Agriculture Workers


Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources > Agriculture Workers > Wages & Trends
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Agriculture Workers

Agriculture Workers - Wages & Trends

Wages for farm and ranch workers varies by the type of work they do. Pay also varies with the area of the country and the crop worked. In general, workers in the southern and mountain states receive lower wages. Wages may be higher in areas where workers are in short supply. Some farm and ranch workers may receive less pay in exchange for housing, utilities, and farm products.

Wages also vary by time of the year. During planting and harvest times, farm and ranch workers have many opportunities to work overtime and earn higher wages. However, they may not work at all during some of the winter months.

Farm and ranch workers who work full time on large farms are likely to receive benefits. These benefits may include health insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave. Those who work on small farms often must provide their own insurance. Similarly, those who travel around the country following the crops must provide their own insurance.

Agricultural equipment operators (SOC 45-2091)
Location
Pay Period
25%
Median
75%
Illinois Hourly $18.59 $21.56 $24.08
Yearly $38,651 $44,841 $50,096
    Champaign Area Hourly $18.38 $20.87 $25.47
Yearly $38,228 $43,417 $52,978
    Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area Hourly $18.23 $19.72 $22.44
Yearly $37,908 $41,024 $46,684
    Edwardsville Area Hourly $19.55 $23.47 $27.58
Yearly $40,661 $48,818 $57,348
    Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area Hourly $18.12 $22.66 $24.81
Yearly $37,693 $47,130 $51,591
    Northwest Illinois Area Hourly $18.63 $20.01 $22.11
Yearly $38,748 $41,618 $45,996
    Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area Hourly $18.47 $21.18 $23.42
Yearly $38,422 $44,057 $48,721
    Rock Island-Moline Area Hourly $17.15 $20.31 $22.19
Yearly $35,675 $42,246 $46,160
    Springfield Area Hourly $19.01 $19.45 $23.69
Yearly $39,546 $40,469 $49,283
    St. Louis-Belleville Area Hourly $18.31 $19.25 $21.31
Yearly $38,073 $40,032 $44,334
    Vermilion County Hourly $19.31 $22.29 $25.45
Yearly $40,175 $46,348 $52,934
United States Hourly $16.13 $18.16 $21.60
Yearly $33,540 $37,780 $44,930

Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (SOC 45-2092)

Location
Pay Period
25%
Median
75%
Illinois Hourly $15.18 $17.10 $20.68
Yearly $31,574 $35,557 $43,015
    Champaign Area Hourly $15.70 $15.70 $19.38
Yearly $32,675 $32,675 $40,315
    Cook County Hourly $15.18 $17.09 $20.42
Yearly $31,579 $35,555 $42,456
    Decatur Area Hourly $16.15 $18.79 $20.41
Yearly $33,598 $39,100 $42,449
    Edwardsville Area Hourly $15.26 $19.00 $21.72
Yearly $31,732 $39,527 $45,177
    Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area Hourly $15.80 $19.00 $22.82
Yearly $32,859 $39,526 $47,468
    Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area Hourly $15.18 $18.49 $22.25
Yearly $31,574 $38,474 $46,285
    Northwest Illinois Area Hourly $14.88 $18.55 $22.94
Yearly $30,939 $38,564 $47,707
    Peoria-Bloomington Area Hourly $14.92 $18.29 $20.22
Yearly $31,024 $38,046 $42,065
    Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area Hourly $15.70 $21.04 $24.24
Yearly $32,675 $43,754 $50,425
    Rock Island-Moline Area Hourly $16.45 $16.45 $20.25
Yearly $34,218 $34,218 $42,116
    Rockford Area Hourly $14.88 $16.32 $19.14
Yearly $30,944 $33,961 $39,831
    Shawnee National Forest Area Hourly $13.61 $17.51 $22.05
Yearly $28,306 $36,435 $45,867
    St. Louis-Belleville Area Hourly $15.58 $16.14 $20.07
Yearly $32,404 $33,568 $41,748
United States Hourly $14.93 $15.87 $16.93
Yearly $31,040 $33,000 $35,210

Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals (SOC 45-2093)

Location
Pay Period
25%
Median
75%
Illinois Hourly $13.81 $18.06 $19.94
Yearly $28,733 $37,564 $41,486
    Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area Hourly $13.68 $13.68 $23.15
Yearly $28,446 $28,446 $48,159
    Cook County Hourly $17.88 $23.30 $27.92
Yearly $37,199 $48,451 $58,057
    McHenry County Hourly $15.04 $18.95 $19.94
Yearly $31,297 $39,419 $41,486
    Peoria-Bloomington Area Hourly $12.53 $13.81 $19.03
Yearly $26,061 $28,733 $39,593
    Rock Island-Moline Area Hourly $19.44 $19.44 $20.60
Yearly $40,448 $40,448 $42,848
    St. Louis-Belleville Area Hourly $14.88 $18.06 $18.06
Yearly $30,940 $37,564 $37,564
United States Hourly $13.83 $16.42 $20.00
Yearly $28,770 $34,150 $41,600

Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.