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Job outlook for agriculture technicians in the United States
Agriculture technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected agriculture technician job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 1,800 new jobs for agriculture technicians are projected over the next decade.
Agriculture technician salaries have increased 13% for agriculture technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,294 agriculture technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 5,574 active agriculture technician job openings in the US.
The average agriculture technician salary is $47,919.
Are agriculture technician jobs in demand?
Agriculture technician job and salary trends over time
Agriculture technician jobs over time
Agriculture technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,294 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,504 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,486 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,341 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,298 | 0.00% |
Average agriculture technician salary over time
Agriculture technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,919 | $23.04 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | $47,712 | $22.94 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $46,238 | $22.23 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $45,163 | $21.71 | +6.3% |
| 2021 | $42,492 | $20.43 | +2.9% |
Agriculture technician jobs by state
Most common states for agriculture technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 97 | 7% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 45 | 7% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 55 | 6% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 275 | 4% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 126 | 4% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 39 | 4% |
| 7 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 439 | 3% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 308 | 3% |
| 9 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 212 | 3% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 185 | 3% |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 182 | 3% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 172 | 3% |
| 13 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 136 | 3% |
| 14 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 85 | 3% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 84 | 3% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 63 | 3% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 53 | 3% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 35 | 3% |
| 19 | New York | 19,849,399 | 399 | 2% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 216 | 2% |
Most common cities for agriculture technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Immokalee | 1 | 4% | $38,510 |
| 2 | Apopka | 1 | 2% | $37,304 |
| 3 | Davenport | 1 | 1% | $38,178 |
Agriculture Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of agriculture technician experts
Pennsylvania State University
University of Connecticut
Park University
University of Arizona
Cornell University
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Fort Hays State University
Tennessee Technological University
Alcorn State University
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Fulton: Ag Systems Management provides a variety of good-paying jobs that can be exciting and rewarding. Participate in internships to determine the area of specialization you are most interested in while developing technical and business proficiencies. Above all, learn to be a good communicator. Agricultural systems management is a dynamic field, and a combination of technical, business, and interpersonal skills will set you up for a successful career.
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carlos Carpio: Given the rapid pace of technological development and adoption, the ability to learn independently is becoming increasingly important. Additionally, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills are in high demand and will continue to be essential.
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Trevor Bowes: Get your hvac permit or become massively knowledgeable about pest control ipm with beneficial insects. Growing is fixing the greenhouse and scouting for bugs.
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
Trevor Bowes: I would say that your skill in growing plants matters far more than what you 'know'. Also know that the things that will make your job easiest is knowledge of hvac, power tools and other trade/chemistry jobs that allow you to troubleshoot problems. If you have growing plants down you need to now focus on hvac or pest control.
What general advice would you give to an Agriculture Technician?
Matthew DeBacco: This can depend what area you are a part of but often it involves physical labor in some capacity, especially for those entering the field. There are certain routines, but it is important to keep your eyes open as there are always unexpected things that come up. You are taking care of something living so it is your responsibility to keep it alive.
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matthew DeBacco: We all need to eat so being a part of this process has and will continue to be important. In general, improving efficiencies and maximizing productivity are continual challenges that keep your interest.
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
Matthew DeBacco: Most people like plant science because you get to work with plants who talk to you, but in different ways and allow you to be self-directed. The dislike is the long hours in the heat and humidity along with the unexpected disease that can wipe out all of your hard work in a short period of time. Key is to enjoy each day.
Mark Gagnon Ph.D.
Harbaugh Entrepreneur and Innovation Faculty Scholar, Associate Teaching Professor, Agribusiness Management, Agribusiness Management Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Co-Founder, Entrepreneurship & Innovation ProgramPark University
Agricultural Business And Management
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Gagnon Ph.D.: - the demand for food and agricultural products is consistently growing as our population grows and new technologies develop to utilize our natural resources
- expectation of population doubling and global wealth increase means greater demand for natural resources at all levels
- COVID shutdown revealed the sensitivity of the agricultural supply chain and highlighted the importance of a strong Agricultural Business Analyst in making sound decisions in an uncertain environment
- the increased interconnectedness of the global agricultural markets means greater opportunity and career potential across food, natural resources, and growing technologies
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
Mark Gagnon Ph.D.: - it is a challenging environment due to the various unpredictable variables from weather to market fluctuations but it rewards due diligence, strong relationships, and hard work
- an Agricultural Business Analyst is given an opportunity to practice business principles in a unique market segment where there is a strong sense of community and desire to help young professionals grow into their career
What general advice would you give to an Agriculture Technician?
José Quintero: Interdisciplinary approaches will become more and more important; we're already experiencing the need to integrate even more knowledge than what traditionally was thought of for agricultural economists and agribusiness professionals, not only in the next 3-5 years, but this is today's situation to address; now we are being inspired by disciplines such as computer science, psychology, and even photography, every day we are in greater need of integrating more knowledge into our field to better assess our goals. Thankfully we live in a world where talented people with different interests improve knowledge across everything that exists, taking advantage of that information is key to success; innovation is born when curiosity, creativity, and the desire for knowledge meet into projects; learning how to learn will no doubt be the best skill anybody can master.
