🌾 How much does a farmer make?

About $43 an hour

• Crop and livestock sales: Farmers earn sales income from crops, livestock, and animal products. Source
• Government payments: Some farmers receive government subsidies or other payments to reduce some farming risks. Source
• Wages from farm-management jobs: People hired to manage farms can earn wages from their employer. Source

In the United States, finish high school; college study in agriculture or business can help. Build farm experience before managing or running an operation. The BLS lists 5 or more years in a related job as typical, though further study in agriculture may reduce that need.

1. Finish high school.
2. Study agriculture or business, if you choose.
3. Gain 5 or more years of related farm-work experience.
4. Manage a farm or run your own operation.

Qualifications and exams

The BLS lists no general license as an entry requirement. Optional farm-management certification may require relevant courses, a bachelor’s degree, farmland-management experience, and an exam.

In the morning, a farmer checks fields or animals and looks for problems. During the day, they may plant or harvest, care for livestock, guide workers, check prices, and keep farm records.

What was the typical farm income for U.S. farm households in 2025?

For 2025, USDA put typical farm income for U.S. farm households at -$495 after inflation. This is farm income, not the household’s total income. Source

Why does a farmer’s income change from year to year?

Farm income can change from year to year because weather affects crops and animals, while prices for farm products also go up and down. Some government payments help reduce risks. Source

What do hired farm managers earn in the United States?

In May 2025, typical yearly pay for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $89,900. The top 10% earned over $160,020. Source

Do small farm households also earn money outside farming?

In 2024, 86% of U.S. family-farm households earned more than half their total income from outside the farm. This was especially common for small farms. Source

How can farmers prepare for falling prices?

Some farmers grow different crops to avoid relying on one price. They may also store crops or sell some goods directly at farmers’ markets or through cooperatives. Source

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