Farm Labor Contractors: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Farm Labor Contractors fall under the Business and Financial Operations category in the U.S. occupational classification. Farm Labor Contractors earn a median salary of $48,690 per year, ranking in the top 66% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +6.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do farm labor contractors earn?

The median annual wage for farm labor contractors is $48,690. That puts farm labor contractors at #535 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is farm labor contractors a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for farm labor contractors is +6.0%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 3K positions in 2024 to 4K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do farm labor contractors do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working farm labor contractors, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Provide food, drinking water, and field sanitation facilities to contracted workers.
2. 2.Recruit and hire agricultural workers.
3. 3.Supervise the work of contracted employees.
4. 4.Pay wages of contracted farm laborers.
5. 5.Employ foremen to deal directly with workers when recruiting, hiring, instructing, assigning tasks, and enforcing work rules.
6. 6.Furnish tools for employee use.

Top skills for farm labor contractors

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become farm labor contractor?

The standard path into farm labor contractors begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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• Project Management Specialists
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Common questions parents ask about farm labor contractors