Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $89,900/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$54,320$160,020

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -1.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 85,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionManagement of Personnel ResourcesSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringActive Learning

Top knowledge areas

Administration and ManagementProduction and ProcessingBiologyMathematicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesEnglish LanguageFood ProductionEconomics and Accounting

Core tasks

• 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.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers?

The median pay for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers is $89,900 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers?

Employment for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers is projected to change -1.3% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers?

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

How many job openings are there each year for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers?

About 85,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.