Prevailing Wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Prevailing wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals (SOC 45-2093) is set by DOL using four experience levels, from entry-level farm hands through fully competent livestock handlers and cowboys. The floor varies significantly by worksite city, so a sponsored position in Hawaii or the Pacific Northwest pays far more than one in Texas or Arkansas.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Entry-level workers with limited livestock or aquacultural experience, typically performing routine tasks like feeding, watering, and basic animal care under close supervision. No specialized credentials required. DOL treats this as the starting floor for sponsored farm and ranch workers.
Qualified workers with hands-on experience across multiple animal care duties, including milking, herding, or hatchery operations, who work with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals on H-2A and other sponsored positions.
Experienced workers who independently manage animal health monitoring, assist with births, administer medications or vaccinations, and may supervise junior hands. DOL expects demonstrated multi-year experience across a broad range of ranch or aquacultural duties at this level.
Fully competent workers in senior or lead roles overseeing herd or flock management, recordkeeping, disease detection, and team coordination. May include head herdsmen or senior aquaculture specialists responsible for production outcomes across an entire operation.
Prevailing Wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Watch for H-2A worksite wage layering
Many farm and ranch employers file under H-2A, which requires the higher of the prevailing wage or the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. Confirm which floor applies to your specific worksite state before comparing the offer, since AEWR can exceed the standard DOL prevailing wage for this SOC.
Verify which SOC your employer filed
Titles like Cowboy, Farm Hand, or Livestock Handler sometimes get filed under Agricultural Equipment Operators or Graders and Sorters instead of SOC 45-2093. A misclassified LCA sets the wrong wage floor and can create compliance problems for sponsored workers in animal care roles.
Compare Hawaii and Pacific Northwest offers carefully
Kahului, HI and metro areas in Washington State consistently show prevailing wages well above the national median for this occupation. An offer in Kennewick or Mount Vernon, WA at the L2 floor can be substantially higher than an offer at the same level in Texas or Arkansas.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with livestock history
Farm and ranch visa sponsorship is concentrated among a small set of agricultural employers. Migrate Mate shows which companies have a history of sponsoring workers in this occupation, so you can focus your search on operations that have successfully navigated the DOL process before.
Jobs for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 45-2093.00 alongside Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cowboy Prevailing Wage
Cowboy Prevailing Wage
Cowboy positions fall under SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Farm Hand Prevailing Wage
Farm Hand Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Farm Hand for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Farrowing Worker Prevailing Wage
Farrowing Worker Prevailing Wage
Farrowing Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Herdsman Prevailing Wage
Herdsman Prevailing Wage
Herdsman positions fall under SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Livestock Handler Prevailing Wage
Livestock Handler Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Livestock Handler for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Milking Worker Prevailing Wage
Milking Worker Prevailing Wage
Milking Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Ranch Hand Prevailing Wage
Ranch Hand Prevailing Wage
Ranch Hand positions fall under SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Rancher Prevailing Wage
Rancher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Rancher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Vaccinator Prevailing Wage
Vaccinator Prevailing Wage
Vaccinator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Wrangler Prevailing Wage
Wrangler Prevailing Wage
Wrangler positions fall under SOC 45-2093.00 (Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for SOC 45-2093 using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employers across the country. OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from that survey data. Employers sponsoring a farm or ranch worker must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 covers entry workers with basic animal care duties under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified workers performing a range of tasks with moderate oversight. Level 3 is for experienced workers who operate independently and may train others. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with full operational responsibility. Your level should match the duties listed in your employer's job description and LCA, not just your job title.
Why does the same farm worker role pay so differently across cities?
DOL prevailing wages are calculated from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which reflect local labor market conditions. Kahului, HI and Washington State metros show much higher floors than rural Texas because local wages for agricultural workers in those areas are higher. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so the wage floor is locked to wherever the work physically takes place, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if a job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with a wage below the applicable prevailing wage floor. If the offer is below that floor, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which blocks the visa petition entirely. For workers already sponsored, a wage reduction below the certified level can create compliance violations. USCIS and DOL both review wage compliance during petition adjudication and in audits.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific farm worker location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up current prevailing wages for SOC 45-2093 by worksite metro or county. Enter the occupation code and the city or state where the work will be performed to see all four wage levels. Cross-check the wage your employer lists on the LCA against those figures. Migrate Mate also shows which agricultural employers have a documented history of sponsoring workers in this occupation across different regions.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals right now.
Search Jobs for this role