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What does an extension agent do?

Updated January 8, 2025
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Extension agent responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real extension agent resumes:

  • Review soil tests results from MSU labs and make fertilizer recommendations for lawn care base on the test results.
  • Develop, implement and evaluate educational programs relating to commercial and consumer horticulture IPM including field demonstration trials.
  • Establish home horticulture IPM program.
  • Design and implement community trash disposal, recycling and composting project.

Extension agent skills and personality traits

We calculated that 33% of Extension Agents are proficient in Educational Programs, Consumer Sciences, and Natural Resources.

We break down the percentage of Extension Agents that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Educational Programs, 33%

    Provided leadership for the design and development of parish and statewide multicultural diversity training and educational programs for faculty and staff.

  • Consumer Sciences, 10%

    Administered, promoted and maintained a county-wide Family and Consumer Sciences community education program.

  • Natural Resources, 5%

    Write and report on Grants for funding on Horticulture and Natural Resources Programs.

  • Community Development, 5%

    Promote environmental awareness through community development and appropriate technology

  • Food Safety, 4%

    Educate adult and children on healthy eating habits and food safety facts.

  • Youth Program, 4%

    Coordinated the county extension youth programs with 650 youth annually Supervised 45 staff that had major responsibilities in the youth program.

Most extension agents use their skills in "educational programs," "consumer sciences," and "natural resources" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential extension agent responsibilities here:

All extension agent skills

The three companies that hire the most extension agents are:

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Compare different extension agents

Extension agent vs. Home economics expert

A Home Advisor's task is to develop a business system infrastructure to provide a pathway for the growth of executives, mid-management, and staff for a management consulting company. Home Advisors adapt to various communication styles for troubleshooting, which depends on the customers' technology level. They evaluate customer communications and elevate customer or client concerns to the proper department. They also demonstrate flexibility to varying communication styles and modify the approach to accommodate others' needs.

We looked at the average extension agent salary and compared it with the wages of a home economics expert. Generally speaking, home economics experts are paid $24,290 higher than extension agents per year.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between extension agents and home economics expert. For instance, extension agent responsibilities require skills such as "educational programs," "consumer sciences," "natural resources," and "community development." Whereas a home economics expert is skilled in "certifications," "product knowledge," "profitable growth," and "pos." This is part of what separates the two careers.

On average, home economics experts reach lower levels of education than extension agents. Home economics experts are 11.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Extension agent vs. Farm management specialist

A career as a farm management specialist brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of an extension agent. In fact, farm management specialists salary is $22,932 higher than the salary of extension agents per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Extension agents and farm management specialists both require similar skills like "educational programs," "usda," and "financial management" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real extension agent resumes. While extension agent responsibilities can utilize skills like "consumer sciences," "natural resources," "community development," and "food safety," farm management specialists use skills like "farm management," "greenhouse," "farm equipment," and "customer service."

Farm management specialists earn lower levels of education than extension agents in general. They're 8.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Extension agent vs. Home supervisor

On average scale, home supervisors bring in lower salaries than extension agents. In fact, they earn a $5,166 lower salary per year.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, extension agents are more likely to have skills like "educational programs," "consumer sciences," "natural resources," and "community development." But a home supervisor is more likely to have skills like "in-home," "home health," "social work," and "patients."

When it comes to education, home supervisors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to extension agents. In fact, they're 4.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Extension agent vs. Home advisor

Home advisors typically earn higher pay than extension agents. On average, home advisors earn a $25,823 higher salary per year.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "educational programs," "consumer sciences," "natural resources," and "community development" are skills that commonly show up on extension agent resumes. On the other hand, home advisors use skills like windows, product knowledge, customer service, and phone calls on their resumes.The average resume of home advisors showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to extension agents. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 10.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.4%.

Types of extension agent

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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