How to become a farm worker
Official title: Farm workers
Also called: Farm hand, Farm help, Farm worker, Farm handyman, Farm labourer, Farm assistant, Gang man, Yard man, Dairy hand, Cow keeper, Odd job man, Poultry man
Farm workers perform a variety of tasks, by hand and machine, to produce and harvest crops and to breed and rear cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.
Main tasks
- Operates farm machinery to prepare soil, fertilise and treat crops
- Cultivates growing crops by hoeing, spraying and thinning as necessary
- Weighs and measures foodstuffs, feeds animals and checks them for any signs of disease
- Cleans barns, sheds, pens, yards, incubators and breeding units and sterilises milking and other equipment as necessary
- Treats minor ailments, delivers vaccinations and other medicines under the direction of the veterinary surgeon, and assists the veterinary surgeon as required
- Catches, moves, and handles livestock, including in preparation for transport
- Carries out maintenance on farm buildings, hedges, ditches and erects and repairs fences
How to become one
There are no minimum academic entry requirements. Training is typically received on-the-job, supplemented by vocational training at an agricultural college. A variety of vocational qualifications in Agriculture are available at levels 1, 2 and 3, together with BTEC diplomas and apprenticeships in some areas.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): General farm worker (level 2). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0937.
- Apprenticeship (England): Poultry technician (level 3). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0467.
- Apprenticeship (England): Poultry worker (level 2). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0389.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £30,101 a year The middle half earn £25,601 to £36,139.
- About 27,900 people work in this job now, and about 26,300 are projected by 2035. (-5.5%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a farm worker?
There are no minimum academic entry requirements. Training is typically received on-the-job, supplemented by vocational training at an agricultural college. A variety of vocational qualifications in Agriculture are available at levels 1, 2 and 3, together with BTEC diplomas and apprenticeships in some areas.
How much does a farm worker earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £30,101 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £25,601 to £36,139.
Is a farm worker a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 5% by 2035, from about 27,900 to about 26,300 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a farm worker?
Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: General farm worker (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03