How to become a farm labor contractor

Recruit and hire seasonal or temporary agricultural laborers. May transport, house, and provide meals for workers.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What farm labor contractors do

• Pay wages of contracted farm laborers.
• Supervise the work of contracted employees.
• Direct and transport workers to appropriate work sites.
• Recruit and hire agricultural workers.
• Employ foremen to deal directly with workers when recruiting, hiring, instructing, assigning tasks, and enforcing work rules.
• Furnish tools for employee use.

Skills that matter most

• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is farm labor contractor a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 15% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Farm Labor Contractors salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.