2

Entry Level Ranch Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Discovery Ranch, a leading residential treatment center for boys aged 13-18 in Utah, is seeking ... * Entry level with opportunity to advance * Flexible schedule options * Gain professional ...

Discovery Ranch, a leading residential treatment center for boys aged 13-18 in Utah, is seeking ... * Entry level with opportunity to advance * Flexible schedule options * Gain professional ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Entry Level Ranch information

See salary details

$19.5K

$41.6K

$63.5K

How much do entry level ranch jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level ranch in the United States is $41,571.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $32,000.00 and $47,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Are Entry Level Ranch Jobs?

Working in an entry-level ranch position, you assist farmhands in a variety of ways. Your responsibilities task you with the repair and maintenance of equipment, vehicles, and structures. You also feed and tend to animals. Some of your duties may include branding livestock, shearing sheep, herding cattle, or treating sick animals. Haying, the process of making hay, is another critical responsibility. In some cases, you might also tend to visitors on the ranch as you take them hiking or teach them horse riding skills. Ranch hands also assist in animal husbandry duties, such as helping with the birthing and weaning of calves.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Ranch Hand, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Ranch Hand, you need basic knowledge of animal care, physical stamina, and a willingness to learn, often with a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with basic farm equipment, tools, and possibly certifications in equipment operation are helpful. Strong work ethic, reliability, teamwork, and good communication skills help you stand out in this role. These skills ensure safe, efficient ranch operations and positive working relationships in a physically demanding environment.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level ranch workers, and how can they be overcome?

Entry-level ranch workers often face challenges such as adapting to physically demanding tasks, learning to handle livestock safely, and adjusting to early or irregular hours. Building stamina and seeking guidance from experienced ranch hands can help ease the physical demands. It’s important to actively listen during training and ask questions to understand animal behavior and equipment use. Developing a routine and maintaining open communication with the team will also help new workers adjust more smoothly to the ranch environment.

What is the difference between Entry Level Ranch vs Entry Level Farm Worker?

AspectEntry Level RanchEntry Level Farm Worker
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; basic knowledge of animal care and equipmentHigh school diploma or equivalent; basic agricultural skills
Work EnvironmentRanches, outdoor, rural settings, involving livestock and land managementFarms, outdoor, rural or semi-rural, involving crop and livestock work
Employer & Industry UsageRanching companies, agricultural operations, livestock farmsFarming companies, agricultural cooperatives, livestock and crop farms

Entry Level Ranch and Entry Level Farm Worker roles share similar credentials and outdoor work environments, often involving livestock and land management. The main difference lies in the specific focus: ranch roles typically emphasize livestock handling and land stewardship, while farm worker positions may involve a broader range of agricultural tasks including crop work. Both roles serve the agricultural industry and require physical stamina and basic skills, making them closely related entry-level positions in rural settings.

What cities are hiring for Entry Level Ranch jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Ranch job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Ranch jobs? The most popular types of Ranch jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Ranch jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Ranch jobs include:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Ranch job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,571 per year, or $20 per hour.
Range Cowboy ZX Ranch (Paisley, OR)

Range Cowboy ZX Ranch (Paisley, OR)

Simplot

Paisley, OR

Full-time

Posted 10 hours ago


J.R. Simplot rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 48 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

178th of 380 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

The J.R. Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.

Summary

This position is a skilled, hands-on ranch role requiring extensive horseback experience, strong livestock-handling abilities, and the capacity to work confidently with young horses. The ideal candidate is dependable, observant, and capable of managing cattle across large rangeland environments while supporting daily ranch operations with professionalism and care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This is not an entry-level position. Prior experience is required. Candidates must be capable of riding young horses and shoeing horses. This role involves daily horseback work and requires strong livestock-handling skills.

Primary responsibilities include:

· Safely identifying and responding to sick, injured, or stressed animals.

· Quietly and competently pulling cattle from pens for treatment.

· Gathering cattle across some of the largest ranges and pastures in Oregon.

· Assisting with calving operations as needed.

· Supplementing feed during winter months.

· Assisting with horse training and providing daily horse care, including shoeing, doctoring, feeding, and grooming.

· Repairing and maintaining pasture and range fences.

· Following established medical treatment plans under the direction of the Staff Veterinarian and/or Crew Boss.

· Assisting with cattle processing and shipping, including sorting, branding, vaccinating, worming, and tagging.

· Moving cattle between pastures as directed by the Crew Boss.

· Performing additional duties as assigned.

Successful candidates must be able to follow instructions, work independently, and collaborate effectively with a crew.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience:

· Solid working knowledge of animal health, cattle behavior, and livestock conditions, typically gained through a minimum of four years of related experience and/or training.

· This is not an entry-level cowboy position; candidates must bring a well-developed skill set built through extensive hands-on experience in the field.

· Applicants should demonstrate proven competency in all aspects of cattle handling, horse work, and ranch operations.

Language Skills:

· Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.

· Ability to write simple correspondence.

· Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills:

· 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 money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

Reasoning Ability:

· Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.

· Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Additional Requirements, Skills & Abilities:

· Must be a licensed driver of single axle vehicles.

· Ability to saddle and ride young horses.

· Must provide own tack.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to mount and unmount horse multiple times a day and sit in a saddle for long periods of time.

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and reach with hands and arms.

· The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; and use hands/fingers to handle, manipulate, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

· The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

· The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.

· Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, color vision, and depth perception.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions and is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles.

· The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.

· The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.


 

Job Requisition ID: 25362

Travel Required: None

Location(s): L&L ZX Ranch - Paisley 

Country: United States


**The J.R. Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status. **


What J.R. Simplot employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Simplot logo

About Simplot

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The J.R. Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held organization, with roots firmly planted in agriculture and agriculture-related businesses. The J.R. Simplot Company is a true farm-to-table company with operations that touch every aspect of agriculture, including seed production, farming and ranching, plant sciences, fertilizer manufacturing, food processing, commercial product development, and distribution.

Industry

Agriculture

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Boise, ID, US

Social media