Agricultural technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Mean (average) | $53,840 | $25.89 |
| 90th percentile | $76,480 | $36.77 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Agricultural technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $62,990 | $43,140 | $75,950 | ||
| Arkansas | $46,750 | $34,990 | $61,460 | 260 | 2.02 |
| California | $60,320 | $43,340 | $75,230 | 2,420 | 1.37 |
| Colorado | $47,020 | $35,880 | $86,190 | 100 | 0.34 |
| Delaware | $52,510 | $39,670 | $67,080 | ||
| Florida | $42,700 | $37,490 | $75,840 | 240 | 0.25 |
| Georgia | $48,960 | $27,760 | $67,910 | 1,020 | 2.15 |
| Hawaii | $47,960 | $39,520 | $76,970 | 150 | 2.39 |
| Idaho | $48,870 | $37,960 | $69,410 | 650 | 7.81 |
| Illinois | $46,410 | $33,070 | $69,590 | 700 | 1.17 |
| Indiana | $46,170 | $35,590 | $73,840 | 410 | 1.31 |
| Iowa | $64,070 | $34,730 | $82,580 | ||
| Kansas | $47,200 | $34,670 | $78,680 | 450 | 3.24 |
| Kentucky | $59,860 | $30,460 | $76,980 | 210 | 1.05 |
| Maine | $47,410 | $33,390 | $59,500 | 50 | 0.81 |
| Maryland | $49,680 | $39,510 | $67,930 | 200 | 0.74 |
| Michigan | $42,780 | $38,290 | $64,790 | 450 | 1.05 |
| Minnesota | $57,310 | $37,440 | $87,550 | 530 | 1.84 |
| Mississippi | $48,800 | $29,550 | $78,360 | 190 | 1.67 |
| Missouri | $54,060 | $33,400 | $79,140 | 420 | 1.47 |
| Nebraska | $47,420 | $36,050 | $61,880 | 580 | 5.85 |
| Nevada | $43,590 | $38,480 | $55,790 | 40 | 0.26 |
| New Hampshire | $42,520 | $42,520 | $50,630 | 30 | 0.49 |
| New Jersey | $54,370 | $38,760 | $139,440 | ||
| New York | $45,830 | $39,330 | $69,490 | 380 | 0.41 |
| North Carolina | $51,470 | $37,280 | $66,810 | 550 | 1.14 |
| North Dakota | $46,960 | $36,660 | $64,270 | 100 | 2.43 |
| Ohio | Data unavailable | 140 | 0.26 | ||
| Oklahoma | $37,840 | $28,910 | $98,980 | ||
| Oregon | $46,800 | $35,980 | $65,740 | 480 | 2.51 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,800 | $36,770 | $87,110 | 110 | 0.19 |
| South Carolina | $41,290 | $32,970 | $62,350 | 100 | 0.44 |
| South Dakota | $41,420 | $34,930 | $54,170 | 350 | 7.78 |
| Tennessee | $45,130 | $35,600 | $62,390 | 60 | 0.2 |
| Texas | $50,270 | $37,400 | $95,850 | 120 | 0.09 |
| Utah | $46,560 | $35,300 | $62,720 | 40 | 0.23 |
| Virginia | $41,210 | $31,900 | $66,120 | 170 | 0.43 |
| Washington | $48,220 | $38,480 | $65,660 | 470 | 1.36 |
| Wisconsin | $46,470 | $38,130 | $65,760 | 620 | 2.17 |
| Wyoming | $63,120 | $53,220 | $82,440 | 30 | 1.26 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for agricultural technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for agricultural technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Agriculture, General CIP 01.0000
- Animal Sciences, General CIP 01.0901
- Dairy Science CIP 01.0905
- Poultry Science CIP 01.0907
- Plant Sciences, General CIP 01.1101
- Agronomy and Crop Science CIP 01.1102
- Soil Science and Agronomy, General CIP 01.1201
- Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs, Other CIP 01.1399
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General CIP 26.0101
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
- Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
- Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
- Collect animal or crop samples.
- Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.
- Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Email software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Statistical software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Instructing, Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Agricultural Research Technician (Agricultural Research Tech), Agricultural Research Technologist, Agricultural Technician (Agricultural Tech), Agriculture Assistant, Agronomy Research Technician (Agronomy Research Tech), Field Assistant, Insect Research Technician (Insect Research Tech), Lab Tech (Laboratory Technician), Seed Analyst.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do agricultural technicians make?
The national median annual wage for agricultural technicians was $49,630 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,980 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $76,480. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do agricultural technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is agricultural technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of agricultural technicians to change +5.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay agricultural technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Iowa ($64,070), Wyoming ($63,120), Arizona ($62,990). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.