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Washington Farm Jobs

Directory of Farms, Orchards, etc

Working in Washington

The U.S. state of Washington ranks as the leading producer of nearly a dozen major commodities and offers widespread opportunities for employment. Around 39,000 farms encompass over 15 million acres of land in the territory. Items grown instill thriving food-processing operations resulting in more than $12 billion of additional revenue related to agriculture and farming. Total agricultural industry revenues for The Evergreen State fall around $51 billion, with roughly $8 billion generated annually from exports alone. Job hopefuls looking for farmhand, picker, or foreman positions in the mountainous region join over 160,000 part-time and full-time workers, who account for roughly 5% of the total state workforce.

While most of the state features rugged, mountainous topography, Washington stills excels as a major agricultural force. Factors contributing to the farming prowess of the area include high annual rainfalls and low annual snowfalls. Some parts of the state receive upwards of 300in. of rain per year. However, some regions experience desert-like conditions, as prevalent in the Columbia Basin. Warm, dry air circulates through the area down from the Cascade Mountain range, which cuts off precipitation and results in some places receiving less than 10 inches of rain a year in contrast. Average soil temperatures throughout The Evergreen State fall between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which often enables farming year-round.

More than a dozen counties throughout the State of Washington contain more than 1,000 farms. The highest concentrations of farms reside in the central, northern, and eastern portions of the state. Yakima County in south central Washington boasts the largest number of farms (over 3,100) and produces close to $1.65 billion worth of top commodities like apples, hay, and milk. Wenas Creek Ranch in Selah, WA, operates on nearly 300 acres and offers dozens of employment opportunities for individuals interested in picking and farmhand jobs. Another large operation, Cleman Ranch, maintains more than 1,000 acres in Yakima County and also serves as an excellent place to find agricultural jobs in the state.

Pay scales typically sit well above the national average at $12.00 or so per hour for entry-level farmhands and rise to more than $70,000 annual salary for select animal breeders, equipment operators, inspectors, and foremen. Farms and related organizations like Washington State Department of Agriculture may offer employment benefits packages to professionals in certain career fields. Common job benefits include 401(k) retirement plans, paid time off, and healthcare coverage. Workers may also receive various options for life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, depending on the inherent risks of given job titles.