Beekeepers

Earnings for beekeepers vary greatly, even from year to year, as honey prices fluctuate and production from hives changes. Other variables that affect earnings include the number of hives a beekeeper has, the type of honey produced, and the season's weather conditions. Some beekeepers end up with no profits. Commercial beekeepers may only make in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. In 2023, PayScale.com reported that beekeepers working in the United States averaged about $44,000 per year. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports the average price paid for the honey crop was $2.52 per pound in 2023, down from about $3.01 in 2022, and yield per colony averaged 55.2 pounds in 2023, up 17 percent from the previous year. This means that a beekeeper could potentially earn about $139 from every colony owned. Remember, however, expenses and taxes have not been subtracted from this amount. To make a profit, a beekeeper typically needs to have thousands of colonies producing well. Medium- and small-sized operations usually have a difficult time turning any profit.

Some beekeepers are able to earn income through raising hives to rent to crop growers. Rental fees vary, but it's not unusual for a beekeeper in California to get $150 per colony for a two- to four-week period during the almond-growing season. Some small-scale beekeepers are able to market and sell specialty items (for example, beeswax-based products) that can be profitable, but again, this is usually a hobby or sideline, not an exclusive source of income.

Since beekeepers usually run their own businesses, they generally do not have paid sick days or holidays. In addition, they are typically responsible for providing their own insurance and retirement plans. Beekeepers who are salaried employees receive fringe benefits.