National data — wages and growth are not published by state for this view.
Occupation · SOC 45-2092
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; or cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
Food ProductionBiologyMechanicalAdministration and ManagementChemistry
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareMobile location based services softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.Set up and operate irrigation equipment.Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping.Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers.Regulate greenhouse conditions, and indoor and outdoor irrigation systems.Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease.Provide information and advice to the public regarding the selection, purchase, and care of products.Maintain and repair irrigation and climate control systems.Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.Maintain inventory, ordering materials as required.Record information about plants and plant growth.Dig, rake, and screen soil, filling cold frames and hot beds in preparation for planting.Inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality.Move containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, using wheelbarrows or tractors.Tie and bunch flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, wrap their roots, and pack them into boxes to fill orders.Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels.Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.Plant, spray, weed, fertilize, water, and prune plants, shrubs, and trees, using gardening tools.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand tools (hoes, knives, shears, pruners) — use safely on routine field or greenhouse tasks under a lead's direction.Personal protective equipment (gloves, sleeves, eyewear) — apply consistently for each task.Heat-illness signs and water-shade-rest practice — recognize and follow per OSHA and state rules.Worker Protection Standard re-entry intervals — follow without exception on treated fields.Standard harvest pace — meet on assigned crops after onboarding.Crew safety (ladders, knives, machinery proximity) — apply consistently on the line.Daily timecards and piece-count tallies — record accurately per the lead's verification.Field-sanitation facilities — use and request resupply when needed.Vehicle and bus safety — follow on transport to and from fields.Crew communications (Spanish, English, Indigenous languages) — engage clearly with the lead.
developing
Skilled hand-harvest tasks (selective picking, grading at pick, packing) — perform reliably across the harvest window.Pruning, training, thinning, and bunching — execute correctly on the crop variety in season.Greenhouse rotations (seeding, transplanting, spacing) — perform at production pace.Pesticide-handler certification basics — apply correctly under a licensed applicator's plan.Equipment-assist tasks (harvest aids, trays, conveyors) — operate safely with the crew.Lead-worker roles on small crews — direct on familiar tasks with the supervisor's backing.Crew safety leadership at start-of-shift — deliver in workers' primary languages.Hand-tool maintenance and sharpening — perform during routine downtime.Field-quality calls (pick / no pick) — make consistently with the operation's standards.Junior workers and new hires — train on technique, pace, and safety.
proficient
Field-crew leadership across the season — schedule, train, and supervise on quality and pace.Harvest forecasts and pace planning — execute with the supervisor on yield and labor.Pesticide-handler/applicator certification — hold and apply per state-licensing rules.WPS, H-2A, and state-labor compliance basics — own with HR partners at crew level.Continuous-improvement on yield, quality, and labor cost — lead with measurable outcomes.Cross-crop and cross-season work — adapt with rapid retraining and clear handoffs.Equipment use (small tractors, harvest aids) — operate safely with documented training.Junior crew leads — mentor on supervision, recordkeeping, and crew dynamics.Documentation (worksheets, lot tracking, traceability) — own end-to-end on the crew.Communications with packing-shed and trucking — coordinate to keep flow tight.
advanced
Field-operations leadership across multiple crews and crops — set direction across season and labor force.Labor relations (H-2A, domestic, contract) — own with HR, legal, and agency partners.Major-customer audits (retailer, processor) — lead with documentation and corrective actions.Workforce development and apprenticeship programs — build with community partners.Safety culture and injury-reduction programs — lead with measurable outcomes.Industry forums and advocacy — represent the operation at growers' boards and councils.Capital decisions (harvest aids, labor-saving equipment) — author with the owner.Cross-site standardization (training, safety, recordkeeping) — institutionalize across crews.Crisis response (heat events, disease incursions, evacuations) — command at field level.Legacy mentorship of crew leads and supervisors — institutionalize through training programs.
Also known as
261 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
DiggerNursery HelperBudderSprinkling System IrrigatorFarmworker, Field Crop IICitrus Fruit PackerOrchid HandFarmworker, General IICarrot TierGround WorkerTobacco PrizerNursery TransplanterLandscape NurserymanCorn ShellerHop TrainerFarm RancherGrounds and Nursery SpecialistCotton PickerGrafterTobacco StripperHop WorkerBeet WorkerCane CutterDitch DiggerIrrigator, Gravity FlowDryland FarmerCrop FarmworkerPlant PropagatorGrape PickerFood Crops Farm HandBulb PlanterGreenhouse LaborerCullerBerry PlanterCrop FarmerVegetable BuncherBallerTree Surgeon HelperHand CultivatorFarmworker