Agricultural Sciences Teachers
O*NET title: Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Agriculture Professors
Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Agribusiness Instructor, Agribusiness Professor, Agricultural Economics Professor, Agricultural Education Professor, Agricultural Engineering Technology Instructor
Median pay
$98,700
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$50,870 – $163,150
People employed
8,920
Holland code
SIR
Social · Investigative · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Agricultural Sciences Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (39 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What agricultural sciences teachers do
- 01Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 02Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- 03Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- 04Supervise laboratory sessions and field work and coordinate laboratory operations.
- 05Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- 06Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as crop production, plant genetics, and soil chemistry.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Biology
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from agricultural sciences teachers
- Biologists72% · group pay
- Farm and Home Management Educators71% · −39%
- Epidemiologists68% · −12%
- Geneticists68% · group pay
- Soil and Plant Scientists67% · −20%
Change into agricultural sciences teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Farm and Home Management Educators91% · $60,220
- Animal Scientists74% · $68,940
- Preventive Medicine Physicians71% · $265,930
- Allergists and Immunologists69% · $265,930
- Dietitians and Nutritionists69% · $76,400
Majors that lead here
- Agriculture, General
- Agricultural Business and Management, General
- Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
- Agricultural Economics
- Farm/Farm and Ranch Management
- Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling
- Agricultural Business and Management, Other
- Agricultural Mechanization, General
- Agricultural Power Machinery Operation
- Agricultural Mechanization, Other
- Agricultural Production Operations, General
- Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.