Best degree programs for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, ranked by enrollment
32 college programs and 576 schools train Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $89,900 median wage, 6,500 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
32 college programs at 576 schools train farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers, graduating 25,668 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Animal Sciences, General. The job pays a median of $89,900 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
32 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 01.0901 | 7,897 | 30.8% | 124 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 2 | CIP 01.0102 | 3,742 | 14.6% | 167 | $47,242 | $19,964 |
| 3 | CIP 01.0101 | 2,251 | 8.8% | 127 | $47,242 | $19,964 |
| 4 | CIP 01.0601 | 2,248 | 8.8% | 141 | $35,900 | $14,000 |
| 5 | CIP 01.1102 | 1,367 | 5.3% | 65 | $42,861 | $20,500 |
| 6 | Agricultural Production Operations, Generalmain feeder CIP 01.0301 | 968 | 3.8% | 63 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
| 7 | CIP 01.1103 | 875 | 3.4% | 49 | $42,861 | $20,500 |
| 8 | Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Productionmain feeder CIP 01.0302 | 860 | 3.4% | 55 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
| 9 | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculturemain feeder CIP 01.0308 | 767 | 3.0% | 77 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
| 10 | Farm/Farm and Ranch Managementmain feeder CIP 01.0104 | 757 | 2.9% | 50 | $47,242 | $19,964 |
| 11 | CIP 01.1101 | 753 | 2.9% | 43 | $42,861 | $20,500 |
| 12 | Crop Productionmain feeder CIP 01.0304 | 526 | 2.0% | 52 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
| 13 | CIP 01.0307 | 479 | 1.9% | 43 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
| 14 | CIP 01.0999 | 274 | 1.1% | 10 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 15 | CIP 01.1004 | 239 | 0.9% | 27 | $51,883 | $21,000 |
| 16 | CIP 01.0903 | 230 | 0.9% | 9 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 17 | CIP 01.1105 | 196 | 0.8% | 17 | $42,861 | $20,500 |
| 18 | CIP 01.0606 | 156 | 0.6% | 26 | $35,900 | $14,000 |
| 19 | CIP 01.1106 | 137 | 0.5% | 19 | $42,861 | $20,500 |
| 20 | CIP 01.0907 | 134 | 0.5% | 9 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 21 | CIP 01.0604 | 133 | 0.5% | 18 | $35,900 | $14,000 |
| 22 | Aquaculturemain feeder CIP 01.0303 | 131 | 0.5% | 18 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
| 23 | CIP 01.0905 | 121 | 0.5% | 14 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 24 | Agricultural Business and Management, Othermain feeder CIP 01.0199 | 106 | 0.4% | 12 | $47,242 | $19,964 |
| 25 | CIP 01.0603 | 94 | 0.4% | 15 | $35,900 | $14,000 |
| 26 | Dairy Husbandry and Productionmain feeder CIP 01.0306 | 63 | 0.2% | 9 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
| 27 | CIP 30.3401 | 50 | 0.2% | 3 | — | — |
| 28 | CIP 01.0906 | 36 | 0.1% | 8 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 29 | CIP 01.0902 | 31 | 0.1% | 3 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 30 | CIP 01.0610 | 26 | 0.1% | 5 | $35,900 | $14,000 |
| 31 | CIP 01.0904 | 11 | 0.0% | 1 | $33,926 | $21,748 |
| 32 | Agricultural Production Operations, Othermain feeder CIP 01.0399 | 10 | 0.0% | 2 | $36,083 | $17,395 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $109,140 | 1,650 | 2.17× | 65 | 3,282 |
| Texas | $85,990 | 610 | 1.04× | 34 | 3,067 |
| North Carolina | $80,540 | 250 | 1.19× | 37 | 1,303 |
| Illinois | $99,440 | 120 | 0.47× | 35 | 1,265 |
| Iowa | $77,930 | 180 | 2.77× | 18 | 1,033 |
| Minnesota | $65,900 | 160 | 1.33× | 13 | 730 |
| Wisconsin | $86,320 | 30 | 0.28× | 15 | 691 |
| Missouri | $77,650 | 60 | 0.51× | 18 | 682 |
| Kansas | $102,490 | 40 | 0.59× | 18 | 667 |
| Oklahoma | $69,050 | 80 | 1.08× | 13 | 648 |
| Nebraska | $111,460 | 200 | 4.65× | 11 | 636 |
| Indiana | $83,100 | 90 | 0.67× | 5 | 587 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,040 | 80 | 0.33× | 14 | 568 |
| New York | $89,370 | 130 | 0.32× | 15 | 558 |
| Arkansas | $63,920 | 50 | 0.86× | 10 | 552 |
| Ohio | $65,990 | 100 | 0.43× | 23 | 528 |
| Kentucky | $74,640 | 110 | 1.35× | 12 | 518 |
| Georgia | $95,900 | 50 | 0.24× | 18 | 492 |
| Michigan | $82,620 | 270 | 1.49× | 15 | 422 |
