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Cattle Driver Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Feed Truck Driver Providers of nourishment and sustenance necessary for growth, Cobalt Cattle feed truck drivers are responsible for safe and efficient feed delivery to our animals. Possessing a keen ...

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Feed Truck Driver Providers of nourishment and sustenance necessary for growth, Cobalt Cattle feed truck drivers are responsible for safe and efficient feed delivery to our animals. Possessing a keen ...

Topo Interim Ranch Foreman

King City, CA · On-site

$26 - $29.75/hr

Valid California driver's license with a clean driving record. * Excellent communication and organizational skills. Preferred * Bilingual (English/Spanish). * Experience with large-scale cattle ranch ...

Peachtree Ranch Foreman

King City, CA · On-site

$26 - $29.75/hr

Valid California driver's license with a clean driving record. * Excellent communication and organizational skills. Preferred * Bilingual (English/Spanish). * Experience with large-scale cattle ranch ...

Peachtree Ranch Foreman

King City, CA · On-site

$26 - $29.75/hr

Valid California driver's license with a clean driving record. * Excellent communication and organizational skills. Preferred * Bilingual (English/Spanish). * Experience with large-scale cattle ranch ...

Peachtree Ranch Foreman

King City, CA · On-site

$26 - $29.75/hr

Valid California driver's license with a clean driving record. * Excellent communication and organizational skills. Preferred * Bilingual (English/Spanish). * Experience with large-scale cattle ranch ...

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Ranch Maintenance Worker

Lebec, CA · On-site

$43K - $43K/yr

Possess a valid California drivers' license in good standing. Effectively utilize equipment in the ... Cattle leases cover about 250,000 acres (1,012 km2), and depending on the season, up to 12,000 head ...

Topo Interim Ranch Foreman

King City, CA · On-site

$26 - $29.75/hr

Valid California driver's license with a clean driving record. * Excellent communication and organizational skills. Preferred * Bilingual (English/Spanish). * Experience with large-scale cattle ranch ...

Topo Interim Ranch Foreman

King City, CA · On-site

$26 - $29.75/hr

Valid California driver's license with a clean driving record. * Excellent communication and organizational skills. Preferred * Bilingual (English/Spanish). * Experience with large-scale cattle ranch ...

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Calf Ranch Manager

Hilmar, CA · On-site

$75K - $100K/yr

... hands-on cattle experience in a commercial dairy, calf ranch, or maternity barn setting. · ... CA driver's license and reliable transportation. · Available to work a flexible schedule ...

Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no ... We fundamentally believe the biggest driver of company success will be the speed and quality of our ...

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Cattle Driver information

See California salary details

$14

$20

$28

How much do cattle driver jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for cattle driver in California is $20.12, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $19.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cattle driver, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cattle Driver, you need strong livestock handling skills, physical stamina, and basic animal husbandry knowledge, often gained through experience or agricultural training. Familiarity with tools such as lassos, horse tack, ATVs, and sometimes GPS systems is important for managing herds efficiently. Good communication, situational awareness, and problem-solving abilities are valuable soft skills for coordinating with team members and responding to unexpected challenges. These skills ensure the safe, efficient movement of cattle and minimize stress or injury to animals, which is vital for successful ranch operations.

What are some common challenges faced by cattle drivers during long drives, and how can they be managed?

Cattle drivers often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather, maintaining herd cohesion, and ensuring the health and safety of the cattle over long distances. Managing these issues involves strong planning skills, effective communication with team members, and the ability to quickly respond to emergencies like stray animals or sudden storms. Successful cattle drivers also monitor the herd for signs of stress or illness and coordinate rest and feeding stops to keep the animals in good condition throughout the journey.

What is the difference between Cattle Driver vs Ranch Hand?

AspectCattle DriverRanch Hand
CredentialsNone typically required, experience preferredNone required, some experience beneficial
Work EnvironmentOpen ranges, pastures, ranchesRanches, farms, open fields
Industry UsageLivestock transportation, cattle herdingGeneral ranch work, livestock care

While both Cattle Drivers and Ranch Hands work in livestock environments, Cattle Drivers primarily focus on moving cattle over long distances, often requiring experience in handling animals and navigation. Ranch Hands perform a broader range of tasks, including feeding, fencing, and general ranch maintenance. Understanding these differences helps job seekers identify roles that match their skills and career goals.

How much do cattle drivers get paid?

Cattle drivers typically earn between $15 and $25 per hour, with annual salaries ranging from approximately $30,000 to $50,000 depending on experience, location, and the size of the operation. Compensation may also include room and board, especially for seasonal or long-distance drives, and requires physical stamina and knowledge of livestock handling.

How much money does a cattle driver make?

A cattle driver typically earns between $25,000 and $50,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the herd. Many cattle drivers work long hours in outdoor environments and may receive additional compensation or benefits based on their employer and workload.

What is a cattle driver?

Cattle drivers are workers responsible for moving herds of cattle from one location to another, often over long distances. They guide and manage the animals along trails, ensuring the herd stays together and reaches its destination safely. This job requires knowledge of animal behavior, navigation, and handling livestock, as well as physical endurance. Cattle drivers often work in teams and may use horses or other means to keep control of the herd.
What job categories do people searching Cattle Driver jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Cattle Driver jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Cattle Driver job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% Internship, 84% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,860 per year, or $20.1 per hour.