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
José Quintero: Learning how to learn is one of the best skills you can master, don't stop the pursuit of knowledge. Knowledge can be your best friend, and its concept is much bigger than education, and of course much bigger than classrooms. As you transition into either more education or the workforce don't be shy and ask as many questions as you want/need, and make sure you have the priority of finding yourself (and be grateful to) good mentors. In the food system is important to always have a comprehensive look at the situations we face, try to always learn from other disciplines. When you study agricultural economics, agribusiness, or any related field you need to speak the language of agronomists, social scientists, among other interdisciplinary fields, so go out of your comfort zone and learn more; if you're for example very good with the financial analysis side of the job don't be shy and try to get closer to what soil scientists do and vice versa.
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
José Quintero: I think you made a great choice if you major in agricultural economics or agribusiness, this is a great field and there's an increasing demand for talented people. Look at salary and earnings as a marathon, not a sprint; keep the incentive of improving your financial health as an important decision factor for your career, but also don't forget about the big picture; find yourself a meaningful purpose in your path and work hard to become good at it. Sure, learn the skills the market is demanding from you, be great at Excel, programming, data analysis, AI, and such, but focus on finding the purpose of the skills you acquire. You chose a good path going into an industry that will be needed forever, we will always need food, and our food needs are both increasing and constantly evolving, there will be jobs across all sectors of the supply chain and this will hold true for all the time we have left in this world; because of that, the sky is the limit regarding the opportunities you want to pursue for yourself. Consider all compensation components, including emotional compensation, it's important to feel content with your workplace and your role at the organization. I'm a big supporter of talking about money with your peers, have open conversations about how you all are being compensated, ask them about their salary offers, what benefits they receive, and don't be shy about sharing yours.
Frank Rossi Ph.D.
New York State Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Associate Professor of HorticultureCornell University
Applied Horticulture And Horticultural Business Services
What general advice would you give to an Agriculture Technician?
Frank Rossi Ph.D.: Here at Cornell, we foster the idea that one's career journey commences during their academic experience and is further solidified through our internship requirement, which seamlessly integrates employment opportunities with academic learning. The best advice we can offer right now is to remain open to opportunities, cultivate data literacy, and be flexible regarding where you might apply your skills within the broad spectrum of disciplines involved in agriculture and food systems. We are witnessing emerging trends in production areas that are focused on addressing climate change, promoting soil health, and advancing digital agriculture. There is no doubt that the utilization of data will continue to significantly impact the entire food system, encompassing production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management. All these fields present excellent opportunities for new graduates in agriculture.
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Frank Rossi Ph.D.: Important trends will be increased use of data science and analytics, sustainability science that applies metrics to GHG emissions and other aspects of Life Cycle Analysis, soil health management and scaling up Agroecological principles into traditional ag. Skills will have to include strong global knowledge, resilience and risk management, and automation/robotics.
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
Elvis Elli PhD: Work hard and try to add value to your company/institution. Build strong networks and interdisciplinary collaborations. Engage with local and international community of your expertise area and find what are the gaps that need to be addressed. Take advantage of the digital tools currently available.
Dr. Danielle Kaminski
Assistant ProfessorFort Hays State University
Agricultural Business And Management
What general advice would you give to an Agriculture Technician?
Dr. Danielle Kaminski: To maximize your salary potential I would recommend an internship. Internships are good for many reasons including to be sure it’s a field you want to work in. Your degree program, like the one in agribusiness at Fort Hays State University, may not require an internship but this will help set you apart, help you practice applying course concepts in the real world, and expand your network. Also, know what skills you’ve developed from prior experiences, including college. The more your skills match the job ad the more of an asset you’ll be to the company. Finally, know your personal goals, including financial goals. Some agribusiness positions pay as competitively as other industries. Others may require more prioritization on preserving rural communities or you could be working part-time calculating books for a family member.
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Danielle Kaminski: Anyone in agriculture needs to be adaptable. If you’re in production agriculture you adapt to the weather and other natural events. In agribusiness you need to adapt policies and recommendations based on the type of agribusiness, the business size, the goals of the operator, the manager’s level of risk aversion, etc. It’s important to remember that the skills you learned are tools but we should be cautious about applying too many cookie-cutter solutions. It’s also important to ask questions if you don’t understand something. Providing the wrong recommendation because you don’t understand a numeric output or are guessing at how to calculate it can be detrimental for a business. Even with a university degree, no one expects you to know everything. At the least, as was said, each business is different. For example, each ag lender may have slightly different loan requirements or cut-offs for what they mark as safe, risky, and too risky for lending.
What general advice would you give to an Agriculture Technician?
