DO YOU WANT TO BE A COWBOY IN WYOMING? by Valerie A. Davis

 

So, you want to be a Cowboy in Wyoming? After examining information on wage rates, you might want to think again. Research & Planning found the average wage to be $1,050/ month plus room; this is for those who've been working steady. With all the work and the unpredictable weather to consider, is the love of the outdoors enough to sustain a cowboy?

Due to the lack of responses to the June/July 1995 Cattlehand, Summer Range and Livestock Worker Wage Surveys, the total number of cowboys in Wyoming cannot be determined. The results are as follows:

• There were 28 employers who responded out of 120 surveys sent for Cattlehand, Summer Range (23.4%). There were 19 employers out of 119 surveys sent for Livestock Worker (16%). The total number of cowboys that data was collected for was 91, from 12 different counties in Wyoming. All were instate workers. More accurate results could be obtained if more employers responded to the surveys.

The job descriptions are as follows:

• Cattlehand, Summer Range: Performs any combination of duties on a cattle ranch. Herds, castrates, brands, and feeds cattle. Repairs fences, food containers, water troughs. May train saddle horses. Rides horses as needed on range in control of cattle herds.
• Livestock Worker: Performs any combination of duties on a ranch. May herd livestock in and out of pens, to pasture. May clean pens, medicate, feed and water livestock. Usually works in or near the main ranch area or main herding area.

Valerie A. Davis is a Statistician with Research & Planning.

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