Career comparison
Farm Manager vs. Farmworker
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Farm managers earn more at the median ($89,900 vs. $35,660), while farmworkers usually get to work faster (Days to weeks of training). Farm managers run farms and ranches, from planting and livestock to budgets and sales. Farmworkers plant, tend and harvest crops in fields, orchards, nurseries and greenhouses.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Farm Manager | Farmworker | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $89,900 ($43.22/hr) | $35,660 ($17.15/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $54,320 – $160,020 | $32,900 – $45,690 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -3.4% (a projected decline) | -2.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 70,800 | 72,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 5+ years of farm experience | Days to weeks |
| Key credential | Private pesticide applicator license | Worker Protection Standard training |
| Work setting | Farm managers work outdoors in fields and barns and in farm offices, in all weather.. | Farmworkers work outdoors in fields and orchards, or in greenhouses and nurseries, often in heat.. |
What each job does
Farm Manager
- Plan crop and livestock production
- Manage planting, harvesting and animal care
- Hire and supervise workers
- Maintain equipment and facilities
- Manage budgets, loans and insurance
Farmworker
- Plant seeds and transplants
- Weed and cultivate crops
- Irrigate fields and greenhouses
- Prune and train plants
- Harvest crops
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, hands-on work, physical work, and in-demand. Both are part of the agriculture, landscaping & animal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose farm manager if…
- I love land and animals
- I want to run my own business
- I can handle risk
Choose farmworker if…
- I like working outdoors
- I don’t mind hard physical work
- I want to start right away
Still torn? Take the Farm Manager fit quiz and the Farmworker fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, farm manager or farmworker?
Farm Managers earn more at the median: $89,900 versus $35,660 for farmworkers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Farmworkers typically train faster (Days to weeks) than farm managers (5+ years of farm experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects farmworkers to grow -2.4% from 2025–35, compared with -3.4% for farm managers.