Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations: pay, outlook, and education
Official pay, projected growth, openings, and entry requirements for 831 U.S. occupations. Filter, sort, and open any career for state and metro pay, skills, programs, and licenses.
14 occupations. Wages Verified data Growth and openings Official projection
| Occupation | Median wage | Change 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Employment | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers SOC 45-1011 | $59,320 | +3.8% | 7,200 | 57,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Fallers SOC 45-4021 | $52,100 | -9.9% | 500 | 4,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Animal breeders SOC 45-2021 | $51,130 | +3.0% | 1,000 | 6,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Logging workers, all other SOC 45-4029 | $50,840 | -7.6% | 300 | 2,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Agricultural inspectors SOC 45-2011 | $49,940 | +2.3% | 2,500 | 17,800 | Bachelor's degree |
| Logging equipment operators SOC 45-4022 | $49,740 | -3.8% | 3,700 | 29,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Log graders and scalers SOC 45-4023 | $46,330 | -2.2% | 600 | 4,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Forest and conservation workers SOC 45-4011 | $43,680 | -1.5% | 2,200 | 14,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Agricultural equipment operators SOC 45-2091 | $41,730 | +8.6% | 10,100 | 66,900 | No formal educational credential |
| Agricultural workers, all other SOC 45-2099 | $39,850 | +3.8% | 1,300 | 9,300 | No formal educational credential |
| Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals SOC 45-2093 | $36,670 | -3.2% | 26,600 | 202,100 | No formal educational credential |
| Graders and sorters, agricultural products SOC 45-2041 | $35,730 | -3.4% | 5,800 | 45,400 | No formal educational credential |
| Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse SOC 45-2092 | $35,660 | -2.4% | 72,500 | 546,800 | No formal educational credential |
| Fishing and hunting workers SOC 45-3031 | n/a | -4.2% | 3,300 | 28,200 | No formal educational credential |
Employment is from BLS Employment Projections (2025) when OEWS does not publish it. Median wage is the OEWS May 2025 national median annual wage; hourly medians are shown where BLS publishes hourly wages only.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.