How To Become An Assistant Farm Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant farm manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

If you enjoy being part of a team and assisting others in farm planning, being an assistant farm manager might be the perfect career choice. It would help if you learned first that this career takes a ton of work, dedication, and knowledge.

Assistant farm managers usually report directly to the farm manager or their employer about the responsibilities and status of work on the farm. In the absence of the farm manager, the assistant farm managers can coordinate the other employers' duties. A big part of this role includes educating other personnel and working with visiting educators and their students. They also keep an eye on the budget and help the farm manager monitor the production.

It is very beneficial for an assistant farm manager to keep up-to-date with innovations in the sector to allow adjustments if necessary. Most employers require assistant farm managers to have experience in operating heavy farm machinery and must also able to perform simple maintenance around the farm.

ScoreAssistant Farm ManagerUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $54,265

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.57%

Asian 1.53%

Black or African American 1.06%

Hispanic or Latino 7.58%

Unknown 2.88%

White 86.38%

Gender

female 36.36%

male 63.64%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant farm manager

Explore assistant farm manager education requirements

Most common assistant farm manager degrees

Bachelor's

64.2 %

Associate

16.4 %

High School Diploma

9.1 %

Start to develop specific assistant farm manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Harvest	18.46%
Farm Equipment	9.00%
Farm Operations	7.52%
Mowing	7.35%
Training Programs	5.90%

Complete relevant assistant farm manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant farm managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant farm manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant farm manager resumes.

Research assistant farm manager duties and responsibilities

Manage pedigree cattle farm by; overseeing breeding production and certify artificial insemination program.
Seed, plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetable crops for CSA.
Participate in and oversee processing/distribution of produce to markets (CSA, wholesale, market stalls).
2017Execute all aspects of vegetable and fruit production from the planning and preparation to harvest and maintaining of the farm.

Apply for assistant farm manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an assistant farm manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

What is an assistant farm manager and how to become one

Assistant farm manager career paths