Also called: Broiler Grower, Chicken Farmer
Owns barns and raises chickens or turkeys under contract for a large poultry company.
Each morning the grower walks every barn, checking water lines, feeders, fans, and the birds themselves. The company supplies chicks and feed; the grower supplies labor, barns, and care, and gets paid based on how well the flock grows.
Net farm income varies widely from year to year.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Usually learned on a family farm; big up-front loans are needed to build barns.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Self-taught. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Poultry Science, Agricultural Business.
Growing about average. Income depends heavily on the contract, number of barns, and debt.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Barn controllers already run feed, water and climate; growers still walk flocks, fix systems and carry the loan risk.
Classes: Agriculture science CTE, Business or accounting, Ag mechanics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-9013.
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.