Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Employment and Wages in 2023

In 2023, the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry employed over 414 thousand people in the United States, reflecting a decrease of 2.1% from 2022. The annual mean wage in 2023 was $43,010, and the median wage was $35,640. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 34.3%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Support Activities for Crop Production held the largest number of jobs within the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry, employing over 337 thousand people in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $41,210, with a median wage of $35,110. There was an increase in wage variance to the national average compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -38.1% to -37.1%, indicating industry wages outpaced national wage trends.

Logging accounted for a substantial employment share, with 44 thousand people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $54,410, and the median wage was $50,330. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -16.9% to -16.9%.

The sub-group of Support Activities for Animal Production also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 32 thousand people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $46,100 and the median wage was $37,770. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -28.2% to -29.6%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry, we find that First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers had the highest annual mean wage in 2023, at $59,510, and a median wage of $56,040. The industry variance to the national average was -2.1%. Logging Equipment Operators had an annual mean wage of $51,790 and a median wage of $49,550. The industry variance to the national average was 4%. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers had an annual mean wage of $49,680 and a median wage of $47,460. The industry variance to the national average was -11.3%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry included Packers and Packagers, Hand, with an annual mean wage of $33,890 and a median wage of $33,820. The industry variance to the national average was -4.4%. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand had an annual mean wage of $34,820 and a median wage of $33,190. The industry variance to the national average was -12.4%. Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals had an annual mean wage of $35,850 and a median wage of $34,470. The industry variance to the national average was -3.3%.

Summary

In 2023, the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting industry in the U.S. employed over 414,000 people, reflecting a 2.1% decrease from 2022. The annual mean wage was $43,010, and the median wage was $35,640, 34.3% lower than the national average. Support Activities for Crop Production was the largest sub-group, employing 337,000 people with an annual mean wage of $41,210, showing slight improvement in wage competitiveness. Logging employed 44,000 people, offering the highest sub-group wages at a mean of $54,410, while Support Activities for Animal Production employed 32,000 people with a mean wage of $46,100, reflecting a decline in wage competitiveness. Top-paying roles, such as First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, earned $59,510, while Logging Equipment Operators earned $51,790. Lower-wage positions, including Packers and Farmworkers, had mean wages ranging from $33,890 to $35,850, consistently below national averages. Overall, the industry faced declining employment, with wages remaining significantly below national trends across most sub-groups and occupations.

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