Farming, fishing & forestry · SOC 45-2091
Agricultural equipment operators
BLS projects 66,900 jobs in 2025 to become 72,600 by 2035 — +8.6%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+8.6%
projected change to 2035
About 5,700 more jobs
10,100
openings a year
15.1% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$41,730
median annual pay
Usually entered with: no formal educational credential
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment66,900
- 2035 projected72,600
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other farming, fishing & forestry occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse546,800-2.4%
- Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals202,100-3.2%
- First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers57,600+3.8%
- Graders and sorters, agricultural products45,400-3.4%
- Logging equipment operators29,300-3.8%
- Fishing and hunting workers28,200-4.2%
- Agricultural inspectors17,800+2.3%
- Forest and conservation workers14,700-1.5%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.