SOC 45-2093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals in California is $38,640 per year, close to the national median of $36,670 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals in California is $38,640 per year, close to the national median of $36,670 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $34,780 at the tenth percentile to more than $55,310 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,760 to $46,270.
The area has 3,600 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 17th by median wage. Salinas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,540. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 758th of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,780 | −5.2% |
| 25th | $35,760 | −2.5% |
| Median (50th) | $38,640 | +5.4% |
| 75th | $46,270 | +26.2% |
| 90th | $55,310 | +50.8% |
| Mean | $42,810 | +16.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas | $62,540 | 70 | |
| 2 | Santa Rosa | $45,970 | 100 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $45,140 | 130 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $44,300 | 380 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $42,910 | 370 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $39,810 | 140 | |
| 7 | Oxnard | $37,870 | 140 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $37,720 | 610 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $36,980 | 90 | |
| 10 | Santa Maria | $36,940 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $38,640 buys what $34,905 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,905US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,640 a year, 5.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,780 to $55,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,600 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 17th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salinas, at $62,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals in California?
The median annual wage is $38,640, or $18.58 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $36,670, so pay in California is 5.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $55,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,780 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Salinas, at $62,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,600 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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