Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
Also called: Farmers and 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.
Also called: Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), Activation Manager, Agricultural Crop Farm Manager, Agricultural Manager, Agriculture Farmer, Agriculture Manager
Median pay
$89,900
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$54,320 – $160,020
People employed
6,500
Holland code
ERC
Enterprising · Realistic · Conventional
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.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 4.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (30 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers salary in every state →
What farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers do
- 01Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
- 02Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
- 03Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
- 04Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
- 05Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
- 06Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Biology
- Mathematics
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Perseverance
- Leadership Orientation
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
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 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Biofuels Production Managers81% · group pay
- Industrial Production Managers78% · +40%
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers74% · −34%
- Biomass Power Plant Managers70% · group pay
- Facilities Managers69% · +19%
Change into farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers81% · $59,320
- Biofuels Production Managers74% · $126,060
- Agricultural Technicians70% · $49,630
- Biomass Power Plant Managers70% · $126,060
- Chefs and Head Cooks67% · $62,470
Majors that lead here
- Agricultural Business and Management, General
- Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
- Farm/Farm and Ranch Management
- Agricultural Business and Management, Other
- Agricultural Production Operations, General
- Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production
- Aquaculture
- Crop Production
- Dairy Husbandry and Production
- Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
- Apiculture
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.