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Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

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Job description

We feed and grow much more than cattle, that’s why we’re dedicated to a higher standard of teamwork. Every Cobalt Cattle employee plays a vital role in ensuring our team is reliable and strong. Together we care, feed and grow all kinds.

Owning a tight bond with our cattle and horses, our pen riders instinctively understand animals and their needs. Their observation and intuition keep our feedyards organized and animals properly cared for. Cobalt Cattle pen riders decide when cattle need extra care and ensure our cattle are humanely raised with respect and empathy.

Feed Truck Driver

Providers of nourishment and sustenance necessary for growth, Cobalt Cattle feed truck drivers are responsible for safe and efficient feed delivery to our animals. Possessing a keen attention to detail and technical dexterity, they provide precise feed rations to cattle exactly when and where it is needed.

Mill Operator

Dedicated to high standards of quality nutrition, Cobalt Cattle mill operators ensure our cattle receive a diet that promotes healthy growth. They keep ingredients moving from storage to the mill, evaluate ingredient quality and observe production output for consistency. Mill operators manage mill feed outputs to allow our cattle the best inputs for humane, sustainable growth.

Animal Health Specialist

With gentle hands and precise detail, Cobalt Cattle animal health specialists care for sick cattle and maintain medical records so every animal has a chance to recover and perform. They maintain medical supplies and communicate across teams so everyone can champion cattle care.

Yard Maintenance

The glue that keeps Cobalt Cattle feedyards operating at full potential. Our yard maintenance team are hands-on problem solvers who maintain the feedyards and their equipment so that all Cobalt Cattle feedyards are Beef Quality Assurance-compliant. They are team players and champions of a safe and healthy work environment for all.

Management Trainee

With an insatiable hunger to learn and refine their skills, trainees have the opportunity to work across departments, touching all aspects of cattle management. Management trainees get experience in receiving, pen riding, doctoring, processing and milling. All the while, honing their management and animal husbandry skills to become future leaders at Cobalt Cattle.

Manager

With team spirit and expertise, Cobalt Cattle managers work alongside and coordinate across departments to make sure all cattle and feedyard workers can perform at maximum potential. With their teams, they perform high-quality work and foster continuous growth. Managers specialize in:

Overview: Identifies and doctors sick cattle and ensures that all livestock are handled in a professional and humane manner.

Essential functions

  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
  • Work closely with consultants to optimize cattle performance.
  • Doctor sick cattle in the manner prescribed by the Head Doctor or Cattle Manager.
  • Handle cattle in a manner to minimize stress.
  • Report substandard conditions in their area to Head Doctor or Cattle Manager.
  • Administer injections and/or other treatments according to the protocol.
  • Document all cattle movements and drug treatments by the established procedure.
  • Participates in quality and safety processes.
  • Participate and/or perform animal necropsies to determine cause of death.
  • Maintain all medications and medical supplies stored at the hospitals per direction of Head Doctor.
  • Keep health records in Walco.
  • Notify personnel responsible for end of day reports when doctoring is done for the day.
  • Perform housekeeping duties as assigned by Head Doctor.
  • Ensure compliance with all ISO/HACCP and OSHA/Safety procedures, rules and regulations.
  • Other duties may be assigned.
  • Adaptable to changes in the work environment.
  • High attendance and punctual.
  • Consciousness to preserve organizational resources.
  • Ability to follow instructions, respond to management direction; keep commitments; complete tasks on time or notify appropriate person with an alternate plan.
  • Strong ethics, ability to treat people with respect; work with integrity.
  • Ability to take initiative and start tasks on own, or ask for and offer help when needed.
  • Demonstrate sound and accurate judgment.
  • Possess strong oral communication; Listen and get clarification; respond well to questions.
  • Demonstrate ability to follow policies and procedures; complete administrative tasks correctly and on time.
  • Strong organizational skills and aptitude.
  • Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
  • Demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness.
  • Observe safety and security procedures.
  • Contribute to building a positive team spirit.
  • Show a strong desire to, continuously build knowledge and skills; share expertise with others.
  • Able to read and interpret written information.

Supervisory responsibilities

  • None

Work environment

  • Regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts, airborne particles and vibration.
  • Frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions and the noise level in the work environment is sometimes loud.
  • Regularly required to sit and reach with hands and arms.
  • Frequently required to climb or balance.
  • Occasionally required to walk and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
  • None

Required education and experience

  • High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or 1-3 month’s related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred education and experience

  • High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
  • Some herdsmen skills or the ability and desire to learn the skill.
  • Excellent communication skills are a must.
  • Must be self motivated, innovative, and adaptable.
  • Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American weight measurement, volume, and distance.
  • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
  • Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) skills are a plus

Competitive compensation and benefits including:

  • 401K Company Match
  • Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Time Off(PTO)

Work authorization/security clearance requirements

Cobalt Cattle Company participates in E-Verify. You must be authorized to work in the United States.

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

Cobalt Cattle Company, LLC. is an equal opportunity employer

Note: Specific statements in each section of this Job Description are not intended to be an all-inclusive explanation of work to be performed. They represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to perform the job successfully. Nothing in this document restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time. Employees are expected to perform any and all duties as assigned to the levels expected by management. This job requires regular and predictable attendance. The Employee’s signature below is only an acknowledgment of receipt and understanding of the job description and in no way alters the Employee’s “at will” employment, and neither implies nor constitutes a contract of employment for a definite period of time.

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