Management
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
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.
Median pay
$89,900
Growth to 2035
−3%
declining
Openings a year
70,800
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
Calculate your switch to farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
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.
Also called: Aquaculture Director · Farm Manager · Farm Operations Technical Director · Fish Hatchery Manager · Greenhouse Manager · Harvesting Manager · Hatchery Manager · Hatchery Supervisor
Outlook and AI
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers held 788,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 762,200 by 2035 (−3%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
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