Poultry Farmer
SOC 11-9013.00 · ESCO 1311 · OSCA 152935
Role snapshot
Overview
Raises chickens, ducks, or other birds for eggs or meat, managing housing environments, feeding schedules, and disease prevention programs. This role involves overseeing the daily operations of a poultry farm, tracking production data, maintaining specialized equipment like incubators and climate systems, and ensuring strict compliance with animal welfare, biosecurity, and food safety standards.
Contributes to food security by providing essential protein sources (meat and eggs) to consumers, while upholding animal welfare and rigorous food safety standards.
On the job
- Manage feeding and watering systems, ensuring consistent access to nutrients for poultry.
- Monitor bird health daily, identifying signs of disease or distress and administering basic veterinary care.
- Clean and sanitize poultry housing, coops, and related equipment to maintain biosecurity and hygiene.
- Collect, sort, and package eggs or prepare birds for processing according to quality standards.
- Track production records, inventory levels, and operational data for analysis and reporting.
Tools & technology
Average salary
Job outlook
StableDemand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Education & training
Vocational training, diploma, or on-the-job experience in animal husbandry or agricultural science is typically required.
AI impact outlook
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detail
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detailWhy this role received this rating
Core task exposure
low
How much of the role’s important work could AI perform?
AI can optimize feeding schedules, monitor environmental conditions, and detect early signs of distress or disease from sensor data and imagery.
End-to-end automation
low
Can AI complete the work without substantial human involvement?
While AI can manage environmental controls and automate some feeding, the holistic care of animals, hands-on interventions, and response to emergencies prevent full end-to-end automation.
Adoption pressure
moderate
How likely are employers to introduce AI into this work?
There is strong pressure to adopt AI for efficiency, animal welfare monitoring, and compliance, but the capital investment for integrated systems is significant.
Human dependence
moderate
How much does success depend on human judgement, relationships and accountability?
Success depends heavily on the farmer's direct observation of animal health, ability to administer basic care, and adaptive decision-making in response to unpredictable biological and environmental factors.
Protective — a higher rating lowers the overall score.
Role adaptability
moderate
How easily can the role evolve as AI takes on more tasks?
Farmers frequently adapt to new regulations, feed formulations, and disease challenges, indicating a moderate level of adaptability within the core animal husbandry tasks.
Shown for context — not part of the score.
What AI may take on
These are the parts of the role most likely to be automated or significantly accelerated.
- Optimizing feeding and watering schedules based on bird growth and environmental factors
- Monitoring barn climate (temperature, humidity, ammonia) and adjusting ventilation automatically
- Detecting unusual bird behavior or early disease signs via computer vision and acoustic sensors
- Predicting optimal harvest times or egg laying cycles based on data
- Managing and analyzing production records for efficiency improvements
Where people remain essential
These parts continue to depend heavily on human judgement, relationships and accountability.
- Administering basic veterinary care and responding to individual animal health crises
- Performing hands-on cleaning and sanitization of housing and equipment
- Conducting detailed physical inspections of birds and facilities for biosecurity
- Dealing with unexpected equipment failures or environmental challenges
- Handling and collecting eggs or preparing birds for processing
- Making nuanced judgments about animal welfare beyond sensor data
How the role may evolve
Less time on routine monitoring, more on complex animal welfare and farm strategy.
AI will handle much of the routine environmental control and data logging, allowing farmers to focus more on complex animal health issues, strategic biosecurity, and the overall business management of the farm. The role becomes more supervisory and analytical, relying on AI-driven insights.
Strengthen your future fit
- Understanding and interpreting data from AI monitoring systems
- Advanced animal health and welfare assessment beyond basic observation
- Proficiency with integrated farm management software
- Strategic planning for biosecurity and resource management
- Troubleshooting and maintaining automated farm equipment
- Assessment horizon
- 3–7 years
- Confidence
- High
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
- Methodology
- v1.0
This assessment reflects current AI capabilities and expected adoption patterns. Actual impacts will vary by industry, employer and the way each role is performed.
Career pathways
WHERE YOU COULD GO
CURRENT ROLE
Poultry Farmer
Agriculture & Food
ADJACENT MOVES
STARTING POINTS
Who thrives here
Interest profile
enterprising · ERC
Individuals who thrive on practical, hands-on work with animals and equipment, enjoy structured routines, and are entrepreneurial in managing farm operations often find success in this role.
Personality characteristics
Practical
Focuses on tangible results and efficient, proven methods for animal care and farm management, rather than abstract theories.
Diligent
Consistently follows strict schedules for feeding, cleaning, and health checks to ensure optimal bird welfare and production.
Independent
Comfortable working alone or with a small team, often requiring self-reliance and initiative in daily tasks.
