FARMERS enjoyed the biggest pay rises out of all workers last year with most adding more than 10% onto their annual wage, according to Government figures.
The farmers' inflation-busting pay increases came as most workers saw wages outstripped by rising living costs, the Cabinet Office found.
Its new study shows total income from farming hit £5.464 billion last year, up 13% on 2012.
It means overall earnings from producing food have doubled since 2000, fuelled by increased demand at home and abroad.
The separate breakdown of average weekly income also shows farmers earned 13% more in at the end of 2013 than in January.
At the same time, wages in manufacturing rose by 6%, construction 5% and education 3%. Farmers even earned more than estate agents as the property market continued to recover from the slump.
However, people working in IT and health and social care saw pay fall by 1% in the year, with a 5% drop in incomes in hotels, restaurants and the arts and a 6% fall in miners' pay.
UK Farming Minister George Eustice said: "These latest figures are encouraging and show the industry doing well. A rise in global demand for British food and drink is providing growth opportunities that many of our businesses are taking up, increasing our exports by 50% over the last ten years."
In fact 2012 was a very bad year for farmers, but the figures show 2013 has reversed the losses to return to 2011 levels.
The increase in income may explain why farmers are among the happiest workers in the UK. A separate study found they have higher job satisfaction levels despite earning much less than doctors, lawyers or bankers.
Asked to rank life satisfaction out of 10, the clergy came top with an average of more than 8, despite an average income of just £20,568, the Cabinet Office said.
Second on the list are chief executives, who take home £117,000-a-year, but rate satisfaction at almost 8 out of 10.
Farmers were ranked eighth, with an average salary of £24,520, but their job satisfaction was well ahead of top teachers who earn almost double that.
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