| Virginia | $66,780 | 50 | 0.27× | 8 | 421 |
| Florida | $87,080 | 320 | 0.77× | 12 | 373 |
| Oregon | $81,560 | 190 | 2.28× | 10 | 364 |
| South Carolina | — | 40 | 0.39× | 5 | 355 |
| Mississippi | $95,210 | 80 | 1.61× | 10 | 354 |
| Washington | $103,240 | 140 | 0.94× | 11 | 323 |
| Idahomoderate | $81,010 | 250 | 6.93× | 4 | 309 |
| West Virginiamoderate | $62,740 | 50 | 1.57× | 4 | 196 |
| Montana | $110,250 | 30 | 1.51× | 6 | 147 |
| Maryland | $67,600 | 140 | 1.17× | 7 | 146 |
| New Jersey | $86,380 | — | — | 7 | 146 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $68,750 | 80 | 3.12× | 4 | 52 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Active Learning3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Writing3.3
- Mathematics2.9
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.1
- Production and Processing3.9
- Biology3.8
- Mathematics3.6
- Personnel and Human Resources3.4
- English Language3.4
Abilities
- Oral Expression3.9
- Problem Sensitivity3.9
- Inductive Reasoning3.9
- Deductive Reasoning3.9
- Oral Comprehension3.9
- Category Flexibility3.8
Core activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.4
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.2
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.1
- Scheduling Work and Activities3.9
- Thinking Creatively3.9
- Getting Information3.9
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Farmer
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience needed
- 5 years or more
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers23 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 01.0101Agricultural Business and Management, General
- 01.0102Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
- 01.0104Farm/Farm and Ranch Management
- 01.0199Agricultural Business and Management, Other
- 01.0301Agricultural Production Operations, General
- 01.0302Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production
- 01.0303Aquaculture
- 01.0304Crop Production
- 01.0306Dairy Husbandry and Production
- 01.0307Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management
- 01.0308Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
- 01.0310Apiculture(no graduates reported)
- 01.0399Agricultural Production Operations, Other
- 01.0601Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General
- 01.0603Ornamental Horticulture
- 01.0604Greenhouse Operations and Management
- 01.0606Plant Nursery Operations and Management
- 01.0609Public Horticulture(no graduates reported)
- 01.0610Urban and Community Horticulture
- 01.0901Animal Sciences, General
- 01.0902Agricultural Animal Breeding
- 01.0903Animal Health
- 01.0904Animal Nutrition
- 01.0905Dairy Science
- 01.0906Livestock Management
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Farmer?+
High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Animal Sciences, General, which awarded 7,897 degrees in 2024-25, 30.8% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Farmer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 32 programs to this occupation. The largest are Animal Sciences, Agricultural Business and Management, Agricultural Production Operations, Plant Sciences, plus 3 more. Together they graduate about 25,668 people a year.
How much do farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers earn?+
The median is $89,900 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $54,320 at the 10th percentile to $160,020 at the 90th. 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 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers growing?+
BLS projects a -1.3% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 85,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
576 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 32 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 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Farm Manager, Ranch Manager, Greenhouse Manager, Aquaculture Director among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 11-9013.
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 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected 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 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, 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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