Also called: Milking Technician, Parlor Worker
Milks cows in a dairy parlor and keeps an eye on herd health.
Cleans and preps udders, attaches milking units to rows of cows, and spots early signs of illness, often on overnight shifts since cows are milked around the clock.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
No formal education, about 0 years after high school. No degree; dairies hire and train you on the job to run the milking parlor and spot sick cows, and FFA or 4-H experience helps.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Shrinking. Robotic milkers are reducing jobs.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Robotic milking systems are spreading fast and need fewer milkers per herd; the jobs that remain watch cows and robots.
Age 16+. One way to start: Call local dairies or check your state dairy association job board; many hire for early or night milkings
Classes: Agriscience (FFA), Spanish, Biology, Animal science CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 45-2093.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.