The median pay for Agricultural Engineers is $98,590 a year ($47.40/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.9% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2021
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Agricultural Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $98,590a year, or $47.40/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $68KTop 10% $166K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1001,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.5K
- Projected 20351.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.5K Projected 2035 1.6K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's5%
- Bachelor's75%
- Master's10%
- Doctorate10%
Highest education held by agricultural engineers Segment Value Associate's 5% Bachelor's 75% Master's 10% Doctorate 10%
Also advertised as: Agricultural Engineer, Agricultural Systems Specialist, Conservation Engineer, Engineer, Field Engineer, Product Engineer.
Pay
How much do Agricultural Engineers make?
Every agricultural engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$98,590
Middle half earn $82,260 to $124,880
- 10th
- $68,060
- 25th
- $82,260
- 75th
- $124,880
- 90th
- $166,460
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,060 |
| 25th | $82,260 |
| Median | $98,590 |
| 75th | $124,880 |
| 90th | $166,460 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $98,590
- Median hourly wage
- $47.40/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $108,230
- People employed
- 1,480
Versus all US occupations
At $98,590, Agricultural Engineers earn 93% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $47,610 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 5% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $166,460 or more while the bottom 10% earn $68,060, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 71% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Ohio pays the most at $119,250, and still leads at $128,538 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Agricultural Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ohio | $119,250 | $128,538 | 60 |
| 2Minnesota | $115,940 | $117,561 | 60 |
| 3Iowa | $96,290 | $109,717 | 100 |
| 4Texas | $95,220 | $98,107 | 50 |
| 5Indiana | $94,730 | $101,501 | 150 |
| 6Mississippi | $91,560 | $105,298 | 40 |
| 7Colorado | $88,650 | $86,025 | 30 |
| 8Oklahoma | $86,970 | $99,006 | 120 |
| 9Michigan | $80,490 | $83,655 | N/A |
| 10Pennsylvania | $80,300 | $82,298 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Agricultural Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Engineers | +6.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Agricultural Engineers to change 6.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 6.7% of the 1,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Farms will continue to need agricultural engineers to design more efficient machinery, equipment, and buildings and to help reduce environmental damage.
Agricultural engineers are expected to continue working on projects such as alternative energies and biofuels; precision and automated farming technologies for irrigation, spraying, and harvesting; and worker safety systems.
In addition, strong global competition should further support demand for these workers as farmers seek ways to reduce costs and increase production.
Getting in
How to become an Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, such as agricultural or biological engineering.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as agricultural engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree75%
- Master's Degree10%
- Doctoral Degree10%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 75% |
| Master's Degree | 10% |
| Doctoral Degree | 10% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Agricultural Engineer do?
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
Agricultural engineers attempt to solve agricultural problems concerning power supplies, the efficiency of machinery, the use of structures and facilities, pollution and environmental issues, and the storage and processing of agricultural products.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
- Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
- Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
- Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
- Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
- Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- Conduct educational programs that provide farmers or farm cooperative members with information that can help them improve agricultural productivity.
- Design sensing, measuring, and recording devices, and other instrumentation used to study plant or animal life.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Agricultural engineers typically work full time. Schedules may vary because of weather conditions or other complications. When working on outdoor projects, agricultural engineers may work more hours to take advantage of good weather or fewer hours in case of bad weather.
In addition, agricultural engineers may need to be available outside of normal work hours to address unexpected problems that come up in manufacturing operations or rural construction projects.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where agricultural engineers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Professional, scientific, and technical services27%
- Federal government, excluding postal service21%
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state17%
- Manufacturing11%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 27% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 21% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 17% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Mathematics3.8
- Science3.4
- Active Learning3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.9
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Agricultural Engineer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Agricultural Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic6.7
- Investigative6.3
- Conventional3.8
- Enterprising2.3
- Artistic2.2
- Social1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Agricultural Engineer
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Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Manager
$171,270median a year
Most earn $121K to $263K
+5.5%Bachelor's
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with agricultural engineers highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
- Agricultural Engineer$98,590
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $98,590 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Agricultural Engineer appears on
Questions
Agricultural Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Agricultural Engineers make?
Agricultural Engineers earn a median of $98,590 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 93% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $47.40/hr. The middle half earn between $82,260 and $124,880. The top 10% earn $166,460 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Agricultural Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Agricultural Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 75.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Agricultural Engineer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Agricultural Engineer do?
Agricultural engineers attempt to solve agricultural problems concerning power supplies, the efficiency of machinery, the use of structures and facilities, pollution and environmental issues, and the storage and processing of agricultural products. A core O*NET task: prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Agricultural Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Agricultural Engineers are Ohio ($119,250), Minnesota ($115,940), Iowa ($96,290) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Agricultural Engineer?
O*NET scores Agricultural Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTP, ISTJ, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.