Career comparison
Farm Labor Contractor vs. Human Resources Specialist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Human resources specialists earn more at the median ($75,940 vs. $58,460), while farm labor contractors usually get to work faster (Years of farm work experience of training). Farm labor contractors recruit and manage seasonal farm crews for growers. Human resources specialists recruit, hire, onboard and support employees while keeping the company compliant.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Farm Labor Contractor | Human Resources Specialist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,460 ($28.11/hr) | $75,940 ($36.51/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,930 – $84,050 | $47,180 – $128,720 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | +6.4% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 100 | 73,700 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Years of farm work experience | 1–4 years |
| Key credential | DOL farm labor contractor registration | SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP |
| Work setting | Contractors work in fields, offices and vehicles.. | HR specialists work in offices across every industry, as well as for staffing and recruiting firms. |
What each job does
Farm Labor Contractor
- Recruit workers
- Schedule crews
- Arrange transportation
- Arrange housing
- Handle payroll
Human Resources Specialist
- Recruit, screen and interview candidates
- Coordinate offers, background checks and onboarding
- Complete Form I-9 and maintain employee records
- Administer benefits enrollment and leave
- Answer employee questions about policies and pay
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people and in-demand. They sit in different fields, agriculture, landscaping & animal care and business & office, but share transferable skills such as leadership and confidentiality.
Which should you choose?
Choose farm labor contractor if…
- I know farm work
- I can lead crews
- I follow rules carefully
Choose human resources specialist if…
- I enjoy helping people and solving workplace problems
- I can keep sensitive information confidential
- I’m fair and level-headed in tense situations
Still torn? Take the Farm Labor Contractor fit quiz and the Human Resources Specialist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, farm labor contractor or human resources specialist?
Human Resources Specialists earn more at the median: $75,940 versus $58,460 for farm labor contractors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Farm Labor Contractors typically train faster (Years of farm work experience) than human resources specialists (1–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects farm labor contractors to grow +7.4% from 2025–35, compared with +6.4% for human resources specialists.