Also called: Hog Farm Technician, Sow Farm Technician
Cares for pigs on a modern hog farm, from breeding and farrowing to raising piglets.
Techs shower in before entering the barn to keep diseases out, then check sows, help with births, give piglets their first care, and record everything in a tablet. Barns are climate-controlled, and good techs can move into management quickly.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. On-the-job training; many farms pay for animal-care certifications.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Animal Science, Agricultural Production (2-year).
Shrinking (about -2% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 45-2093: Decline (-1% or lower).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Automated feed, climate and sow monitoring cut chores; births, piglet care and health checks keep people in the barn.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to hog farms and pork companies (Smithfield, Pipestone, local farms) for animal caretaker jobs
Classes: Animal science CTE, Biology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 45-2093.
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