Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,320 | $26.12 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $89,900 | $43.22 |
| Mean (average) | $99,820 | $47.99 |
| 90th percentile | $160,020 | $76.93 |
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
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 31 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $63,920 | $36,760 | $136,730 | 50 | 0.86 |
| California | $109,140 | $73,790 | $174,810 | 1,650 | 2.17 |
| Florida | $87,080 | $53,720 | $186,940 | 320 | 0.77 |
| Georgia | $95,900 | $56,270 | $158,480 | 50 | 0.24 |
| Hawaii | $68,750 | $36,410 | $127,970 | 80 | 3.12 |
| Idaho | $81,010 | $68,120 | $130,160 | 250 | 6.93 |
| Illinois | $99,440 | $64,810 | $147,020 | 120 | 0.47 |
| Indiana | $83,100 | $49,700 | $154,080 | 90 | 0.67 |
| Iowa | $77,930 | $52,200 | $112,600 | 180 | 2.77 |
| Kansas | $102,490 | $60,340 | $199,990 | 40 | 0.59 |
| Kentucky | $74,640 | $58,350 | $129,460 | 110 | 1.35 |
| Maryland | $67,600 | $46,610 | $127,860 | 140 | 1.17 |
| Michigan | $82,620 | $40,140 | $125,550 | 270 | 1.49 |
| Minnesota | $65,900 | $60,940 | $104,530 | 160 | 1.33 |
| Mississippi | $95,210 | $26,000 | $124,800 | 80 | 1.61 |
| Missouri | $77,650 | $58,950 | $145,490 | 60 | 0.51 |
| Montana | $110,250 | $61,760 | $155,440 | 30 | 1.51 |
| Nebraska | $111,460 | $71,630 | $144,780 | 200 | 4.65 |
| New Jersey | $86,380 | $73,440 | $165,770 | ||
| New York | $89,370 | $51,020 | $156,210 | 130 | 0.32 |
| North Carolina | $80,540 | $38,150 | $252,100 | 250 | 1.19 |
| Ohio | $65,990 | $39,520 | $92,760 | 100 | 0.43 |
| Oklahoma | $69,050 | $51,000 | $104,580 | 80 | 1.08 |
| Oregon | $81,560 | $65,770 | $127,490 | 190 | 2.28 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,040 | $49,310 | $116,920 | 80 | 0.33 |
| South Carolina | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.39 | ||
| Texas | $85,990 | $43,240 | $129,560 | 610 | 1.04 |
| Virginia | $66,780 | $51,610 | $97,290 | 50 | 0.27 |
| Washington | $103,240 | $66,900 | $165,720 | 140 | 0.94 |
| West Virginia | $62,740 | $54,540 | $99,270 | 50 | 1.57 |
| Wisconsin | $86,320 | $76,850 | $127,410 | 30 | 0.28 |
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 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 70,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 66.9%.
- 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 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
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
- Agricultural Business and Management, General CIP 01.0101
- Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations CIP 01.0102
- Farm/Farm and Ranch Management CIP 01.0104
- Agricultural Business and Management, Other CIP 01.0199
- Agricultural Production Operations, General CIP 01.0301
- Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production CIP 01.0302
- Aquaculture CIP 01.0303
- Crop Production CIP 01.0304
- Dairy Husbandry and Production CIP 01.0306
- Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management CIP 01.0307
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture CIP 01.0308
- Apiculture CIP 01.0310
- Agricultural Production Operations, Other CIP 01.0399
- Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General CIP 01.0601
- Ornamental Horticulture CIP 01.0603
- Greenhouse Operations and Management CIP 01.0604
- Plant Nursery Operations and Management CIP 01.0606
- Public Horticulture CIP 01.0609
- Urban and Community Horticulture CIP 01.0610
- Animal Sciences, General CIP 01.0901
- Agricultural Animal Breeding CIP 01.0902
- Animal Health CIP 01.0903
- Animal Nutrition CIP 01.0904
- Dairy Science CIP 01.0905
- Livestock Management CIP 01.0906
- Poultry Science CIP 01.0907
- Animal Sciences, Other CIP 01.0999
- Viticulture and Enology CIP 01.1004
- Plant Sciences, General CIP 01.1101
- Agronomy and Crop Science CIP 01.1102
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Atlassian Confluence (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- AGCO Advanced Technology Solutions Fieldstar
- Accutech Systems Corporation AccuFarm-MGR
- Advanced Veterinary Services Ranch Vision
- Ag Connections Land.db
- Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management.
Common job titles: Aquaculture Director, Farm Manager, Farm Operations Technical Director, Fish Hatchery Manager, Greenhouse Manager, Harvesting Manager, Hatchery Manager, Hatchery Supervisor, Nursery Manager, Ranch Manager.
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 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers make?
The national median annual wage for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $89,900 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $54,320 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $160,020. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers to change -3.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 70,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Nebraska ($111,460), Montana ($110,250), California ($109,140). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.