Mid-Level

Livestock Commission Agent

Livestock commission agents sell livestock at auction on behalf of producers โ€” earning commission on the sales and providing market expertise to producers who depend on them for fair returns.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
R
S
I
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Livestock Commission Agents
Employment concentration ยท ~392 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Livestock Commission Agent

Workdays depend heavily on auction days โ€” intense at the barn, quieter on off days. Off-day work goes toward producer outreach and consignment-building for upcoming sales. Auction days are physically and mentally demanding.

Collaboration involves producers, auction barn staff, buyers, and sometimes truckers. What's harder than expected is representing the producer's interests โ€” getting the best price takes reading the buyer field accurately, knowing when to hold and when to take what's offered.

People who thrive tend to be knowledgeable about livestock, fast on the rail, and good at producer relationships. If you're grounded in the auction tradition, the role often fits โ€” commission work is built on producers trusting you with their animals. People without that grounding usually find both the technical fast-pace work and the trust-building with producers harder than the financial side suggests.

IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
AchievementModerate
RecognitionLower
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
โœฆ Editorial โ€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape โ€” and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Livestock Commission Agents (SOC 13-1021.00, 41-4012.00), not just this title ยท BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Also appears in: Sales
Exploring the Livestock Commission Agent career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit โ€” and plan your path forward.
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โœฆ Editorial โ€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape โ€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$38Kโ€“$134K
Salary Range
10th โ€“ 90th percentile
1.3M
U.S. Employment
+0.3%
10yr Growth
115K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningSpeakingSpeakingCritical ThinkingPersuasionNegotiationSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningCritical ThinkingPersuasion
O*NET OnLine ยท Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1021.0041-4012.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS Employment Projections ยท O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.