Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
SOC 45-2092 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse is $34,470, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $36,140, and an estimated 258,730 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +20.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +2.2% after inflation. BLS projects employment will shrink 3.3% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $34,470 | $34,470 | 258,730 |
| 2022 | $33,000 | $34,358 | 284,000 |
| 2021 | $29,630 | $33,319 | 277,200 |
| 2020 | $28,660 | $33,742 | 293,910 |
Nominal change
+20.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+2.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-3.3%
Declining
Employment 2024
504,800
Projected 2034
488,100
Annual Openings
71,700
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $34,470. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $44,060 | +27.8% | 100 |
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $43,370 | +25.8% | 180 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $42,100 | +22.1% | 120 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $41,110 | +19.3% | 130 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $41,110 | +19.3% | 130 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $40,370 | +17.1% | 90 |
| Vermont | $40,160 | +16.5% | 140 |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,650 | +15% | 130 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $39,500 | +14.6% | 150 |
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $39,330 | +14.1% | 90 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$30,590
25th Pct
$32,980
Median
$34,470
75th Pct
$37,010
90th Pct
$44,010
Related Occupations in Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Farming, Fishing & Forestry occupations →