Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
SOC code 11-9013 · O*NET-SOC 11-9013.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects numerous job openings for this occupation
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$89,900
a year
Hourly
$43.22
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$99,820
$47.99 per hour
Middle 50%
$66,300 – $118,860
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$54,320 – $160,020
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
6,500
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $54,320
- $26.12/hr
- 25th percentile
- $66,300
- $31.87/hr
- Median percentile
- $89,900
- $43.22/hr
- 75th percentile
- $118,860
- $57.14/hr
- 90th percentile
- $160,020
- $76.93/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-1%
Little or no change expected
836,100
jobs in 2024
825,000
projected for 2034
About 11,100 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers do?
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.
The tasks that matter most 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.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers earn?
The national median is $89,900 a year. The full range runs from $54,320 at the 10th percentile to $160,020 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 1% between 2024 and 2034 — little or no change expected. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Speaking3.6/5
- Active Learning3.4/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.1/5
- Production and Processing3.9/5
- Biology3.8/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.4/5
- English Language3.4/5
- Food Production3.4/5
- Economics and Accounting3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.