong leadership and reliability.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take agriculture, animal science, or biology classesThese classes teach how animals are cared for, how diseases spread, and basic farm science that you will use every day.
  • Join FFA or a 4-H clubYouth agriculture groups give you hands-on animal projects, leadership practice, and connections with people in the field.
  • Get a part-time job at a farm, stable, or animal clinicRegular work with animals builds the feeding, handling, and cleaning skills employers look for first.
  • Volunteer with a local animal shelter or livestock showHelping with animal care at events shows you how to handle different animals safely and responsibly.
  • Build a basic safety habitLearn to use farm equipment and handle animals safely by asking experienced workers and following rules, since safety is a big part of this job.

In college

  • Take animal science or livestock management coursesThese courses build knowledge of animal nutrition, health, and handling that helps you move beyond entry-level work.
  • Enroll in a certificate program in livestock or animal careMany community colleges offer short certificates that show employers you have formal training in animal husbandry.
  • Take a summer job or internship on a working farm, ranch, or hatcheryHands-on experience during breaks helps you build the 6 months to 1 year of work background this career usually expects.
  • Join an agricultural or livestock student clubClubs offer networking, leadership practice, and chances to learn from people already working in the field.
  • Learn basic record-keeping and farm softwareBeing comfortable tracking animal health and feeding data sets you apart for supervisor and breeder roles later on.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local farm, ranch, or vet clinic if you can volunteer or work part-time. Real hands-on time is the fastest way to show you can do this job.
  • Learn to keep simple records, like feeding logs or health notes. Employers value workers who can track animal care accurately.
  • Be ready for early starts, weather, and physical work. Showing up on time and being willing to learn matters as much as any class.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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