Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Days are spent in fields, nurseries, or greenhouses planting, weeding, thinning, pruning, and picking fruits, vegetables, and other crops with shovels, hoes, shears, and knives. Workers transplant and pot plants, set up irrigation, apply fertilizers or pesticides, and then inspect, grade, sort, and pack what they harvest. Some keep records of yields, costs, or pesticide use, tell farm managers how crops are doing, and watch over casual or seasonal crews at peak times. Repairing fences, farm buildings, or basic equipment can also fall in. Fits those who prefer hands-on plant work with simple tools and keeping managers or seasonal crews informed.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$35'660
Median Wage Market Position
$35'660
What you might do
- Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand
- Transplant seedlings, then pot and label them
- Weed, thin, and prune growing plants
- Set up and run irrigation equipment
- Grade, sort, and pack harvested produce
- Record yields, pesticide use, and crop costs
Skills that matter
- Harvesting fruits and vegetables by hand
- Direction of seasonal field crews
- Written records of yields and pesticide use
- Updates to farmers on crop progress
- Setup and operation of irrigation
- Repair of farm vehicles and implements
AI & the future of this role
Planting, pruning, and harvesting across varied crops and outdoor conditions still favor flexible human labor over brittle robots. Some greenhouse and packing tasks may automate further, but irregular produce and seasonal fieldwork tend to keep hands-on skills in demand.
Does Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse fit your values?
Take the free LostInCareer assessment to see personalized matches based on your core values—not just a personality label.
Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details