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Crop Production
Cargill, Bayer Crop Science, Corteva
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
These managers run farms, ranches, orchards, greenhouses, or hatcheries like a business, deciding what to plant or raise, who does the work, and how to keep costs under control. The job is distinct because success depends on both hands-on agricultural judgment and business decisions, and the main tradeoff is that weather, pests, disease, and commodity prices can change the outlook fast.
Also known as Farm ManagerRanch ManagerFarm Operations ManagerAgricultural Operations ManagerFarm and Ranch Manager
Median Salary
$87,980
Mean $97,240
U.S. Workforce
~6K
85.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-1.3%
836.1K to 825K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ 5 years or more experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~6K workers, with a median annual pay of $87,980 and roughly 85.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 836.1 K in 2024 to 825K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent + farm/ranch experience, and employers typically expect 5 years or more of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Farm Worker or Ranch Hand and can progress toward Agricultural Operations Director. High-value skills usually include Farm Management Software, Accounting & Inventory Systems, Crop Planning, Soil Testing & Fertility Management Tools, and GPS Mapping, Drones & Precision Agriculture Systems, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Decide how much land or production space to use for each crop, herd, or other agricultural activity.
- Test soil and choose the right fertilizer or soil treatment to improve yields without wasting money.
- Keep records on planting, growth, production, and weather so you can compare results from season to season.
- Handle scheduling, inventory, ordering, paperwork, and marketing tasks that keep the operation running.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Decide how much land or production space to use for each crop, herd, or other agricultural activity.
02 Test soil and choose the right fertilizer or soil treatment to improve yields without wasting money.
03 Keep records on planting, growth, production, and weather so you can compare results from season to season.
04 Handle scheduling, inventory, ordering, paperwork, and marketing tasks that keep the operation running.
05 Set planting, feeding, and care schedules for fields, greenhouses, hydroponic systems, or livestock.
06 Shift labor, equipment, and spending to deal with pests, drought, fire, disease, or breeding and hatchery problems.
Industries That Hire
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Livestock and Poultry
Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, JBS USA
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Dairy Farming
Land O'Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Saputo
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Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Agriculture
BrightFarms, Gotham Greens, AppHarvest
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Aquaculture and Fish Hatcheries
Cooke Aquaculture, Mowi, Blue Ridge Aquaculture
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Agricultural Supply and Equipment
John Deere, Nutrien, Helena Agri-Enterprises
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is fairly strong for a role that can start with a high school diploma, with a median wage of $87,980 and a mean of $97,240.
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The work is varied: one day may involve crop planning, the next animal care, budgeting, or equipment decisions.
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Managers usually have real control over how the operation runs, including planting schedules, labor assignments, and emergency response.
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There are still many openings each year, with 85.5K annual openings mostly driven by replacement needs.
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The job builds transferable business skills such as budgeting, staff coordination, recordkeeping, and supply planning.
Challenges
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Long-term growth is weak: employment is projected to fall by 1.3%, or 11.1K jobs, by 2034.
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It usually takes 5 or more years of experience to qualify, so the path into the role is slow.
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Weather, pests, disease, drought, fire, and commodity-price swings can wipe out profit quickly, so the financial risk is real.
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The work has to happen on-site, so remote work is rare and the hours can stretch during planting, harvest, or emergencies.
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It can be a hard industry to scale into because land, equipment, livestock, and storage are expensive, which limits who can grow into ownership or larger operations.
Career Progression
Farm Worker or Ranch Hand
0-2 years
$30K-$45K
Learns the daily routines of planting, feeding, equipment care, and basic recordkeeping while working under close supervision.
Assistant Farm Manager or Field Supervisor
3-7 years
$46K-$70K
Helps schedule crews, track supplies, and solve day-to-day production issues before taking on full budget and labor responsibility.
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$71K-$105K
Runs the operation’s production, staffing, purchasing, and risk decisions, balancing output with weather, market, and animal or crop conditions.
Agricultural Operations Director
15+ years
$106K-$145K
Oversees multiple sites or large-scale operations, setting long-term plans, capital purchases, and performance goals.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent + farm/ranch experience
The usual entry point, with at least 5 years of work experience before moving into management.
Associate degree in agriculture, agribusiness, or farm management
A practical alternative that can speed up skills in bookkeeping, production planning, and equipment oversight.
Bachelor's degree in agribusiness, animal science, horticulture, or crop science
Useful for larger operations or specialty farms, especially when the job leans more toward planning and analysis.
Certificate in precision agriculture or farm business management
A shorter nondegree option that can help with mapping, irrigation, recordkeeping, and cost control.
Key Skills
Technical
Farm Management Software, Accounting & Inventory Systems 88%
Crop Planning, Soil Testing & Fertility Management Tools 86%
GPS Mapping, Drones & Precision Agriculture Systems 84%
Livestock Breeding, Herd Tracking & Animal Health Records 82%
Irrigation Scheduling, Weather Monitoring & Forecasting Tools 80%
Greenhouse, Hydroponics & Environmental Control Systems 78%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination Job Outlook and Trends
+-1.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
85.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 836.1K to 825 K over the next decade, representing -1.3% growth. Around 85.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.