Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in Massachusetts
Considering working as a Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse in Massachusetts? 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 Massachusetts?
The farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse working in Massachusetts, wages run about $40,370 per year (or about $19.41/hour).Annual wages span from $35,800 at the 10th percentile to $60,400 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| 25th percentile | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Median (50th) | $40,370 | $19.41 |
| 75th percentile | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| 90th percentile | $60,400 | $29.04 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Massachusetts compared to the national average — is 0.21, suggesting fewer farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse per worker 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), higher than the Massachusetts median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 72,906 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse in the U.S.. In Massachusetts alone, about 1,270 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,170 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse.
Top Massachusetts Metros for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
These are the Massachusetts metros with the most farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse in Massachusetts.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 820 | $40,530 |
| Springfield, MA | 80 | $37,570 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 60 | $39,120 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 50 | $38,490 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 50 | $44,100 |
Top States for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Employment
The table below shows the states where 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
Where farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse earn the most: 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
Top farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
Related Careers
Other careers like 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