I tend the land of various areas that Refresh Appalachia has leased. I have to haul goats, chickens, pigs, honeybees,, soil, and a variety of plants. My goal is to make the land workable and viable. When I'm not tending to the land and the livestock, I'm in the classroom. I've been studying agricultural science along with business management and business law and just recently graduated with my associate's degree. I also take classes on personal development.
CAREER
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$28,660
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+3.8% (slower than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Do
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, 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; or cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
Other Job Titles Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse May Have
Farm Laborer, Field Irrigation Worker, Gardener, Greenhouse Worker, Grower, Harvester, Nursery Worker, Orchard Worker, Picker, Propagation Worker
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
- Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
- Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
- Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
- Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Less than high school diploma (50%)
Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Have an interest in and knowledge of gardening or other agricultural work. Of a working knowledge of a variety of tools. Perseverance is also an important life skill. You have to learn to accept change and adapt as you go. You gotta have the three G's: grit, gumption, and grace.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Everyone
Look for programs and people that can help you find new opportunities. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't let the fear of starting something new hold you back. Push past the fear.
Grow something. Learn how to grow a plant or crop. I got started by trying to grow tomatoes in a community garden before deciding to pursue an education in plant science and agriculture.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
