Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in California
Considering working as a Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in California? Here’s what you need to know. 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 “Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation” (37-3012), “Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products” (45-2041), and “Forest, Conservation, and Logging Workers” (45-4011 through 45-4029).
What do Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Make in California?
For farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse working in California, the typical annual salary is $35,770 per year (or about $17.20/hour).Pay can range from $33,980 at the 10th percentile to $45,700 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,980 | $16.34 |
| 25th percentile | $34,770 | $16.72 |
| Median (50th) | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| 75th percentile | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| 90th percentile | $45,700 | $21.97 |
The job concentration index in California compared to the national average — is 5.72, suggesting that farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse earn a median of $31,937 per year ($15.35/hour), exceeding the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 72,906 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse nationwide. In California alone, about 175,340 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 1,170 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse.
Top California Metros for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
The metro areas below employ the most farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 34,210 | $35,090 |
| Salinas, CA | 28,120 | $37,380 |
| Fresno, CA | 27,680 | $34,790 |
| Visalia, CA | 21,750 | $35,050 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 11,720 | $36,720 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 4,990 | $36,350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 4,810 | $35,830 |
| Modesto, CA | 4,620 | $38,750 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,270 | $35,150 |
| Merced, CA | 3,830 | $35,410 |
| Napa, CA | 3,680 | $44,680 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 3,330 | $37,010 |
| El Centro, CA | 3,300 | $36,400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3,180 | $36,720 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 2,790 | $35,720 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 2,480 | $43,670 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,170 | $38,340 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,520 | $36,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 980 | $44,150 |
| Yuba City, CA | 920 | $35,760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 840 | $43,820 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 440 | $37,500 |
| Chico, CA | 430 | $35,490 |
| Vallejo, CA | 160 | $39,720 |
| Redding, CA | 70 | $38,780 |
Top States for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Employment
View the states that employ the most farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 175,340 |
| Florida | 9,640 |
| Washington | 7,280 |
| Oregon | 6,980 |
| Arizona | 5,720 |
| Texas | 4,470 |
| Michigan | 3,680 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,660 |
| New Jersey | 3,460 |
| North Carolina | 2,980 |
| Colorado | 2,730 |
| New York | 2,570 |
| Georgia | 2,440 |
| Illinois | 2,410 |
| Ohio | 2,290 |
| Idaho | 2,070 |
| Tennessee | 1,700 |
| New Mexico | 1,670 |
| Missouri | 1,660 |
| Maryland | 1,630 |
Highest-Paying States for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
The highest-paying states for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $44,760 |
| Nebraska | $43,980 |
| Maine | $43,870 |
| Montana | $41,840 |
| District of Columbia | $41,610 |
| Illinois | $40,400 |
| Massachusetts | $40,370 |
| New York | $39,370 |
| Minnesota | $38,900 |
| Colorado | $38,870 |
Skills
Key farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse typically:
- Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
- Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
- Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
- Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
- Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
- Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
- Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
- Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
- Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
- Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
- Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.
- Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping.
Work Activities
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
Related Careers
Related occupations to farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse include:
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Soil and Plant Scientists
- Agricultural Technicians
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Also Known As
Agriculture Laborer, Agriculture Worker, Apple Picker, Apple Thinner, Apple Turner, Asparagus Cutter, Bale Sewer, Baller, Bean Picker, Beet Topper, Beet Worker, Berry Picker, Berry Planter, Berry and Nut Harvester, Bog Worker.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 45-2092.00
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