There were 637,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on the nation's farms and ranches during the week of April 6-12, 2025, up 3% from the April 2024 reference week. Workers hired directly by farm operators numbered 512,000 during the week of Jan. 12-18, 2025, up 3% from the January 2024 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average gross wage of $19.52 per hour during the April 2025 reference week, up 3% from the April 2024 reference week. Field workers received an average of $18.58 per hour, up 2%. Livestock workers earned $18.15 per hour, up 4%. The field and livestock worker combined gross wage rate, at $18.43 per hour, was up 3% from the 2024 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.8 hours during the April 2025 reference week, up slightly from the hours worked during the April 2024 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average gross wage of $19.80 per hour during the January 2025 reference week, up 2% from the January 2024 reference week. Field workers received an average of $18.70 per hour, up 1 percent, while livestock workers earned $18.15 per hour, up 4% from a year earlier. The field and livestock worker combined gross wage rate, at $18.46 per hour, was up 2% from the January 2024 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.0 hours during the January 2025 reference week, up 3% from the hours worked during the January 2024 reference week.
