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Horse wrangler vs ranch hand

The differences between horse wranglers and ranch hands can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a horse wrangler has an average salary of $40,663, which is higher than the $27,569 average annual salary of a ranch hand.

The top three skills for a horse wrangler include horse care, CPR and medical care. The most important skills for a ranch hand are harvest, farm work, and farm machinery.

Horse wrangler vs ranch hand overview

Horse WranglerRanch Hand
Yearly salary$40,663$27,569
Hourly rate$19.55$13.25
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs864,309
Job satisfaction-1
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Horse wrangler vs ranch hand salary

Horse wranglers and ranch hands have different pay scales, as shown below.

Horse WranglerRanch Hand
Average salary$40,663$27,569
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $83,000Between $21,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City-Petersburg, ND
Highest paying state-North Dakota
Best paying company-Williams International
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between horse wrangler and ranch hand education

There are a few differences between a horse wrangler and a ranch hand in terms of educational background:

Horse WranglerRanch Hand
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Horse wrangler vs ranch hand demographics

Here are the differences between horse wranglers' and ranch hands' demographics:

Horse WranglerRanch Hand
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 29.7% Female, 70.3%Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.5% Asian, 1.9% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 26.8% Asian, 1.8% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between horse wrangler and ranch hand duties and responsibilities

Horse wrangler example responsibilities.

  • Instruct multiple rodeo camps and lead bible studies weekly.
  • Water and bridle horses to prepare for trail rides, ensuring proper fit of all tack before sending the horse out.
  • Attend to the needs of day-camp children while guiding trail rides for children with disabilities and allergies.

Ranch hand example responsibilities.

  • Manage habitat, predators, whitetail and several species of exotic animals.
  • Assist with lessons and summer camps which include helping riders groom, tack up and mount.
  • Relocate wheel line sprinklers used to irrigate crops.
  • Halter training fillies and colts, handling mares, studs and foals
  • Operate a backhoe to dig dirt and move large oil field equipment.
  • Clean livestock stalls and sheds using disinfectant solutions, brushes, and shovels.
  • Show more

Horse wrangler vs ranch hand skills

Common horse wrangler skills
  • Horse Care, 48%
  • CPR, 19%
  • Medical Care, 12%
  • at-Risk Youth, 11%
  • General Care, 10%
Common ranch hand skills
  • Harvest, 15%
  • Farm Work, 12%
  • Farm Machinery, 9%
  • Physical Characteristics, 7%
  • Cattle Ranch, 6%
  • Farm Animals, 4%

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