Missouri·Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations·SOC 19-4012

Best Agricultural Technician programs in Missouri, ranked by enrollment

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals.

46 schools in Missouri run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,115 people a year. The job pays a median of $54,060 in Missouri across about 420 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledAgronomistSeed AnalystCrop SpecialistPrecision AgronomistAgriculture AssistantAgricultural Technician (Agricultural Tech)Precision Agriculture Specialist (Precision Ag Specialist)Agricultural Research Technician (Agricultural Research Tech)
Graduates / yr
2,115
in Missouri
Median pay · Missouri
$54,060
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
420
people employed
Schools
46
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
50%
across those schools
Median net price
$20,482
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Missouri that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

6 programs in Missouri that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Missouri (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Missouri page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 26.0101In Missouri
1,669
78.9%
44$32,152$25,000
2
CIP 01.0901In Missouri
194
9.2%
4$33,926$21,748
3
CIP 01.0000In Missouri
156
7.4%
9$39,350$20,340
4
CIP 01.1101In Missouri
63
3.0%
3$42,861$20,500
5
CIP 01.1102In Missouri
25
1.2%
3$42,861$20,500
6
CIP 01.1201In Missouri
8
0.4%
1$50,408$22,424

Top 25 schools in Missouri

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 22 of the 46 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO Public · 4 feeder programs
470Biology/Biological Sciences, General$36,73275%78%
2Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield, MO Public · 6 feeder programs
201Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,71758%91%
3University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
191Biology/Biological Sciences, General$40,48355%72%
4Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
104Biology/Biological Sciences, General$24,92594%$14,12612%
5Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
98Biology/Biological Sciences, General$31,42058%74%
6Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
92Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,62080%$24,88675%
7Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO Public · 4 feeder programs
83Biology/Biological Sciences, General$37,98354%86%
8Logan University
Chesterfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
80Biology/Biological Sciences, General22%$17,90664%
9University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
80Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,40057%63%
10Kansas City University
Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
57Biology/Biological Sciences, General
11Truman State University
Kirksville, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
56Biology/Biological Sciences, General$31,43569%84%
12University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
56Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,10254%64%
13Lincoln University
Jefferson City, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
45Agriculture, General21%
14Ozarks Technical Community College
Springfield, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
43Agriculture, General33%
15Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
41Biology/Biological Sciences, General$33,76164%73%
16Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
36Biology/Biological Sciences, General$29,70366%$24,92195%
17Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
34Biology/Biological Sciences, General$31,14942%97%
18Drury University
Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
26Biology/Biological Sciences, General$33,69962%$20,48258%
19Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
25Biology/Biological Sciences, General75%$21,89070%
20Webster University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
22Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,75764%$25,09086%
21Jefferson College
Hillsboro, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
21Biology/Biological Sciences, General38%
22St Charles Community College
Cottleville, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
21Biology/Biological Sciences, General25%
23Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Fayette, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
19Biology/Biological Sciences, General$35,41651%$25,58257%
24Harris - Stowe State University
Saint Louis, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
19Biology/Biological Sciences, General$31,99328%
25Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
18Biology/Biological Sciences, General$30,48649%$17,43657%

All 46 schools in Missouri

Every school in Missouri with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Missouri that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
University of Missouri - ColumbiaColumbiaPublic4704
Missouri State University - SpringfieldSpringfieldPublic2016
University of Missouri - Kansas CityKansas CityPublic1911
Washington University in St LouisSt. LouisPrivate not-for-profit1041
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape GirardeauPublic982
Saint Louis UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit921
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryvillePublic834
Logan UniversityChesterfieldPrivate not-for-profit801
University of Missouri - St LouisSaint LouisPublic801
Kansas City UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit571
Truman State UniversityKirksvillePublic562
University of Central MissouriWarrensburgPublic562
Lincoln UniversityJefferson CityPublic452
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfieldPublic432
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRollaPublic411

What agricultural technicians earn in Missouri

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Missouri
$54,060
Mean annual
$57,590
Jobs in state
420
What the range looks like
10th pct$33,400Median$54,06090th pct$79,140
Versus the national median
+8.9%

U.S. median $49,630. Missouri pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.47×

Concentrated here: Missouri employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in Missouri

Kansas City, MO-KS
$51,380median
170 jobs
Jefferson City, MO
$40,540median
140 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+4.3%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
2,900
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
800
18,600 → 19,400
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
Plus moderate-term on-the-job training

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Agricultural Technicians page.

How to become a Agricultural Technician

Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingActive Learning

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Missouri

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 9 majors mapped to Agricultural Technicians9 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 01.0000Agriculture, General
  • 01.0901Animal Sciences, General
  • 01.0905Dairy Science
  • 01.0907Poultry Science
  • 01.1101Plant Sciences, General
  • 01.1102Agronomy and Crop Science
  • 01.1201Soil Science and Agronomy, General
  • 01.1399Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs, Other
  • 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Common questions

Answers for people weighing agricultural technicians programs in Missouri.

What degree do you need to become an Agricultural Technician?+

Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 1,669 degrees in Missouri in 2024-25, 78.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming an Agricultural Technician?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 6 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Animal Sciences, Agriculture, Plant Sciences, plus 1 more. Together they graduate about 2,115 people a year in Missouri.

How much do agricultural technicians earn in Missouri?+

The median is $54,060 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 8.9% above the U.S. median of $49,630. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for agricultural technicians growing?+

BLS projects a +4.3% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 2,900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Missouri?+

46 institutions in Missouri reported graduates from at least one of the 6 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do agricultural technicians work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Agronomist, Seed Analyst, Crop Specialist, Precision Agronomist, Agriculture Assistant, Agricultural Technician (Agricultural Tech) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-4012.

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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