First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Mean (average) | $62,730 | $30.16 |
| 90th percentile | $91,770 | $44.12 |
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
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,710 | $40,390 | $97,180 | 590 | 1.55 |
| Arizona | $64,900 | $44,210 | $94,930 | 480 | 0.83 |
| Arkansas | $62,790 | $36,300 | $72,610 | 240 | 1.02 |
| California | $56,280 | $38,900 | $91,370 | 10,450 | 3.19 |
| Colorado | $66,030 | $41,200 | $95,630 | 640 | 1.24 |
| Connecticut | $59,460 | $50,760 | $80,540 | 60 | 0.2 |
| Delaware | $66,550 | $51,310 | $95,010 | 70 | 0.78 |
| Florida | $58,780 | $36,660 | $90,460 | 940 | 0.52 |
| Georgia | $70,560 | $42,800 | $98,560 | 770 | 0.87 |
| Hawaii | $60,050 | $41,360 | $69,650 | 230 | 2.06 |
| Idaho | $69,360 | $37,190 | $98,350 | 530 | 3.47 |
| Illinois | $59,030 | $31,210 | $97,500 | 510 | 0.46 |
| Indiana | $75,460 | $49,970 | $97,930 | 220 | 0.38 |
| Iowa | $59,150 | $38,480 | $95,630 | 360 | 1.3 |
| Kansas | $58,670 | $26,980 | $79,460 | 270 | 1.05 |
| Kentucky | $62,030 | $37,040 | $93,380 | 320 | 0.9 |
| Louisiana | $59,020 | $44,020 | $95,970 | 490 | 1.4 |
| Maine | $64,290 | $52,180 | $93,070 | 100 | 0.9 |
| Maryland | $62,230 | $38,660 | $90,170 | 200 | 0.39 |
| Massachusetts | $59,640 | $46,160 | $80,500 | 390 | 0.6 |
| Michigan | $55,460 | $39,050 | $82,430 | 500 | 0.63 |
| Minnesota | $81,480 | $50,690 | $108,700 | 230 | 0.43 |
| Mississippi | $60,890 | $40,320 | $95,440 | 440 | 2.13 |
| Missouri | $60,950 | $42,460 | $79,270 | 430 | 0.81 |
| Montana | $64,990 | $38,470 | $84,460 | 260 | 2.82 |
| Nebraska | $62,620 | $43,680 | $84,530 | 90 | 0.52 |
| Nevada | $61,180 | $36,600 | $79,890 | 130 | 0.48 |
| New Hampshire | $74,420 | $49,420 | $105,670 | 40 | 0.35 |
| New Jersey | $57,240 | $42,170 | $89,740 | 270 | 0.35 |
| New Mexico | $50,160 | $40,680 | $76,940 | 220 | 1.4 |
| New York | $66,460 | $51,700 | $85,700 | 520 | 0.3 |
| North Carolina | $58,700 | $34,220 | $95,780 | 560 | 0.64 |
| Ohio | $54,940 | $35,170 | $87,030 | 380 | 0.38 |
| Oklahoma | $62,040 | $35,730 | $87,370 | 220 | 0.71 |
| Oregon | $57,940 | $39,290 | $88,920 | 840 | 2.37 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,570 | $41,670 | $87,860 | 530 | 0.49 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,800 | $24,960 | $82,480 | 210 | 1.26 |
| Rhode Island | $53,770 | $49,900 | $86,380 | 60 | 0.61 |
| South Carolina | $56,730 | $46,460 | $87,510 | 370 | 0.9 |
| South Dakota | $57,880 | $51,800 | $73,070 | 110 | 1.28 |
| Tennessee | $52,960 | $37,410 | $77,660 | 170 | 0.29 |
| Texas | $53,170 | $36,810 | $82,000 | 1,150 | 0.45 |
| Utah | $52,760 | $42,480 | $87,050 | 160 | 0.5 |
| Vermont | $68,630 | $47,840 | $92,890 | 40 | 0.66 |
| Virginia | $56,990 | $40,710 | $89,470 | 670 | 0.91 |
| Washington | $66,200 | $43,590 | $94,430 | 1,220 | 1.92 |
| West Virginia | $53,190 | $43,770 | $72,520 | 70 | 0.54 |
| Wisconsin | $62,610 | $38,480 | $92,940 | 330 | 0.62 |
| Wyoming | $59,640 | $41,440 | $74,370 | 40 | 0.83 |
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 first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 7,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 6.3%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- 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
- Agricultural Business and Management, General CIP 01.0101
- 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
- Agricultural and Food Products Processing CIP 01.0401
- Greenhouse Operations and Management CIP 01.0604
- Plant Nursery Operations and Management CIP 01.0606
- Animal Sciences, General CIP 01.0901
- 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
- Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management CIP 03.0301
- Forestry, General CIP 03.0501
- Forest Resources Production and Management CIP 03.0510
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.
- Record the numbers and types of fish or shellfish reared, harvested, released, sold, and shipped.
- Monitor workers to ensure that safety regulations are followed, warning or disciplining those who violate safety regulations.
- Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior, notifying veterinarians or managers as warranted.
- Observe fish and beds or ponds to detect diseases, monitor fish growth, determine quality of fish, or determine completeness of harvesting.
- Train workers in tree felling or bucking, operation of tractors or loading machines, yarding or loading techniques, or safety regulations.
- Treat animal illnesses or injuries, following experience or instructions of veterinarians.
- Train workers in spawning, rearing, cultivating, and harvesting methods, and in the use of equipment.
Technology skills
- Atlassian Confluence (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- BCS Woodlands Software The Logger Tracker
- Cattlesoft CattleMax
- Database software
- Employee scheduling software
- Landmark Sales LOG-istics
- Lion Edge Technologies Ranch Manager
- Mapping software
- Midwest MicroSystems Cow Sense
- Payroll software
- Sage 50 Accounting
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Animal Research Facility Supervisor, Cattle Manager, Farm Supervisor, Fish Hatchery Manager, Harvesting Supervisor, Hatchery Manager, Logging Crew Foreman, Logging Supervisor, Pest Management Supervisor, Wildlife 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 first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers make?
The national median annual wage for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers was $59,320 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,990 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $91,770. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers to change +3.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 7,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($81,480), Indiana ($75,460), New Hampshire ($74,420). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.