How to become a harvesting labourer
Official title: Harvesting labourers
Also called: Fruit farm labourer, Grain farm labourer, Harvesting labourer, Farm hand - harvesting, Farm worker - harvesting, Fruit harvesting labourer, Farm labourer - harvesting, Fruit examiner - harvesting, Crop farm labourer - harvesting, General farm worker - harvesting, Organic farm worker - harvesting, Field and vegetable crop labourer
Harvesting labourers and related workers assist other farm workers to plant, harvest, sort and pack crops. They participate in soil preparation, irrigation and crop planting, spraying and thinning. They are employed on fruit, vegetable and specialty crop farms.
Main tasks
- Prepare and irrigate soil
- Plant, fertilize, thin and harvest crops
- Pick row and orchard crops
- Sort, weigh and pack fruit and vegetables at the farm
- Load, unload and transfer crates, supplies, farm produce and products for transport
- Clean up racks, trays, and harvest bins and general clean-up of growing, producing and packing areas
- Assist with general farm maintenance and maintenance of equipment and tools
- May assist in preparing garden beds for planting
How to become one
There are no specific education or training requirements.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $35,100 a year The middle half earn $33,150 to $40,950.
- About 22,900 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 21,300 are projected by 2033. (-7%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Livestock labourers
- Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
- Nursery and greenhouse labourers
- Trappers and hunters
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Questions people ask
How do I become a harvesting labourer?
There are no specific education or training requirements.
How much does a harvesting labourer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $35,100 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $33,150 to $40,950.
Is a harvesting labourer a growing career in Canada?
Employment is projected to fall 7% by 2033, from about 22,900 to about 21,300 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a harvesting labourer?
Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03