How to hire a ranch manager

How to hire a ranch manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step ranch manager hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your ranch manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a ranch manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A ranch manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, ranch managers 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of ranch managers.

   Type of Ranch Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Ranch Manager	Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers operate establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.	$9-37
   Farm Manager	Farm managers are professionals who manage a staff of farm professionals to handle various administrative tasks and monitor crops and domestic animals within a farm. These managers are required to work in growing cultivated plants that are harvested for food, clothing, and fuel while ensuring that the crops are properly stored and packaged for purchase... Show more	$16-39

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pasture
   • Cattle Ranch
   • Farm Equipment
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Mowing
   • Safety Regulations
   • Ranch Operations
   • General Maintenance
   • Ranch Maintenance
   • Water Systems
   • Irrigation Systems
   • Equipment Operation
   • ATV
   • Farm Machinery

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage CSA program and wholesale accounts and maintain working relationships with community organizations and retailers.
   • Maintain the upkeep of buildings and offices to include cleaning, mowing, pest control.
   • Raise and show champion dairy goats, provide veterinary care, milking, feeding, delivering, and artificial insemination.
   • Care and maintain livestock such as; cattle, chickens, goats, pigs, turkeys, and ducks
   • Skil ATV and UTV rider to directly patrol rough terrain safeguarding wildlife habitat.
   • Assist with the everyday chores on the ranch: mowing, fencing, horse maintenance, cooking for ranch hands.

   More ranch manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your ranch manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A ranch manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, ranch managers' average salary in oregon is 60% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level ranch managers earn 75% less than senior-level ranch managers.
   • Certifications. A ranch manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a ranch manager's salary.

   Average ranch manager salary

   $40,394yearly

   $19.42 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level ranch manager salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average ranch manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$29,434	$14
   2	Kansas	$28,523	$14
   3	Texas	$28,522	$14
   4	Montana	$25,118	$12
   5	California	$24,906	$12
   6	Washington	$23,735	$11
   7	Oregon	$21,028	$10

   Average ranch manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Connecticut Children's Medical Center	$62,998	$30.29
   2	Darden Restaurants	$45,691	$21.97
   3	Cimarron Software Services, Inc.	$42,175	$20.28
   4	Nike	$33,293	$16.01
   5	Foster Farms	$26,750	$12.86	12
   6	Bell Partners	$25,094	$12.06	1

4. Writing a ranch manager job description

   A good ranch manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a ranch manager job description:

   Ranch manager job description example

   • Competitive Salary (Depends on Experience)
   • Variable Compensation
   • Medical Insurance
   • Dental Insurance
   • Life Insurance
   • Vision Insurance
   • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
   • Health Savings Account (HSA)
   • Paid Paternity Leave
   • Paid Maternity Leave Longer Than 8 Weeks
   • 401K - company match
   • PTO

   
   Location: Bedias, TX
   Type of Position : Direct Hire
   
   Responsibilities:

   • Responsible for wildlife and livestock management, habitat modification, and maintenance.
   • Determine types or quantities of livestock to be raised, according to factors such as market conditions, federal programs, or incentives.
   • Assist with managing the breeding or raising of stock, such as cattle or wild game using recognized breeding practices to ensure stock improvement.
   • Monitor breeding activities to ensure adherence to all regulations or standards.
   • Monitor pasture or grazing land use to ensure that livestock are properly fed or that conservation methods, such as rotational grazing, are used.
   • Inspect ranch structures, such as buildings, fences, or roads, ordering repair or maintenance activities, as needed.
   • Inspect ranch equipment to ensure proper functioning.
   • Responsible for scheduling and implementation of ranch activities.
   • Maintain coordination and compliance with strategic partners and 3rd party providers.
   • Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of livestock.
   • Select and purchase machinery, equipment, livestock, or supplies, such as feed.
   • Supervise the construction of ranch structures, such as building, fences, wells, or roads.
   • Direct livestock waste recycling operations.
   • Demonstrate or explain working techniques, practices, or safety regulations to ranch workers.

   
   Requirements:

   • College degree in a business or agricultural discipline preferred
   • 4+ experience in ranch management, management, agribusiness or science or related field
   • Management experience: Must possess strong communication, organization, and general leadership abilities
   • Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right ranch manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with ranch managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit ranch managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your ranch manager job on Zippia to find and recruit ranch manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with ranch manager 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.

   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 ranch manager

   Once you've selected the best ranch manager 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.

   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.

   To prepare for the new ranch manager 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.)

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