What Does A Beekeeper Do? | Beekeeper Jobs

Updated on September 11th, 2022

Most people know that beekeepers harvest honey from bees kept in boxes. However, to get that honey, beekeepers need to do quite a few things. So, what does a beekeeper do?

Beekeepers manage honey bees housed in hives as a hobby or commercially. Keeping bees healthy, beekeepers harvest bee products such as honey and beeswax, among other things, for their use or for sale. Seasonal needs and the objectives and scope of a beekeeping operation determine specific beekeeping tasks.

Honey bees function quite well without interference from a beekeeper. Bees build wax comb, raise brood, forage for nectar and pollen, make honey, and defend their turf. A beekeeper provides shelter, assists the bees when needed, and can manipulate the colonies to expand the apiary.

This article discusses the job of beekeeping and how it may vary at times.

What Is A Beekeeper Called?

Beekeepers are also called apiarists or apiculturists. Beehives are kept in an apiary.

These “bee” related words derive primarily from the Latin apis meaning “bee.” Honey bees are Apis millifera or honey-bearing bees. An apiarium is a “beehouse” or apiary, also called a beeyard (or bee yard).

The word apiculture is partly derived from the Latin cultura for “growing” (similar to “agriculture”). Thus, beekeeping is considered a form of agriculture or farming.

As agricultural workers, beekeepers are considered “essential workers” in some jurisdictions (such as New Zealand) as determined during the Covid-19 pandemic.

See our article Is Beekeeping Agriculture? for further explanation of how beekeeping is considered a farming activity.

Beekeepers Are Called Hobbyists, Sideliners Or Commercial Beekeepers

The U. S. Department of Agriculture estimates about 90% of US beekeepers are hobbyists.

Beekeepers in all these categories have the primary task of managing and caring for their bee colonies. With healthy colonies, beekeepers decide what hive products to harvest for either personal use (hobby beekeeper) or sale.

What Is The Job Of A Beekeeper?

A beekeeper’s primary job is to maintain the health and security of bee colonies to assure their productivity.

In large commercial operations, beekeeping duties may be divided among individuals.

For example, recently, I saw a job posting for a beekeeper where the primary responsibilities were to oversee honey processing and various other administrative tasks. The job description required beekeeping knowledge but did not seem to include a lot of work in the hives.

See this article for more information on how beekeepers manage their colonies.

What Does A Beekeeper Do Daily?

Beekeeping tasks and their frequency vary widely based on the time of year and the condition of the colonies.

As a backyard beekeeper, my most common daily task is strolling out to the beeyard, making sure the electric fence is active (to keep out bears), and observing the bees’ activity even during peak honey season.

In a large commercial operation with hundreds of colonies, a beekeeper may need to inspect hives daily to cover all the hives over time.

Hive inspections occur throughout the year. Every inspection involves assessing the health and condition of the colony.

However, the frequency, objectives, and depth of inspections vary. For example, winter inspections are generally limited to making sure entrances are clear of snow, hives are not damaged, occasionally checking if bees need supplemental feeding.

See our article How To Inspect A Beehive to learn more about how a beekeeper goes into a hive.

Spring beehive management tasks focus on cleaning up after winter, getting the colonies ready for the honey season, and managing the bee population.

Beekeepers focus on honey production and assisting bees through nectar dearth when food sources may be scarce. See Managing Beehives In Summer for more details.

A beekeeper’s fall tasks get bees and their hives ready for winter.

So, what do beekeepers do in the winter?

Beehives should not be opened in temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Bees cannot fly in such temperatures and are working hard to stay warm.

Hives should only be opened briefly on warmer winter days to see if supplement sugar feeding is necessary.

Winter is a good time to assemble and repair equipment and prepare for the coming season. Keep entrances free of snow so bees can get out on warmer days.

Where Do Beekeepers Work?

As agricultural workers, beekeepers spend a significant amount of time outdoors managing apiaries.

Work not requiring immediate attention to the bees, such as assembling equipment and record-keeping, is best performed outside an apiary. Some of this work can be indoors or outdoors depending on the weather and beekeeper’s facilities.

Processing of honey and some other products should be performed indoors under sanitary conditions. Honey, especially, attracts too many bees and other insects to be processed outdoors.

Commercial beekeepers may travel to other locations to provide crop pollination or bee removal from someone’s property.

How Do You Become A Beekeeper? | Beekeeper Education Requirements

Hobbyists learn beekeeping from various sources, including books, classes, online videos, mentors, beekeeping associations, and, most of all, hands-on experience.

See our series on how to start beekeeping and the article on beekeeping education for beginners for more information.

Most beekeeping jobs are available to experienced individuals that can demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills without meeting specific educational requirements. The Economic Research Institute (“ERI”) states, “On average, a High School Degree is the highest level of education for a Beekeeper.”1

In addition, some companies may provide training or apprenticeships. Alvéole, for example, provides beekeeping services, and some of their job postings require employees to attend multi-day training programs.

However, if you wish to make a career out of beekeeping, formal training may be helpful.

Some organizations and universities offer Master Beekeeping designations. To earn such a designation, individuals need to pass oral and written exams plus field tests.

These programs often have significant amounts of self-study and may blend in-person with online training. Beekeepers advance through various levels such as apprentice and journeyman before attaining master certification.

Master Beekeeping programs offer the opportunity for intense, detailed study of beekeeping.

While not a requirement for many jobs, a Master Beekeeper Certification tells potential employers that you are an extremely knowledgeable beekeeper. If you want to teach beekeeping classes, they may add to your credibility with likely students.

Beekeeping-related university and research jobs may have specific education requirements, such as degrees in relevant fields like entomology (the study of insects). For example, a recent job posting we saw for an educator at a major university required a master’s degree or higher plus seven years of experience.

What Can Beekeepers Make? | Beekeeper Salary

Do beekeepers make good money? That is for you do decide but here is some information to consider.

ERI says, “The average pay for a Beekeeper is $48,253 a year and $23 an hour in the United States. The average salary range for a Beekeeper is between $35,786 and $58,661.”[1]

Note: Bee removal services may require opening walls or other structural elements. Be sure you know what you are doing before taking on such assignments. For any commercial activities, be sure to comply with any legal requirements. Get good legal advice and explore insurance needs.

Conclusion

Beekeeping is an agricultural undertaking. A beekeeper’s primary job is the care and maintenance of honey bees.

Specific beekeeping tasks change with the seasons. Familiarize yourself with those seasonal needs.

Beekeeping can be rewarding whether pursued as a hobby, a part-time income generator, or a full-time career.

[1] Economic Research Institute Beekeeper Salary