How to hire a farm labour

How to hire a farm labour, step by step

Here's a step-by-step farm labour hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a farm labour job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new farm labour
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a farm labour do?

Post a farm labour job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a farm labour, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A farm labour's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, farm labours from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of farm labours and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Farm Labour	Description	Hourly rate
   Farm Labour	Agricultural workers maintain the quality of farms, crops, and livestock by operating machinery and doing physical labor under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.	$10-15
   Rider	A rider's job is to maintain a specific route or area to collect or deliver packages. They often used bicycles or motorcycles to perform their duties... Show more	$11-51
   Wrangler	A wrangler has different responsibilities according to their place or industry of employment. There are wranglers who specialize in handling and training various animals such as horses, dogs, cattle, and even snakes... Show more	$8-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Harvest
   • Cleanliness
   • Farm Machinery
   • Farm Work
   • Drive Tractor
   • Mowing
   • Beef Cattle
   • CDL
   • Milking
   • Livestock Care
   • Physical Labor
   • Manual Labor
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Skid Loader

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and oversee the day-to-day running of farms raising poultry or pigs for the production of meat and breeding stock.
   • Perform duties in farrowing unit, relocate sows, immunize and care for newborn pigs.
   • Job are to keep the farm up, mowing, weed eating, put fertilizer down.
   • Used hand tools including shovels, rakes, pruning saws, hedge and brush trimmers and axes.
   • Carry out daily milking, feeding, and field operations, twice per day, for the care of dairy livestock
   • Milk cows, landscaping, field work, lawn mowing, bailing hay, and anything else done on a farm.

   More farm labour duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your farm labour job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A farm labour can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, farm labours' average salary in north carolina is 48% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level farm labours 36% less than senior-level farm labours.
   • Certifications. A farm labour with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a farm labour's salary.

   Average farm labour salary

   $12.85hourly

   $26,720 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level farm labour salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average farm labour salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$31,345	$15
   2	Arizona	$25,992	$13
   3	Florida	$24,776	$12

   Average farm labour salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cargill	$36,448	$17.52
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$36,446	$17.52
   3	General Mills	$31,659	$15.22	1
   4	University of Wisconsin System	$31,382	$15.09
   5	Apple	$31,206	$15.00
   6	Tyson Foods	$31,026	$14.92	36
   7	AVANCE	$29,453	$14.16
   8	The Wonderful Company	$28,869	$13.88
   9	BlackBerry	$28,741	$13.82
   10	A & R Construction	$28,485	$13.69
   11	Belcan	$28,236	$13.57
   12	Forest View Nursing Home	$28,112	$13.52
   13	West Hills College Lemoore	$28,023	$13.47	1
   14	B&W Quality Growers	$27,848	$13.39
   15	Morgan	$27,774	$13.35	8
   16	Taylor Corporation	$27,737	$13.34
   17	Harman International	$27,649	$13.29
   18	IES	$27,468	$13.21
   19	PeopleReady	$27,456	$13.20	630
   20	Lambs Farm	$27,449	$13.20

4. Writing a farm labour job description

   A farm labour job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a farm labour job description:

   Farm labour job description example

   NOTE: THIS IS A REPOSTING OF N-2022-25396 WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY OPEN FROM JULY 11, 2022 TO JULY 25, 2022. PREVIOUS APPLICANTS DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY.
   
   The Department of Agriculture, PA Farm Show and Expo Center, is looking for candidates for Temporary, Full-Time Laborers to support upcoming shows. As part of the Farm Show staff, you will assist in the operation and maintenance of the 24-acre building in Harrisburg, the one-of-a-kind Pennsylvania Farm Show!
   
   Duties of a Farm Show Laborer Employee are many and varied. It is difficult to apply a degree of importance to the different tasks because all jobs performed contribute to the completeness and efficiency of operation at the Farm Show Complex. Will be responsible to help setup, maintain and teardown for the various types of events held at the complex. Maintain complex grounds and facility buildings with regards to trash and custodial functions, general maintenance, meeting and banquet setups, grounds keeping and snow removal.
   Work Schedule and Additional Information:
   
   * Full-time employment.
   * Work hours:
   * 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Thursday-Monday
   * 2:30 pm to 11:00 pm, Thursday-Monday
   * 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday-Friday
   
   * This position is temporary, full-time without benefits. 40 hours a week.
   
   * Hours increased to meet show needs. Shift hours change, mandatory and holiday overtime work required to maintain 24/7 operational needs.
   * ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE - REQUIRED TO REPORT TO WORK DURING EMERGENCIES AND OFFICE CLOSINGS.
   * Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
   * You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
   
   * No previous experience or training required.
   
   Additional Requirements:
   
   * You must be able to perform essential job functions.
   
   How to Apply:
   
   * Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
   * Your application must include a cover letter and resume. (if requested on the JPF)
   * Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
   
   Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
   
   * 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).
   
   The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right farm labour for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your farm labour job on Zippia to find and recruit farm labour candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as ag hires, farm job, farming work , joe produce, picking jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit farm labours, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new farm labour

   Once you've found the farm labour candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new farm labour first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a farm labour?