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Sector

Careers in Farm Services & Agricultural Support

Farm services and agricultural support provides the infrastructure that keeps farms running โ€” equipment dealers, crop consultants, veterinary services, and agricultural finance. It offers entry points into agriculture without owning land.

381K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$41K
Median salary
Across all roles
Farm Services & Agricultural Support jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Farm Services & Agricultural Support employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.Bakersfield-Delano, CA6K
2.Fresno, CA5K
3.Salinas, CA5K
4.Visalia, CA4K
5.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ3K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Salinas, CA2,776.7
2.Visalia, CA2,376.5
3.Bakersfield-Delano, CA1,842
4.Hanford-Corcoran, CA1,435.3
5.Fresno, CA1,098.7
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Farm Services & Agricultural Support

Farm services draws people who want to support agricultural operations without running their own farm โ€” there's satisfaction in the technical work of crop dusting, irrigation, equipment repair, or soil testing. Many find meaning in helping farmers succeed while having more predictable work than farming itself.

The challenge can come from the seasonal intensity and rural locations. Work peaks during planting and harvest, which can mean long hours. Most positions require travel to client farms. The work is largely outdoors and can be physically demanding. Pay tends to track agricultural economics.

Farm services varies by specialization. Custom harvesting operates differently than crop consulting, equipment dealers, or agricultural lending. Technical roles require specific expertise; others are more generalist. Company sizes range from solo operators to regional service providers.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: working outdoors, technical problem-solving, building relationships with farming clients, and supporting food production without the full risk of farming. If you enjoy agricultural work but want more stability than farming, farm services can be a good fit.

How people break in

Entry varies widely by role. Labor positions are accessible; technical roles (equipment operation, pest management) require training; professional services (agronomy consulting) need relevant degrees. Agricultural background helps for most positions.

Work environment tends toward
Rural locationsSeasonal workTechnical knowledgeFarming connectionsSmall employers
Industries it connects to
Farming & Crop ProductionRanching & LivestockWholesale & DistributionManufacturing
Salary vs. national average
-42%
$41K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all farm services & agricultural support roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$89K
2. Boulder$76K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$71K
4. Trenton-Princeton$69K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$69K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$69K in mid-market metros to ~$101K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $101K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $86K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $77K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $89K adj.
Boulder ยท $76K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $71K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 21.7M
Los Angeles ยท 14.3M
Chicago ยท 10.8M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Farm Services & Agricultural Support.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Agriculture & Forestry data
20%
People tend to stay in Agriculture & Forestry. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 2%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
97%
Small
<50
3%
Mid
50โ€“249
0%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Hybrid common
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Agriculture & Forestry data
~1%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 1%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Farm Services & Agricultural Support

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Agriculture
14%
$38K median
Explore โ†’
Transportation
13%
$38K median
Explore โ†’
Facilities
13%
$39K median
Explore โ†’
Construction
13%
$39K median
Explore โ†’
Science
11%
$38K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
11%
$41K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Farm Services & Agricultural Support. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Farm Services & Agricultural Support

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.