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>Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
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>Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
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.
Education
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
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.
Examples
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
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.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $25K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $27K
Median Salary: $28K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $31K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $37K
Demand
Core Tasks
Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers.
Sow grass seed, or plant plugs of grass.
Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
Regulate greenhouse conditions, and indoor and outdoor irrigation systems.
Cut, roll, and stack sod.
Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease.
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.
Provide information and advice to the public regarding the selection, purchase, and care of products.
Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.
Maintain and repair irrigation and climate control systems.
Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.
Maintain inventory, ordering materials as required.
Record information about plants and plant growth.
Dig, rake, and screen soil, filling cold frames and hot beds in preparation for planting.
Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
Inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality.
Trap and destroy pests, such as moles, gophers, and mice, using pesticides.
Move containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, using wheelbarrows or tractors.
Tie and bunch flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, wrap their roots, and pack them into boxes to fill orders.
Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.
Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping.
Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Production and Processing
50%
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Food Production
48%
Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Administration and Management
47%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service
46%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Transportation
44%
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Personnel and Human Resources
43%
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Public Safety and Security
43%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Biology
42%
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Clerical
41%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Mechanical
41%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Top 10 Skills
Coordination
59%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking
58%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
57%
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.
Monitoring
57%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
57%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
54%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Operation and Control
52%
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring
52%
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Judgment and Decision Making
50%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management
50%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Top 10 Abilities
Multilimb Coordination
65%
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.
Static Strength
65%
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Manual Dexterity
64%
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Trunk Strength
64%
The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
63%
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision
62%
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Speech Recognition
62%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Finger Dexterity
60%
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Information Ordering
60%
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).
Near Vision
60%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Top 10 Work Activities
Handling and Moving Objects
72%
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities
68%
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Getting Information
66%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
64%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
62%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
58%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
54%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Controlling Machines and Processes
53%
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
53%
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
52%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Detailed Work Activities
Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.
Harvest agricultural products.
Operate farming equipment.
Operate irrigation systems.
Maintain forestry, hunting, or agricultural equipment.
Clean equipment or facilities.
Transport animals, crops, or equipment.
Sell agricultural products.
Plant crops, trees, or other plants.
Confer with managers to make operational decisions.
Direct activities of agricultural, forestry, or fishery employees.
Examine characteristics or behavior of living organisms.
Package agricultural products for shipment or further processing.
Evaluate quality of plants or crops.
Advise others on farming or forestry operations, regulations, or equipment.
Build agricultural structures.
Cut trees or logs.
Maintain operational records.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Prepare land for agricultural use.
Sort forestry or agricultural materials.
Capture or kill animals.
Load agricultural or forestry products for shipment.
Perform manual agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural tasks.
Interests
Realistic
100%
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.
Conventional
29%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
19%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
17%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic
15%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social
15%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Dependability
77%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail
76%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
75%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Integrity
73%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Adaptability/Flexibility
71%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Stress Tolerance
66%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Persistence
63%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self Control
63%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Initiative
62%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Independence
61%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Work Values
Support
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships
48%
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.
Achievement
34%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
31%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
29%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
22%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
