Farmworkers, Farm, 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.

What you'd actually do

• Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies.
• Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures.
• Examine animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.
• 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.
• Drive trucks, tractors, and other equipment to distribute feed to animals.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 2.3% of farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on.

Related careers

• Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
• Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
• Agricultural Workers, All Other
• Agricultural Equipment Operators
• Forest and Conservation Workers
• Log Graders and Scalers

Quick questions

How much does a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal make?

The median pay is $17.63 per hour — roughly $36,500 a year, with the real range running from about $13.15/hr (10th percentile) to $26.00/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal?

The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal actually do all day?

Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies. Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures. Examine animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.