Summary Report for:
45-2092.02 - Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; cleaning, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
Sample of reported job titles:
Farm Laborer, Harvester, Orchard Worker, Field Irrigation Worker, Farm Worker, Field Worker, Irrigator, Hired Hand, Hoe Worker, Picker
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
Tasks
- Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
- Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
- Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
- Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
- Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops.
- Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
- Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
- Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
- Clear and maintain irrigation ditches.
- Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
back to top
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Cargo trucks — Grain trucks; Tractor-trailers |
| Harvesters — Corn pickers; Soybean harvesters |
| Haymaking machinery — Hay balers; Hay rakes; Haybines |
| Hex keys — Allen wrenches |
| Irrigation pipes or tubes — Irrigation systems |
| Screwdrivers — Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers |
| Utility knives — Budding knives |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — BCL Landview Systems WinCrop; Farm Works Software Trac |
| Internet browser software — Web browser software |
| Mobile location based services software — Global positioning system GPS software |
back to top
Knowledge
No knowledge met the minimum score.
back to top
Skills
| Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
| Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
| Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
| Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
back to top
Abilities
| Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. |
| Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. |
| Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. |
| Rate Control — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene. |
| Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. |
| Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
| Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
| Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
back to top
Work Activities
| Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
back to top
Work Context
| Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions? |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? |
| Exposed to Contaminants — How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)? |
| Duration of Typical Work Week — Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment — How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.) |
| In an Open Vehicle or Equipment — How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)? |
| Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? |
| Work With Work Group or Team — How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
| Coordinate or Lead Others — How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? |
back to top
Job Zone
| Title |
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed |
| Education |
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. |
| Related Experience |
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before. |
| Job Training |
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job. |
| Job Zone Examples |
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include taxi drivers, amusement and recreation attendants, counter and rental clerks, construction laborers, continuous mining machine operators, and waiters/waitresses. |
| SVP Range |
(Below 4.0) |
back to top
Education
Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Required |
| Not available |
Less than high school diploma |
| Not available |
High school diploma or equivalent |
| Not available |
Bachelor's degree |
back to top
Interests
Interest code: R
| Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. |
back to top
Work Styles
| Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
| Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
| Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
| Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
| Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. |
| Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
| Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical. |
| Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
| Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
back to top
Work Values
| Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
| Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
| Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. |
back to top
Related Occupations
| 35-9021.00 |
Dishwashers 
|
| 37-2011.00 |
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
|
| 37-3011.00 |
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Bright Outlook
|
| 45-2092.01 |
Nursery Workers |
| 45-2093.00 |
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals |
| 45-4021.00 |
Fallers |
| 45-4022.00 |
Logging Equipment Operators |
| 47-3014.00 |
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons |
| 47-5051.00 |
Rock Splitters, Quarry |
| 51-3022.00 |
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers |
back to top
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse.
Employment data collected from Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers.
Industry data collected from Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers.
| Median wages (2012) |
$8.98 hourly, $18,670 annual |
| Employment (2010) |
746,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2010-2020) |
Decline slowly or moderately (-3% to -9%)
|
| Projected job openings (2010-2020) |
227,400 |
| Top industries (2010) |
|
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012 wage data
and 2010-2020 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
back to top
Job Openings on the Web
Find Jobs
for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop
State & National Job Banks
back to top
