Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals pay in California

$42,810avg. a year
$20.58 an hour · 3,600 employed

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals in California earn an average of $42,810 a year. That is $3,550 (9%) more than the U.S. average of $39,260. The best-paying metro area is Salinas, CA at $57,310.

$38,640Median pay
$20.58Average hourly
+24%Avg. pay since 2020
#10Of 49 states

Top-paying California metro areas

Average pay for farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals by metro area. Swipe to see all 18.

170 jobs
Salinas, CA
$57,310
$27.55 an hour
2380 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$47,710
$22.94 an hour
3370 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$47,540
$22.86 an hour
4130 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$47,170
$22.68 an hour
5100 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$46,840
$22.52 an hour
6140 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$42,250
$20.31 an hour
7140 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$42,070
$20.22 an hour
8610 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$41,360
$19.89 an hour
9200 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$41,360
$19.89 an hour
10130 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$40,360
$19.41 an hour
11120 jobs
Visalia, CA
$40,160
$19.31 an hour
1240 jobs
Merced, CA
$39,610
$19.04 an hour
1390 jobs
Modesto, CA
$39,470
$18.97 an hour
1490 jobs
Fresno, CA
$39,300
$18.90 an hour
1590 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$39,270
$18.88 an hour
1650 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$38,340
$18.43 an hour
17
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$37,250
$17.91 an hour
1880 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$36,960
$17.77 an hour

Why people trust JobPayFacts

Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
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Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals pay in California, charted

Pay over time

California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian

Where California farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals work

Employment by metro area, May 2025

Average pay by state

May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $37k$37k–$39k$39k–$42k$42k+California

California vs. neighbors

Average pay, May 2025
AreaAvg. payHourly
United States$39,260$18.88
California$42,810$20.58
Oregon$37,770$18.16
Arizona$37,660$18.10
Nevada$35,400$17.02

Questions and answers

How much do farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals make in California?

The average is $42,810 a year, and the median is $38,640. That is $3,550 (9%) more than the U.S. average of $39,260.

What is the hourly wage in California?

$20.58 an hour on average; the median is $18.58.

Where in California do they earn the most?

Salinas, CA ($57,310), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($47,710). The lowest average among 18 metro areas with data is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA ($36,960).

How does California rank?

California ranks #10 of 49 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.

Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 45-2093. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.