Hiring guide · Agriculture, Landscaping & Animal Care
How to Hire a Farmworker
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring farmworkers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $35,660), recruit through agricultural, horticulture and veterinary technology programs, verify Worker Protection Standard training where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for farmworkers
There are about 546,800 farmworkers employed in the U.S., with roughly 72,500 openings each year. Employment is projected to change -2.4% from 2025–35 (a projected decline). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $32,900–$34,320 | $15.82–$16.50 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $45,690 | $21.97 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- No formal educational credential (typical entry level)
- Planting and harvesting
- Stamina
Nice-to-haves
- Worker Protection Standard training
- Heat illness prevention training
- Forklift training
- Experience with hand tools such as hoes and pruners
Where to find farmworkers
- Agricultural, horticulture and veterinary technology programs
- FFA, 4-H and community college networks
- Seasonal worker programs and labor contractors
- Referrals from current crew members
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Farm Laborer, Crop Worker, Nursery Worker, Greenhouse Worker
Screening checklist
- Driver’s license and CDL where hauling is required
- Pesticide applicator license or certification where required
- Practical equipment or animal-handling check
- Physical ability to work outdoors and lift as required
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Have you done farm work?”
What a strong answer includes: Share experience.
2. “Can you work in the heat?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
3. “How do you stay safe outdoors?”
What a strong answer includes: Mention water and breaks.
4. “Can you start early?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
5. “Do you work well on a team?”
What a strong answer includes: Give examples.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Harvest Produce Safely and Gently (see the steps)
- Prevent Heat Illness (see the steps)
- Follow Pesticide Safety Rules (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Transplant, Cultivation, Irrigation
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Farmworker 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Farmworker training. Show them the path forward: Farmworker → Experienced Worker → Crew Leader → Farm Supervisor or Manager.
Hiring farmworkers: FAQ
How much should I pay a farmworker?
The U.S. median wage for farmworkers is $35,660 per year ($17.15/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($34,320), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($38,840). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a farmworker have?
BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Worker Protection Standard training and Heat illness prevention training where relevant, plus skills such as planting and harvesting, pruning, and irrigation.
How long does it take to train a new farmworker?
Becoming qualified typically takes Days to weeks. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “short-term on-the-job training.”