If you like big, juicy Porterhouse steaks, wide open spaces and being your own boss, the job of a cattle rancher may appeal to you. Cattle ranchers earn almost twice as much as the average American worker, but their jobs are also physically strenuous. Income and profit fluctuates from year to year due to shifting overhead costs, government subsidies and public policies regulating the beef industry. Overall farm profit margins vary from 24 to 33 percent per head of cattle, as calculated by Utah State University extension services in The life of a cattle rancher revolves around birthing, branding, raising and selling cows, from one season to the. Your day might include rising at dawn, completing farm chores, moving the herd to a different grazing area, checking fences, baling hay and paying bills. In between tasks, you might grab a sandwich and drive into town to pick up a repair part for the tractor. Cattle ranchers must be proficient at planning, budgeting and cost accounting.