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How to hire a livestock yard attendant

Livestock yard attendant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring livestock yard attendants in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a livestock yard attendant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new livestock yard attendant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a livestock yard attendant, step by step

To hire a livestock yard attendant, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a livestock yard attendant:

Here's a step-by-step livestock yard attendant hiring guide:

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

    Before you start hiring a livestock yard attendant, 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a livestock yard attendant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a livestock yard attendant that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of livestock yard attendant salaries for various roles:

    Type of Livestock Yard AttendantDescriptionHourly rate
    Livestock Yard AttendantAgricultural 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.$12-21
    GroomA groom is primarily in charge of maintaining the hygiene and appearance of pets. Typically working at grooming shops, a groom liaises with pet owners to identify their preferences, observe the pet's condition to identify its needs, and explain the extent of procedures to pet owners... Show more$10-20
    WranglerA 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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Light Maintenance
    • Rental Equipment
    • Construction Equipment
    • CDL
    • Customer Service
    • General Maintenance
    • Mowing
    • Building Materials
    • Unload Trucks
    • End Loaders
    • Customer Orders
    • RAN
    • Forks
    • Snow Removal
    Responsibilities:
    • Wash dishes, maintain appearance of facilities, prep for cooking, run the some cooking equipment.
    • Assist in cutting grass, trimming hedges, pulling weeds, planting flowers, applying chemicals to kill weeds.
    • Operate self-propelled riding equipment such as trucks, utility vehicles and mechanical rakes.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your livestock yard attendant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A livestock yard attendant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a livestock yard attendant in Texas may be lower than in Vermont, and an entry-level livestock yard attendant usually earns less than a senior-level livestock yard attendant. Additionally, a livestock yard attendant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average livestock yard attendant salary

    $16.21hourly

    $33,717 yearly

    Entry-level livestock yard attendant salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 5, 2025

    Average livestock yard attendant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$39,039$19
    2Pennsylvania$37,798$18
    3Washington$36,947$18
    4California$36,086$17
    5Ohio$35,444$17
    6Kansas$34,890$17
    7Idaho$33,188$16
    8Missouri$31,742$15
    9Indiana$31,484$15
    10Iowa$29,880$14
    11Texas$27,254$13
    12Arizona$26,478$13
    13Minnesota$26,296$13
    14North Carolina$25,488$12
    15Florida$25,169$12
    16Louisiana$23,194$11

    Average livestock yard attendant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Ryder System$39,824$19.1540
    2Cabela's$37,972$18.26
    3IAA Credit Union$37,732$18.14
    4Bobcat Company$36,844$17.712
    5Bass Pro Shops$36,141$17.384
    6G4s Secure Solutions International Inc.$35,924$17.27
    7G4S$35,310$16.98
    8Dot Foods$35,125$16.89
    9Cleveland Brothers$34,543$16.619
    10Carolina Cat$32,629$15.69
    11Hammond Lumber$32,610$15.68
    12Delaware North$32,490$15.6228
    13Cashman Equipment$32,338$15.55
    14Aerotek$32,070$15.427
    15Western Equipment Co$31,760$15.271
    16Custom Truck One Source$31,760$15.276
    17Parker and Sons$31,760$15.27
    18Road Machinery & Supplies Co.$31,735$15.26
    19PeopleReady$31,735$15.2632
    20Adecco$31,727$15.2515
  4. Writing a livestock yard attendant job description

    A livestock yard attendant 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. Below, you can find an example of a livestock yard attendant job description:

    Livestock yard attendant job description example

    Responsible to operate a skid steer loader, 40,000 to 50,000 lb. fork lift and marine lift.

    Assists in loading and unloading equipment and items are identified and stored properly. Assists in yard housekeeping.

    Ensures that job boxes received from customers are checked in per procedures

    Receives Plate and large item inventory not stored in warehouse.

    Maintains orderly position of equipment and large stock inventory. Confers with department heads to ensure coordination of the movement of machinery.

    Schedules or makes stock pick-ups and deliveries

    Moves tanks and enclosures to and from the paint and the shot blast area that are ready for assembly. Keep map of all units and where they are stored and update weekly.

    Company Overview:

    In 1962, Ring Power Corporation became a full-line Cat Equipment dealer in North Florida, and later expanded its authorized territory to include Central Florida.

    Today, Ring Power Corporate headquarters in St. Augustine oversees the operations of 18 branch locations throughout the state of Florida, including large regional facilities in Tampa and Orlando and crane and forklift sales and service facilities in Pompano and Miami. Ring Power also has eight facilities outside of Florida - Rhode Island, New Jersey, the Carolinas, Georgia, Texas and California - to serve the needs of other specialized industries and customers.

    Ring Power Corporation has become one of the largest Cat Equipment dealers in the Southeastern United States through dedication to the mission of customer service. In order to preserve the "Customers First" reputation that Ring Power was built on, we continually train our employees and work closely with our customers to assure complete satisfaction, especially after the sale.

    Currently, more than 1,700 employees at 26 locations throughout Florida and the United States work hard to provide the highest quality construction equipment, backed by responsive, professional service and support at every level.

    Qualifications:

    One (1) to three (3) years of experience in Heavy equipment industry.

    Basic computer skills in Lotus notes, dealer computer systems, and Office software.

    Must be able to comprehend, speak and write the English language.

    Must possess good interpersonal and communication skills.

    High School Diploma or related equivalent required.

    Physical Demands of the Position:

    Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

    Place the corresponding letter next to each category. “C” Constantly-(6-8 hrs/day), “F” Frequently-(3-6 hrs/day), “O” Occasionally-(up to 3 hrs/day), or “NA” if not applicable. Indicate the appropriate weight where applicable. (ie: Up to 25 lbs., 26-50 lbs. or Over 50 lbs.)

    F

    Climbing

    O

    Balancing

    O

    Stooping

    F

    Kneeling

    F

    Crouching

    O

    Crawling

    F

    Reaching

    F

    Standing

    F

    Sitting

    C

    Walking

    O

    Feeling

    O

    Fingering

    F

    Grasping

    O

    Repetitive Motion

    C

    Talking

    C

    Hearing

    F

    O

    O

    Pushing

    Up to 25 lbs.

    26-50 lbs.

    Over 50 lbs.

    F

    O

    O

    Pulling

    Up to 25 lbs.

    26-50 lbs.

    Over 50 lbs.

    F

    O

    O

    Lifting

    Up to 25 lbs.

    26-50 lbs.

    Over 50 lbs.

    Environmental Conditions of the Position:

    Place the corresponding letter next to each category. “C” Constantly-(6-8 hrs/day), “F” Frequently-(3-6 hrs/day), “O” Occasionally-(up to 3 hrs/day), or “NA” if not applicable.

    O

    The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature change.

    C

    The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.

    F

    The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.

    F

    The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.

    F

    The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.

    F

    The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level

    F

    The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities of whole body.

    O

    The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to heat and exposure to chemicals.

    O

    The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system or the skin: Fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases or poor ventilation.

    O

    The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.

    O

    The worker is required to wear respirator.

    N/A

    The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find livestock yard attendants for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your livestock yard attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit livestock yard attendant 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

    During your first interview to recruit livestock yard attendants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    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 livestock yard attendant

    Once you've found the livestock yard attendant 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.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new livestock yard attendant. 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 livestock yard attendant?

Hiring a livestock yard attendant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting livestock yard attendants 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 livestock yard attendant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $33,717 per year for a livestock yard attendant, 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 livestock yard attendants in the US typically range between $12 and $21 an hour.

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