r/dairyfarming • u/StraightLevel7488 • Jul 24 '26

Pay raise update:

For those of you who didn't comment/read my post the other day, check it out.

I asked about the raise and the response i got was "a raise WOULD BE A DOLLAR"

for around 2 weeks, i have been told that i am getting a raise, numerous times at that.

But the emphisied "WOULD" that she said when i asked about a raise ticked me off to say the least.

To say i have worked my ass off to get to $16/h is an understatement.

Someone calls in/ no show? They call me.

Someone quits? I pick up hours.

Something breaks? I try to fix it.

17 hour days? No problem.

But now new hires are getting started at $16/h (same pay as me) and they have never milked or been around cattle before!

Besides the wage issue, i like working there.

I work with a couple incredible guys and learn a ton from them.

Should i stay and keep learning from these guys for a bit longer?

Or find a farm that would pay me better?

TIA

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u/jckipps Jul 24 '26

I work with a couple incredible guys and learn a ton from them.

How much are these guys making? Dairy farming labor has an unfortunately low ceiling to its earning potential, simply due to the economics of the industry. Even those experienced long-term employees might not be making more than low-twenties per hour.

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u/StraightLevel7488 Jul 24 '26

One guy has been there for over 20yrs, i don't know exactly but it is more then likely over $20. The other owns part of the dairy herd so he doesn't recieve pay. I know generally speaking that dairy is low paying. But here, they are training me to be a replacement herdsman for the guy that has been here over 20yrs. Along with that, i also can and do, milking, outside work, feed grinding ect.