An official website of the United States government
Attend to live farm, ranch, or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines, poultry, finfish, shellfish, and bees. Attend to animals produced for animal products, such as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Includes workers who shear wool from sheep, and collect eggs in hatcheries.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
37,780 | 2.7 % | $13.87 | $28,840 | 0.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $8.85 | $10.39 | $12.77 | $16.23 | $20.12 |
Annual Wage (2) | $18,410 | $21,610 | $26,560 | $33,760 | $41,840 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Support Activities for Animal Production | 13,410 | 43.72 | $13.97 | $29,060 |
Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | 7,580 | 10.28 | $12.32 | $25,630 |
Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 1,830 | 0.35 | $15.39 | $32,010 |
Employment Services | 1,120 | 0.03 | $12.87 | $26,770 |
Support Activities for Crop Production | 1,070 | 0.31 | $14.37 | $29,880 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Support Activities for Animal Production | 13,410 | 43.72 | $13.97 | $29,060 |
Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | 7,580 | 10.28 | $12.32 | $25,630 |
RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | 720 | 1.24 | $13.15 | $27,360 |
Animal Food Manufacturing | 320 | 0.51 | $14.69 | $30,550 |
Other Investment Pools and Funds | 40 | 0.46 | $18.15 | $37,760 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 290 | 0.01 | $23.43 | $48,730 |
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 170 | 0.04 | $19.80 | $41,180 |
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 1,000 | 0.05 | $18.47 | $38,420 |
Other Investment Pools and Funds | 40 | 0.46 | $18.15 | $37,760 |
Social Advocacy Organizations | 120 | 0.05 | $16.00 | $33,270 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas | 5,630 | 0.46 | 1.78 | $13.01 | $27,070 |
California | 2,510 | 0.15 | 0.56 | $15.15 | $31,500 |
Kentucky | 1,980 | 1.05 | 4.01 | $13.03 | $27,110 |
Pennsylvania | 1,640 | 0.28 | 1.07 | $12.77 | $26,560 |
Nebraska | 1,260 | 1.29 | 4.93 | $14.68 | $30,540 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Idaho | 980 | 1.39 | 5.32 | $13.78 | $28,670 |
Nebraska | 1,260 | 1.29 | 4.93 | $14.68 | $30,540 |
Montana | 600 | 1.29 | 4.93 | $12.43 | $25,850 |
Wyoming | 300 | 1.12 | 4.29 | $14.13 | $29,380 |
Kentucky | 1,980 | 1.05 | 4.01 | $13.03 | $27,110 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Connecticut | 170 | 0.10 | 0.39 | $17.28 | $35,940 |
Mississippi | 620 | 0.55 | 2.12 | $17.25 | $35,870 |
Louisiana | 60 | 0.03 | 0.12 | $16.72 | $34,790 |
Alaska | 60 | 0.19 | 0.71 | $16.73 | $34,790 |
Vermont | 190 | 0.63 | 2.41 | $16.52 | $34,370 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lexington-Fayette, KY | 1,290 | 4.72 | 18.08 | $12.69 | $26,390 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 770 | 0.22 | 0.83 | $11.58 | $24,090 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 640 | 0.22 | 0.86 | $13.02 | $27,080 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 490 | 0.05 | 0.20 | $13.66 | $28,400 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 480 | 0.16 | 0.62 | $15.86 | $32,980 |
Ocala, FL | 410 | 3.95 | 15.12 | $12.63 | $26,270 |
Austin-Round Rock, TX | 390 | 0.38 | 1.46 | $19.23 | $40,010 |
Oklahoma City, OK | 390 | 0.63 | 2.42 | $13.49 | $28,060 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 390 | 0.20 | 0.75 | $16.26 | $33,830 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 390 | 0.12 | 0.47 | $18.43 | $38,340 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lexington-Fayette, KY | 1,290 | 4.72 | 18.08 | $12.69 | $26,390 |
Ocala, FL | 410 | 3.95 | 15.12 | $12.63 | $26,270 |
Harrisonburg, VA | 200 | 3.12 | 11.96 | $12.99 | $27,020 |
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 250 | 2.96 | 11.34 | $14.82 | $30,830 |
San Angelo, TX | 80 | 1.65 | 6.33 | $12.98 | $27,000 |
Las Cruces, NM | 110 | 1.54 | 5.89 | $10.79 | $22,450 |
Jefferson City, MO | 110 | 1.50 | 5.76 | $12.90 | $26,820 |
Idaho Falls, ID | 100 | 1.50 | 5.73 | $11.85 | $24,650 |
Lancaster, PA | 360 | 1.46 | 5.61 | $13.29 | $27,640 |
Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 60 | 1.43 | 5.48 | $12.36 | $25,710 |