News

Farms hiring and paying more

The USDA says farmers and ranchers hired more employees in October and paid them more compared to last year.

According to the department’s latest Farm Labor Survey, wages in October were up two percent from last year and the number of hired workers was up three percent to 797,000.

The results will be used to set H-2A guest worker wage rates which will likely increase again in 2025.

The national average gross wage during October was $19.11 per hour, with field workers earning $18.57 per hour and livestock employees making $17.51.

Wages for all hired workers averaged $19.10 for the year, up three percent from last year.

Workers in Hawaii earned the most at $21.87 per hour, followed by California and the Northern Plains, which includes Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota in that region, where workers earned $20.48 per hour.

Workers on specialty crop farms made up the largest portion of the October survey followed by livestock, dairy, and poultry farm workers.

Farms that directly employ workers, including H-2A workers, are included in USDA’s Farm Labor Survey. H-2A wages are mandated by the U.S. Labor Department each year.