Dennis Fennewald: There is a shortage of agriculture professionals in the entire supply chain, especially at the farm level. Less than 2% of the US population is directly involved in production agriculture. This has led to the need for more technology and people who understand and can operate that technology. Much of this is due to the success of the second and third agriculture revolutions, which greatly increased production per farmer and reduced the rural population. This is the most exciting time in agriculture. Agriculture is entering a fourth Agriculture Revolution, which is sometimes referred to as the Brown Revolution. It is focusing on the Soil Health Principles to correct some of the negative impacts of the Green Revolution. There is a lot of interest in the sustainability of agriculture and new information is being published almost daily on improving soil health. Crop producers are looking at reducing tillage, planting cover crops and more efficient use of pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer via precision agriculture. Cattle and sheep producers are looking at better grazing strategies (adaptive multi-paddock or AMP), producing more adapted animals for each region, sequestering carbon and increasing water infiltration. In addition, the internet has exposed farmers to other marketing strategies. Consumers can now buy food and have it shipped frozen to their door.
Babu George PhD
Professor and Director of Graduate BusinessAlcorn State University
Agricultural Business And Management
What general advice would you give to an Agriculture Technician?
Babu George PhD: 2. Data Analytics: The ability to collect, analyze, and interpret vast amounts of agricultural data will be essential for optimizing production processes, identifying market trends, managing risks, and making informed decisions. I'm not suggesting that everyone should be a statistician, but it is important to be able to use the software tools available in ways that help you see the unseen. Thankfully, recent advancements in generative AI have made this way easier.
Sustainability focus: As consumers and policymakers increasingly prioritize sustainable practices, understanding principles of circular agriculture, carbon markets, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship will be crucial to carving out a niche. Gain knowledge in areas such as regenerative agriculture, water conservation, and waste management. This will make you attractive for businesses.
Robotics and automation: Robots may replace us all, but that should be the reason to seek to understand them better. To coopt, collaborate, and to stay one step ahead of on the curve. If you have a sense of how to create surplus value for the firm with these technologies, you definitely have an edge.
Effective communication: Agriculture has become a very fragile coupling of a diverse set of constituents. It involves stakeholders, including farmers, scientists, engineers, policymakers, and consumers. It is important to bring them together, despite their often incompatible orientations. Communication skills are essential for explaining complex data, facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations, and negotiating with stakeholders.
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Babu George PhD: 1. Agriculture has become another technology centric business: The industry is rapidly adopting technologies like precision farming, automation, artificial intelligence, and gene editing to increase efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. Familiarize yourself with these technologies (a conceptual level understanding is enough; the purpose is to be able to confidently converse with the tech side of the industry).
Think beyond 'agriculture as farming': Agribusiness encompasses a range of sectors, including food technology, sustainable supply chain management, agricultural finance, packaging, and policy development. Students may have to go 'outside of their syllabus' to learn these themselves, because, unfortunately, typical university programs haven't been able to fly past the 'farming based view of agriculture'.
Cultivate adaptability: The agribusiness landscape is disruptively evolving due to technological advancements, shifting consumer demands, and environmental challenges. There's a blue ocean of opportunities. Think beyond the current competitors and aim either to found your startup in those areas or to look for employment opportunities there.
Greater emphasis on networking: Attend industry conferences, participate in trade associations, and actively seek mentorship opportunities. Your network can provide valuable insights, job opportunities, and potential collaborations. In the evolving landscape, you really have an opportunity to sell yourself with your unique skill set, even when there's no advertised vacancy.
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
Babu George PhD: 3. Be 'relacatable': Certain geographic areas offer higher salaries due to the concentration of ag based firms, demand for specific skills, or cost of living. Research regions with thriving agribusiness sectors aligned with your interests and expertise. Develop a taste for people and places other than your familiar ones.
Targeted micro credentials: On top of your agribusiness degree, obtaining relevant professional certifications, such robotics in agriculture, agriculture supply chains, or data analytics, can make you specifically suited for jobs that tap into these.
Sharpen business knowledge: In addition to specific technical expertise, developing business acumen in areas like finance, marketing, supply chain management, and strategy can help you present yourself as a suitable candidate for leadership and management roles within agribusiness organizations. Even when companies hire today for a specific skill set, they want to invest in those in whom they find future value.
Understand labor market trends: Conduct thorough research on industry salary ranges and compensation packages for your desired role and location. Reflect upon what you bring to the table, your unique value proposition, and confidently negotiate.
Dr. Jessica McBride PhD
Executive Director of Communications and MarketingWhat general advice would you give to an Agriculture Technician?
Dr. Jessica McBride PhD: Students can make themselves more competitive through experiential learning opportunities that develop specific skills for the industry as well as the essential skills needs to work with others. Students who are willing to relocate with have more opportunities for jobs as well.
What Agriculture Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jessica McBride PhD: Recent graduates from the University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources have the knowledge and basic skills to be successful in their first jobs out of college. I advise them to be willing to learn new skills, ideas, and ways of doing things. They need to have a strong work ethic and be willing to work with many different people. Being open to trying new things will increase their opportunities to grow and learn as they move forward in their chosen career.
What will help Agriculture Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jessica McBride PhD: In the next 3-5 years it will be important that students acquire essential skills including excellent communication, ability to work with many different types of people, and understand the rapid changing environment of technology and AI. Employers expect college graduates to be teachable, willing to work hard, and creative in solving challenges in the field. Students can acquire these skills not only through course work, but through hands-on learning and experiential learning opportu