What does a farmer earn?
Farmers produce and market crop and livestock products: they manage arable land and grassland, keep livestock, operate machinery and plan sowing, feeding and harvest by season and weather. Gross pay depends on region, type of employment (employed or with farm responsibility), collective agreements, farm branch and experience. As a guide, qualified farmers in Germany in 2026 often earn about €3,100–€3,700 gross per month; during apprenticeship typical ranges are around €950–€1,250.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Orientation figures as of 2026. Actual pay depends on collective agreements, farm size, region, farm branch (crops, livestock), responsibility and experience and is not a guarantee. Self-employed farm managers and operators can differ substantially.
Further training options
Job and everyday work
A farmer works, depending on the farm branch, in the field, in the barn and in the workshop: tending crops, caring for animals, operating machinery and securing harvests. Everyday work includes early starts, weather-dependent shifts, seasonal peaks at sowing and harvest, and coordinating feeding, documentation and farm workflows.
- Manage arable land and grassland: plan and carry out tillage, sowing, fertilization, plant protection and harvest.
- Feed, observe and care for livestock; ensure barn hygiene, animal welfare and health checks.
- Operate and maintain tractors and farm machinery for field and yard work.
- Plan around weather, seasons and market deadlines; handle peak periods at silage, grain harvest or barn work.
- Meet documentation and rules on fertilization, plant protection, animal identification and food safety.
- Coordinate with farm management, colleagues, contractors and advisors; secure quality of raw materials and processes.
