Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Farmworkers and laborers in crop, nursery, and greenhouse settings manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, and field crops. They use hand tools like shovels, hoes, pruning shears, and knives to perform tasks including tilling soil, applying fertilizers, weeding, and thinning plants. This work takes place on farms, in nurseries, and in greenhouses across the country.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
A typical week involves repetitive physical work outdoors or in controlled greenhouse environments. Farmworkers might spend mornings tilling soil and transplanting seedlings, afternoons weeding and pruning crops, and other days harvesting ripe produce by hand. Tasks follow seasonal cycles and weather patterns. Work often requires standing, bending, and lifting throughout long shifts, with pace and priorities determined by crop needs and growing conditions rather than by a set routine.
Who this work suits
Holland code RCE. Realistic work is hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You tend to prefer hands-on work with concrete, visible results and prefer working according to established procedures and standards. You're reliable and detail-oriented, comfortable with repetitive tasks and physical labor, and you work well when expectations are clear and straightforward.
What it takes
Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training). Most people in this occupation hold a high school diploma.
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $47,060 | $55,180 | $57,050 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $35,930 | $42,260 | $47,290 | 190 |
| Montana | $33,280 | $41,390 | $47,150 | 720 |
| Illinois | $35,920 | $41,050 | $46,760 | 2,850 |
| New York | $36,240 | $40,930 | $45,640 | 2,760 |
| Nebraska | $35,200 | $39,530 | $45,330 | 440 |
| Washington | $36,470 | $39,170 | $42,650 | 13,490 |
| Maine | $36,610 | $39,060 | $47,990 | 280 |
| Michigan | $34,490 | $38,680 | $42,290 | 5,410 |
| Maryland | $35,900 | $38,420 | $43,110 | 1,380 |
| Massachusetts | $36,310 | $38,220 | $44,670 | 1,340 |
| Colorado | $34,950 | $38,170 | $43,930 | 2,450 |
All 50 states
Certifications people in this field hold
- Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) — Irrigation Association
- Associate Professional Horticulturist (APH) — American Society for Horticultural Science
- Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist — International Society of Arboriculture
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 45-2092.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.