The median annual wage of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $60,750 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,280 and the top 10 percent earned more than $106,980.
Incomes of farmers and ranchers vary from year to year because prices of farm products fluctuate with weather conditions and other factors. In addition to income from their farm business, farmers often get government subsidies or other payments that add to their income and reduce some of the risk of farming.
More and more farmers, especially operators of small farms, also rely on off-farm sources of income. Most farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers work full time.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition