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How to hire a Farm Operator

Farm operator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring farm operators in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a farm operator is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per farm operator on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 4,835 farm operators in the US and 31,163 job openings.
  • Eagle River, WI, has the highest demand for farm operators, with 7 job openings.
  • Austin, TX has the highest concentration of farm operators.

How to hire a farm operator, step by step

To hire a farm operator, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a farm operator, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step farm operator 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 operator job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new farm operator
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Farm Operator do?

Farm operators make day-to-day management decisions on farms. An operator could be the owner, the manager, a cash tenant, a share tenant, or a partner. Farm operators must not only be excellent at growing crops and raising animals, but also at handling finances. They are responsible for operating farm equipment, providing maintenance, managing budgets, and creating business plans.

Learn more about the specifics of what a farm operator does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the farm operator you need to hire. Certain farm operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect farm operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    Here's a comparison of farm operator salaries for various roles:

    Type Of Farm OperatorDescriptionHourly Rate
    Farm OperatorAgricultural 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.$7-25
    Farm LabourAlso called agricultural workers, farm laborers are people who inspect and harvest crops. The workers irrigate soil on the farm and maintain their pumps, pipes, or ditches... Show More$10-15
    Farm WorkerA farmworker is responsible for applying fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides to crops and livestock. You will operate agricultural machinery under the direction of a rancher, farmer, or an agricultural manager... Show More$10-15
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Log Entries
    • Storage Tanks
    • CDL
    • Harvest
    • Diesel Fuel
    • Farm Machinery
    • Crop Production
    • Fuel Farm
    • Mowing
    • General Maintenance
    • Mechanical Equipment
    • Drive Trucks
    • Farm Operations
    • Harvesters
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage all financial and payroll each week.
    • Lead farm tours and help organize CSA member events.
    • Manage daily health care and feed rations for livestock (sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens).
    • Conduct routine maintenance and emergency repair of harvesters.
    • Collect samples daily to ensure products are ISO approve.
    • Supervise all levels of business from beginning of harvest to delivery.
    More Farm Operator duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the farm operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A farm operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a farm operator in Florida may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level farm operator. Additionally, a farm operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average farm operator salary

    $14.59hourly

    $30,339 yearly

    Entry-level farm operator salary
    $16,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 10, 2025

    Average farm operator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1New York$38,932$19
    2Ohio$31,137$15
    3Wisconsin$29,443$14
    4Pennsylvania$29,343$14
    5Utah$29,124$14
    6California$28,783$14
    7Illinois$28,557$14
    8Oklahoma$27,005$13
    9Maryland$26,146$13
    10Indiana$25,929$12
    11Arizona$25,119$12
    12Colorado$24,656$12
    13Florida$23,238$11
    14New Mexico$22,896$11
    15Texas$22,090$11
    16Louisiana$17,891$9

    Average farm operator salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
    1Boehringer Ingelheim$136,704$65.722
    2Anheuser-Busch$43,334$20.8333
    3Smithfield Foods$31,672$15.234
    4Menzies Aviation$31,603$15.1928
    5Sigma$27,360$13.151
    6Swissport Holdings Inc$26,918$12.94
    7Belflex Staffing Network$26,782$12.88
    8GROWMARK$26,502$12.7451
    9Rbscc$26,439$12.71
  4. Writing a Farm Operator Job Description

    A farm operator 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 operator job description:

    Farm Operator job description example

    · 401(k) with Match

    · Tuition Reimbursement

    · Medical, dental, vision benefits

    · Career growth

    Responsible for the maintenance and repair on tank farms, for the care and upkeep of all outside areas on tank farms and for interfacing with delivery drivers and airline customers.

    Job Responsibilities

    • Accept petroleum products into all storage facilities in accordance with ATA 103 established procedures and quality controls
    • Train new employees as directed by supervisors
    • Ensure quality control of fuel and facility inspections
    • Maintain Fuel inventories
    • Perform periodic and scheduled inspections of equipment per the GPPM
    • Perform and assist mechanics for repairing and maintenance necessary to prevent functional breakdowns
    • Assist with calibration of equipment
    • Work on loading racks and fuel storage equipment
    • Update records and inspection forms
    • Complete paperwork as instructed by Supervisors
    • Inspect equipment and document, report discrepancies
    • Perform quality control of fuel in accordance with ASTM and ATA standards
    • Assist with clean up of fuel spills
    • Clean and maintain the work area
    • Perform other duties as requested by your immediate Supervisor

    Qualifications and Competencies

    • High School Diploma or equivalent
    • Valid driver’s license and pass a color blindness test
    • Good communication skills
    • Pass the Tank Farm Operator math skills test
    • Must be able to follow and adhere to all Swissport policies and procedures as well as those directed by the station
    • Be able to climb stairs and work at elevations as well as perform physical requirements
    • Ability to respond to and work in emergency conditions as required and to work mandatory overtime as required
    • Be able to work in all weather conditions

    Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

    Swissport as an equal opportunity employer bases its hiring decisions on the business need and the best qualified candidates available, and does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of any protected category. Candidates who are offered employment may be subject to a criminal record and other background checks as permitted or required by company policy or applicable law.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right farm operator 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 operator job on Zippia to find and attract quality farm operator candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as ag hires, farm job, farming work , joe produce, picking jobs.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with farm operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    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 operator

    Once you've selected the best farm operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new farm operator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  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.)
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How much does it cost to hire a farm operator?

Hiring a farm operator comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting farm operators involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of farm operator recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $30,339 per year for a farm operator, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for farm operators in the US typically range between $7 and $25 an hour.

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