by our College Data Analytics TeamThe production and selling of food is a huge industry and the majors available within this field of study reflect that. Students with a business bent may be interested in Agricultural Economics & Business, while those who are interested in raising livestock may choose a major in Animal Science. Others may be interested in studying Applied Horticulture or Food Science. There are many more majors in this field you can further explore.
Some Ag students grew up on or worked on a farm, however you don't need to have grown up on a farm in order to succeed in an agriculture career. Students in agriculture go on to find jobs in multiple areas. Many run their own farms or ranches; or they may manage a larger company's agricultural business. Others work for companies as food scientists or lab technicians, communication managers or public relation experts. Agriculture graduates also find work in environmental research for the public or private sector.
Studying Agriculture & Agriculture Operations explores Agricultural/animal/plant/veterinary Science And Related Fields. Instructional Programs That Focus On Agriculture, Animal, Plant, Veterinary, And Related Sciences And That Prepares Individuals To Apply Specific Knowledge, Methods, And Techniques To The Management And Performance Of Agricultural And Veterinary Operations. Continue reading for the essential details every agriculture & agriculture operations student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agriculture & agriculture operations programs.
In the U.S., agriculture & agriculture operations is a popular field of study, with 53,204 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools ranking analyzes these 889 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agriculture & agriculture operations students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agriculture & agriculture operations programs later in this article.
Coursework for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agriculture & agriculture operations graduates commonly enter.
Because of the wide range of majors available, students of many different interests are drawn to and can succeed in this field. Strong science skills are recommended. Students may also want to gain work experience through part-time jobs, internships or co-op positions.
The skill set developed in a agriculture & agriculture operations program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a agriculture & agriculture operations major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agriculture & agriculture operations degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4,505 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 11,095 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 21,099 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11,773 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4,615 |
People currently working in careers related to agriculture & agriculture operations tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 32.7% |
| Master’s degree | 20.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| First professional degree | 2.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agriculture & agriculture operations careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Those in the agricultural field fill a variety of positions in both the public and private sector. We may traditionally think of the farmer managing his own farm, but there are many more opportunities. Individuals may work as horticulture specialists cultivating flowers, fruits and vegetables. This can also be a great field of study for those interested in environmental issues. Agriculture grads find positions as Environmental Analysts and Planners, Waste Coordinators, Water Resource Specialists, and Park Rangers and Foresters, or they may find jobs researching water quality and wildlife.
Fields in food science include researchers, food chemists and lab technicians. These individuals may work for large food companies or invent new flavors or methods of processing food.
As you can see, this is a diverse and fascinating field. What part of agriculture are you most passionate about? Whether it's finding more effective methods of growing crops, researching the health of soil and water, caring for livestock or running your own business there is a wide variety in the career field.
Studying agriculture & agriculture operations prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to agriculture & agriculture operations.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agriculture & agriculture operations.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 3,199,646 | 13.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 1,855,145 | -4.7% |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | 1,848,074 | 11.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,332,640 | 6.0% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 1,326,215 | 6.9% |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of agriculture & agriculture operations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,788 |
| 4 years | $45,274 |
| 5 years | $52,002 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agriculture & agriculture operations grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | $109,813 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Animal Scientists | $93,823 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,831 |
With 889 different agriculture & agriculture operations programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agriculture & agriculture operations school rankings to help you.
Students interested in agriculture & agriculture operations, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
