Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $37,630 ≈ $18/hr
National median salary $35,660
Total employment 265,500 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth -3.3%
Decline
Annual openings 71,700 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 504,800 → 488,100 (-16,800)
Typical entry education No formal educational credential
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Georgia$32,710
- Louisiana$32,740
- New Mexico$32,830
- Tennessee$32,870
- Utah$33,000
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $51,250 | $55,180 | $25 | +36.2% | 50 |
| 2 | Alaska | $44,500 | $36,780 | $21 | +18.3% | 120 |
| 3 | Maine | $44,160 | $39,060 | $21 | +17.4% | 280 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $42,430 | $39,530 | $20 | +12.8% | 440 |
| 5 | Illinois | $42,040 | $41,050 | $20 | +11.7% | 2,850 |
| 6 | New York | $42,030 | $40,930 | $20 | +11.7% | 2,760 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $41,480 | $38,220 | $20 | +10.2% | 1,340 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $41,310 | $42,260 | $20 | +9.8% | 190 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $41,010 | $37,540 | $20 | +9% | 230 |
| 10 | Colorado | $40,890 | $38,170 | $20 | +8.7% | 2,450 |
| 11 | Montana | $40,710 | $41,390 | $20 | +8.2% | 720 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $40,450 | $37,710 | $19 | +7.5% | 2,430 |
| 13 | Washington | $40,400 | $39,170 | $19 | +7.4% | 13,490 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $40,090 | $36,950 | $19 | +6.5% | 460 |
| 15 | Maryland | $39,840 | $38,420 | $19 | +5.9% | 1,380 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $39,730 | $36,990 | $19 | +5.6% | 700 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $39,650 | $38,080 | $19 | +5.4% | 1,200 |
| 18 | Vermont | $39,400 | $35,170 | $19 | +4.7% | 220 |
| 19 | Ohio | $38,760 | $37,470 | $19 | +3% | 1,990 |
| 20 | Indiana | $38,680 | $36,980 | $19 | +2.8% | 910 |
| 21 | Michigan | $38,460 | $38,680 | $18 | +2.2% | 5,410 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $38,330 | $37,010 | $18 | +1.9% | 2,940 |
| 23 | California | $37,860 | $35,580 | $18 | +0.6% | 172,260 |
| 24 | Kansas | $37,470 | $37,020 | $18 | -0.4% | 900 |
| 25 | Iowa | $37,460 | $37,590 | $18 | -0.5% | 930 |
| 26 | Virginia | $37,120 | $35,580 | $18 | -1.4% | 1,590 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $36,940 | $35,920 | $18 | -1.8% | 220 |
| 28 | Missouri | $36,920 | $36,280 | $18 | -1.9% | 2,600 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $36,780 | $35,110 | $18 | -2.3% | 680 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $36,680 | $35,360 | $18 | -2.5% | 1,490 |
| 31 | Oregon | $35,500 | $34,070 | $17 | -5.7% | 6,780 |
| 32 | Idaho | $35,400 | $34,470 | $17 | -5.9% | 2,420 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $34,970 | $33,050 | $17 | -7.1% | 510 |
| 34 | Arizona | $34,820 | $35,080 | $17 | -7.5% | 7,110 |
| 35 | Delaware | $34,570 | $33,090 | $17 | -8.1% | 220 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $34,340 | $33,870 | $17 | -8.7% | 2,510 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $34,330 | $33,090 | $17 | -8.8% | 1,080 |
| 38 | Nevada | $34,120 | $33,280 | $16 | -9.3% | 660 |
| 39 | Alabama | $33,900 | $33,870 | $16 | -9.9% | 740 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $33,840 | $31,050 | $16 | -10.1% | 100 |
| 41 | Florida | $33,630 | $30,640 | $16 | -10.6% | 9,180 |
| 42 | Texas | $33,520 | $32,840 | $16 | -10.9% | 4,290 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $33,490 | $31,080 | $16 | -11% | 60 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $33,450 | $30,250 | $16 | -11.1% | 300 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $33,070 | $32,970 | $16 | -12.1% | 390 |
| 46 | Utah | $33,000 | $33,490 | $16 | -12.3% | 670 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $32,870 | $31,020 | $16 | -12.6% | 1,080 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $32,830 | $31,150 | $16 | -12.8% | 1,960 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,740 | $33,260 | $16 | -13% | 570 |
| 50 | Georgia | $32,710 | $30,300 | $16 | -13.1% | 1,610 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 342 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $48,390 | $44,830 | 130 |
| 2 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,210 | $51,410 | 60 |
| 3 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $47,280 | $41,320 | 100 |
| 4 | Bloomington, IL | $47,210 | $44,150 | 40 |
| 5 | Helena, MT | $46,610 | $45,240 | 60 |
| 6 | Lincoln, NE | $45,280 | $47,200 | 60 |
| 7 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $45,210 | $43,250 | 70 |
| 8 | Bozeman, MT | $45,150 | $44,720 | 150 |
| 9 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $44,890 | $44,030 | 290 |
| 10 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $44,730 | $43,860 | 180 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,660 | $49,980 | 850 |
| 2 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $48,760 | $49,070 | 960 |
| 3 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $48,760 | $49,070 | 960 |
| 4 | Animal Food Manufacturing | $47,540 | $47,050 | 60 |
| 5 | Civic and Social Organizations | $46,900 | $49,030 | — |
| 6 | Ambulatory Health Care Services | $46,450 | $45,860 | — |
| 7 | Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $46,200 | $42,400 | 100 |
| 8 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $46,160 | $47,640 | 1,080 |
| 9 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $46,070 | $46,180 | 1,640 |
| 10 | Educational Services, State Government Owned | $45,620 | $43,630 | 450 |
| 11 | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $45,480 | $40,940 | — |
| 12 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, State Government Owned | $45,270 | $43,610 | 420 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse make in the U.S.?
The median farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse salary in the United States is $35,660 per year (mean $37,630), and about 80% earn between $32,900 and $45,690.
How much do farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse make per hour?
Roughly $18 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $37,630 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse the most?
Wyoming has the highest average pay for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse at $51,250 per year (median $55,180).
What is the job outlook for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse?
Employment is projected to change -3.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 71,700 openings per year.