Responsible
Dedicated to the welfare of the animals and committed to maintaining high standards of food safety and ethical practices.
Resilient
Manages the challenges inherent in farming, such as disease outbreaks or equipment failures, with a calm and steady approach.
Best for
- Individuals who enjoy working with animals and operating farm equipment.
- Those who prefer a structured, independent work environment with clear daily responsibilities.
- People committed to producing food and ensuring animal welfare.
Watch out for
- Requires regular weekend and early morning work, as animal care is a 24/7 responsibility.
- Can involve physically demanding tasks and exposure to outdoor elements and farm environments.
A week in the life
A representative working week for a Poultry Farmer — where the deep work, meetings, and admin actually land.
Real people. Real results.
Thousands of people
can't be wrong.
Frequently asked questions about Poultry Farmer roles
What does a Poultry Farmer do?
A Poultry Farmer raises chickens, ducks, or other birds for eggs or meat, managing housing environments, feeding schedules, and disease prevention programs. This role involves overseeing the daily operations of a poultry farm, tracking production data, maintaining specialized equipment like incubators and climate systems, and ensuring strict compliance with animal welfare, biosecurity, and food safety standards. Contributes to food security by providing essential protein sources (meat and eggs) to consumers, while upholding animal welfare and rigorous food safety standards.
How much does a Poultry Farmer earn?
A Poultry Farmer earns a median of $50,000 per year in the US, typically ranging from $35,000 to $75,000.
What qualifications do you need to become a Poultry Farmer?
To become a Poultry Farmer, vocational training, diploma, or on-the-job experience in animal husbandry or agricultural science is typically required.
What personality suits a Poultry Farmer?
Poultry Farmer roles tend to suit people who are highly conscientious — precise, organised and strong on follow-through (Conscientiousness 82/100) and steady under pressure — deadlines and setbacks do not rattle them easily (Emotional Stability 74/100). The traits that matter most in the role are Practical, Diligent, Independent and Responsible. Focuses on tangible results and efficient, proven methods for animal care and farm management, rather than abstract theories. On interests, Poultry Farmer maps to an ERC Holland Code profile — individuals who thrive on practical, hands-on work with animals and equipment, enjoy structured routines, and are entrepreneurial in managing farm operations often find success in this role.
Who does a Poultry Farmer role suit?
A Poultry Farmer role is usually a strong fit for these reasons. Strong Realistic and Conventional alignment: the role demands hands-on problem-solving, structured routines, and meticulous record-keeping. High Conscientiousness is crucial for maintaining biosecurity, animal welfare, and operational efficiency. The work involves direct care for animals and management of physical resources, appealing to those who prefer tangible outcomes.
What are the downsides of being a Poultry Farmer?
Poultry Farmer roles come with trade-offs worth weighing up. Requires regular weekend and early morning work, as animal care is a 24/7 responsibility. Can involve physically demanding tasks and exposure to outdoor elements and farm environments.
What is the work environment like for a Poultry Farmer?
Work as a Poultry Farmer is mostly mixed-based with onsite arrangements common, highly structured, with set processes and deadlines, a moderate pace and low exposure to clients or stakeholders. Around 8% of the week is focused deep work.
What skills do you need to be a Poultry Farmer?
Core skills for a Poultry Farmer include Animal husbandry, Farm equipment operation and maintenance, Disease prevention and biosecurity protocols, Data recording and analysis and Food safety and hygiene practices.
How do you become a Poultry Farmer?
Common entry routes into Poultry Farmer roles include Farm Hand, Agricultural Assistant and Vocational Agriculture Student.
What career progression is there for a Poultry Farmer?
From a Poultry Farmer role, common next steps include Farm Manager and Agricultural Consultant; lateral moves include Livestock Specialist.
What is the job outlook for Poultry Farmer roles?
The outlook for Poultry Farmer roles is currently rated stable. Demand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Will AI replace Poultry Farmer roles?
Traitstack rates automation risk for Poultry Farmer roles at 39 out of 100, which is low. Optimised schedules and environmental monitoring are ideal for AI, but hands-on animal care, health diagnosis, and physical maintenance stay with the farmer. AI is most likely to take on optimizing feeding and watering schedules based on bird growth and environmental factors, monitoring barn climate (temperature, humidity, ammonia) and adjusting ventilation automatically and detecting unusual bird behavior or early disease signs via computer vision and acoustic sensors. Administering basic veterinary care and responding to individual animal health crises, performing hands-on cleaning and sanitization of housing and equipment and conducting detailed physical inspections of birds and facilities for biosecurity stay with people. Less time on routine monitoring, more on complex animal welfare and farm strategy. That score measures how much of the work could change, not the likelihood the job disappears. It is Traitstack's current view, revisited as AI capability moves.