by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Agricultural Production Operations involves the study of Agricultural Production Operations, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Planning, Economics, And Use Of Facilities, Natural Resources, Equipment, Labor, And Capital To Produce Plant And Animal Products, And That May Prepare Individuals For Work In Farming, Ranching, And Agribusiness. Read on to learn the key facts every agricultural production operations student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural production operations programs.
Across the country, agricultural production operations draws strong interest, with 820 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Production Operations Schools ranking analyzes these 70 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural production operations students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural production operations programs later in this article.
Programs in Agricultural Production Operations develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural production operations graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a agricultural production operations program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a agricultural production operations major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural production 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 | 163 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 355 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 109 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 186 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural production operations tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 49.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.1% |
| Master’s degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural production operations careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in agricultural production operations can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural production operations.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural production operations.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of agricultural production operations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $41,174 |
| 5 years | $47,624 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agricultural production operations graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural production operations grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
With 70 different agricultural production operations programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural production operations school rankings to help you.
Those considering agricultural production operations, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production | 841 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 769 |
| Crop Production | 516 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 458 |
| Aquaculture | 127 |
| Dairy Husbandry and Production | 60 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Other | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
