Career comparison
Farmworker vs. Landscaper
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Landscapers earn more at the median ($39,150 vs. $35,660), while farmworkers usually get to work faster (Days to weeks of training). Farmworkers plant, tend and harvest crops in fields, orchards, nurseries and greenhouses. Landscapers plant, mow, trim and care for lawns, gardens and outdoor spaces.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Farmworker | Landscaper | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,660 ($17.15/hr) | $39,150 ($18.82/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $32,900 – $45,690 | $31,150 – $56,730 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -2.4% (a projected decline) | +4.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 72,500 | 149,500 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | Days to weeks | 1–4 weeks |
| Key credential | Worker Protection Standard training | NALP Landscape Industry Certified Technician |
| Work setting | Farmworkers work outdoors in fields and orchards, or in greenhouses and nurseries, often in heat.. | Landscapers work outdoors in heat, cold and rain, using power equipment and lifting heavy materials.. |
What each job does
Farmworker
- Plant seeds and transplants
- Weed and cultivate crops
- Irrigate fields and greenhouses
- Prune and train plants
- Harvest crops
Landscaper
- Mow, edge and trim lawns
- Plant trees, shrubs and flowers
- Spread mulch and install sod
- Prune shrubs and small trees
- Install and repair irrigation
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, physical work, hands-on work, and teamwork. Both are part of the agriculture, landscaping & animal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose farmworker if…
- I like working outdoors
- I don’t mind hard physical work
- I want to start right away
Choose landscaper if…
- I love being outdoors
- I don’t mind hard work
- I want to start right away
Still torn? Take the Farmworker fit quiz and the Landscaper fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, farmworker or landscaper?
Landscapers earn more at the median: $39,150 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 landscapers (1–4 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects landscapers to grow +4.7% from 2025–35, compared with -2.4% for farmworkers.