Farmer job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$89,900

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (O*NET-SOC 11-9013.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data. importance 4.5 of 5
2. Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research. importance 4.4 of 5
3. Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques. importance 4.2 of 5
4. Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks. importance 4.1 of 5
5. Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire. importance 4.1 of 5
6. Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules. importance 4.1 of 5
7. Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries. importance 4.0 of 5
8. Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers. importance 4.0 of 5
9. Prepare reports required by state and federal laws. importance 4.0 of 5
10. Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work. importance 3.9 of 5
11. Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches. importance 3.9 of 5
12. Coordinate clerical, record-keeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities. importance 3.8 of 5
13. Direct the breeding or raising of stock, such as cattle, poultry, or honeybees, using recognized breeding practices to ensure stock improvement. importance 3.8 of 5
14. Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock. importance 3.8 of 5
15. Coordinate the selection and maintenance of brood stock. importance 3.8 of 5
16. Analyze soil to determine types or quantities of fertilizer required for maximum crop production. importance 3.7 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Scheduling Work and Activities and Thinking Creatively.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Replace chemical insecticides with environmentally friendly practices, such as adding pest-repelling plants to fields.
• Conduct inspections to determine crop maturity or condition or to detect disease or insect infestation.
• Conduct or supervise stock examinations to identify diseases or parasites.
• Determine, administer, and execute policies relating to operations administration and standards, facility maintenance, and safety.
• Direct crop production operations, such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting.
• Evaluate marketing or sales alternatives for products.

Knowledge areas: Administration and Management, Production and Processing, Biology, Mathematics and Personnel and Human Resources.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Adobe Photoshop, Atlassian Confluence, Facebook, Microsoft Visio. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation as typical.
• Training on the job: BLS lists no typical on-the-job training once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board.

Job title: Farmer
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Farmer to plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
- Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
- Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
- Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
- Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
- Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
- Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries.
- Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists 5 years or more in a related occupation as typical; adjust to this role]
- Strength in active listening, critical thinking and reading comprehension
- Working knowledge of Administration and Management and Production and Processing
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $89,900 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $43.22. BLS estimates about 6,500 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 70,800 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full farmer salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real farmer posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only farmer work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (active listening and critical thinking).