Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers: Job Description
Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers Perform?
The core tasks performed by farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers span:
- Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
- Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
- Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
- Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
- Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
- Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
- Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries.
- Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Accredited Farm Manager (AFM)
- Activation Manager
- Agricultural Crop Farm Manager
- Agricultural Manager
- Agriculture Farmer
- Agriculture Manager
- Agronomy Manager
- Agronomy Operations Manager
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 201,722 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.7% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $84,680 |
| Hourly median | $40.71 |
| 10th percentile | $50,703 |
| 25th percentile | $67,692 |
| 75th percentile | $101,669 |
| 90th percentile | $118,658 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $107,780 |
| Maine | $104,000 |
| Iowa | $100,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,440 |
| Florida | $94,990 |
| Wisconsin | $94,100 |
| Montana | $92,760 |
| Illinois | $90,370 |
| Washington | $89,450 |
| Maryland | $88,770 |
| Oregon | $88,620 |
| Massachusetts | $88,290 |
| Minnesota | $85,060 |
| Michigan | $83,990 |
| Virginia | $79,770 |
| North Carolina | $79,690 |
| Kansas | $79,280 |
| New York | $78,130 |
| Missouri | $76,280 |
| Nebraska | $76,200 |
| New Jersey | $73,900 |
| Texas | $72,220 |
| Indiana | $68,610 |
| Kentucky | $67,930 |
| Hawaii | $66,870 |
| Oklahoma | $64,500 |
| Ohio | $63,150 |
| West Virginia | $56,200 |
Where Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers Earn the Most
Pay for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $103,272 | 40.1% | 1.96 |
| Rocky Mountains | $92,760 | 0.7% | 1.69 |
| New England | $88,290 | 1.0% | 0.28 |
| Southeast | $86,630 | 18.2% | 0.98 |
| Plains States | $86,275 | 11.5% | 2.08 |
| Middle Atlantic | $82,858 | 4.5% | 0.50 |
| Southwest | $70,952 | 16.7% | 1.17 |
| Great Lakes | $69,490 | 7.2% | 0.72 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | CA | $124,170 | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $123,380 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $122,820 | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $121,950 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $119,700 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $112,690 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $111,260 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $110,990 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
The bulk of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 2,560 | $94,170 |
| Wholesale Trade | 520 | $100,480 |
| Manufacturing | 420 | $97,970 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 360 | n/a |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 350 | $137,910 |
| Educational Services | 330 | $76,010 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 240 | $85,600 |
| Retail Trade | 170 | $80,970 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Atlassian Confluence (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Biofuels Production Managers (Primary-Long)
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products (Primary-Long)
- Farm Labor Contractors (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Animal Scientists (Supplemental)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (Primary-Long)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Students preparing for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers typically earn programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
33 programs across 6 majors
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Production
- Plant Sciences
- Horticulture
- Food Science Technology
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9013.00 (Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.