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Job outlook for agricultural sales representatives in the United States
Are agricultural sales representative jobs in demand?
Agricultural sales representative job and salary trends over time
Agricultural sales representative jobs over time
Agricultural sales representative job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 418 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 453 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 482 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 492 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 514 | 0.00% |
Average agricultural sales representative salary over time
Agricultural sales representative salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,792 | $43.65 | +6.9% |
| 2024 | $84,892 | $40.81 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $83,488 | $40.14 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $82,598 | $39.71 | --0.2% |
| 2021 | $82,755 | $39.79 | +3.7% |
Agricultural sales representative jobs by state
Most common states for agricultural sales representatives
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 310 | 45% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 467 | 44% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,494 | 36% |
| 4 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 3,021 | 34% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 355 | 34% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 207 | 33% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 4,137 | 32% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,008 | 32% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,291 | 31% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,661 | 30% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 392 | 29% |
| 12 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 3,207 | 28% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 544 | 28% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 842 | 27% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 261 | 27% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 918 | 26% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,152 | 25% |
| 18 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,147 | 25% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,498 | 24% |
| 20 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,451 | 24% |
Most common cities for agricultural sales representatives
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rome | 1 | 3% | $85,687 |
| 2 | Columbus | 1 | 2% | $92,655 |
| 3 | Lafayette | 1 | 1% | $92,694 |
Agricultural Sales Representative job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of agricultural sales representative experts
University of Maryland - College Park
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Maryland - College Park
Denison University
Lloyd Wilson
Professor and Center DirectorWhat will help Agricultural Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Lloyd Wilson: Communication. A person who is willing to learn by doing. A person who learns the ins and out of all aspect of production of each crop you work with from varietal selection to planting, fertilizing, irrigating, pest management and harvesting will be highly prized. Growers and consultants respect chemical reps who have a strong understanding of all aspects of production and management. Growers and consultants are certainly interested in knowing how to maximize the cost-effectiveness of their chemical options. But don’t b.s. about what you do and don’t know. Nothing wrong with saying I don’t know and will get back to you. Working for a chemical company means you need to know how to calibrate spray equipment, evaluate efficacy, determine cost-efficacy of the array of management options, and know how to work safely with potentially dangerous chemicals. Drone technology is quickly taking off. Obtain a license to operate drones with attachments that allow liquid, granular, and powder payloads application. Know the ins and outs of labels. Know the flexibility that your company provides you in terms of chemical pricing, assume there is a sales side to the position. At times, you will have to recommend other company’s chemistries. But if that happens too often, find a better company to work for. Learn how to work closely with your crop consultants, growers, university researchers, extension specialists, and local extension agents.
What Agricultural Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Maximizing your salary potential requires research, flexibility, and being your best advocate.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What Agricultural Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: All things social media are important, and so writing skills still matter.
What will help Agricultural Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: With this major, probably the best salaries are from sales jobs, which many people shy away from because they think only of hustling used cars, but sales can be very good work.
What Agricultural Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hank Boyd: With the looming prospects of AI, soft skills will reign supreme in sales. While at
first blush it might seem counterintuitive in that product knowledge used to be cardinal
skill, today's salesforce relies heavily on networking. Numerous academic papers lend
credence to this idea. Great people skills often trump wonkish knowledge about the
product line.
As we wade further into the 21st Century, environmental scanning (or better yet
the innate ability to read prospects) will remain pivotal. Exceptional salespeople
instinctively scan a prospective client's office noticing all the trappings. They are trying to find something they can comment upon, by doing so they can establish common
ground. Once a connection is forged, salespeople move out of the box of being pesky
interlopers into becoming valued associates.
Lastly, if you decide to embark on a career in sales never forget the tried-and-
true axiom of ABC - always be closing. This phrase means having the gumption to ask
for the business. While sales recruits might have congenial and bubbly personalities, if
they cannot look the prospect in the eye and ask for the business, they ought to find
another profession.
What will help Agricultural Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Hank Boyd: Nothing provides greater leverage in salary negotiations than having
documented sales experience. My advice would be to garner as much experience as you
can while in college. For example, you could fundraise for a nonprofit cause or a local
political campaign. If you have affiliation with a fraternity or sorority, volunteer to
serve on its recruitment committee. The bottom line is that you must convince any
potential employer that you naturally relate to people from all walks of life.
What's a day at work look like for an Agricultural Sales Representative?
Ashley Strausser: As we continue to live and work through a global pandemic, many new graduates will be working remotely or in some sort of hybrid variation. Working remotely necessitates discipline and being a self-starter. Graduates will need to develop strong professional work habits that will serve them well and lay a strong foundation as they begin their career. Many of us are challenged by a lack of social interaction beyond meetings with colleagues or clients via Zoom or Teams. Working from home for the last year, I can personally attest that attending to our physical and mental health is more important than ever. Take time to go for a walk or run on your lunch break. Set your alarm early to spend time meditating before you begin your work day. Don't get into the habit of rolling out of bed at 7:55am to start work at 8:00am. Consider doing yoga after work to help relieve stress. Make it a point to set up regular Zoom lunch dates to connect with or get to know your new colleagues. With our laptop and work space set up at home it's easy to get into the habit of working much more than we normally would if we were commuting to and from the office. It's important to set boundaries related to when and how much we work. Employ a strong work ethic, but don't neglect important aspects of your well-being.