UFUrban Farmer
UF
Career

Urban Farmer

By the numbers
Typical pay
$35,660 / yr
Education to start
No formal educational credential
Future demand
-3.3% by 2034
People in this job
266K
Figures shown for ·closest of 3 O*NET occupations
The work
A day, hour by hour
06:00
Morning walkthrough

Check every bed and system before the day heats up — first look counts.

06:30
Systems check

Read nutrient levels, pH, and water flow; adjust before plants stress.

07:30
Pest & disease scout

Spot early trouble — nutrient deficiency or actual disease? Call it now.

08:30
Harvest & pack

Cut ripe greens, weigh, and box them — market orders ship by noon.

10:00
Repairs & fixes

Broken pump or dead grow light — fix it fast or call a specialist.

11:00
Yield tracking

Log today's harvest against costs; figure out what's actually making money.

13:00
Market & deliveries

Drop produce at restaurants or the farmers market; collect payments and feedback.

15:00
Planting & pruning

Seed new trays, prune overgrown rows, keep the production pipeline moving.

16:30
Community workshop

Teach a small group hydroponics basics — hands dirty, questions flying.

Things you do
  • Tend crops daily — watering, pruning, and checking plant health.
  • Manage hydroponic or aquaponic systems and adjust nutrient levels.
  • Harvest ripe produce and prep it for market or delivery.
  • Troubleshoot broken pumps, grow lights, or irrigation lines on the spot.
  • Track yields and costs to figure out what's actually making money.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is this plant showing early disease, or just a nutrient deficiency?
  • Should I harvest now for peak quality, or wait for a bigger yield?
  • Is it worth fixing this system failure myself, or do I call a specialist?
  • Should I expand to a new crop, or double down on what's already selling?
  • Is this batch safe to sell, or do I pull it to be sure?
Education Pathways · how you get there
32 in 100 went the college route · 68 in 100 found another way in None, typically

People usually reach this work through experience rather than a college program.

Explore more colleges
Education mapped from O*NET:
If you like this, also look at