by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Agricultural Production Operations explores Agricultural Production Operations, Other. Any Instructional Program In Agricultural Production Operations Not Listed Above. Continue reading for the important information every agricultural production operations major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural production operations programs.
In the U.S., agricultural production operations is a widely-pursued major, with 17 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Production Operations Schools ranking analyzes these 2 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 build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural production operations graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 17 |
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% |
See 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.*
Studying agricultural production operations can lead to many career paths. Below 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of agricultural production operations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 2 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.
If you are interested in 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 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, General | 820 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 769 |
| Crop Production | 516 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 458 |
| Aquaculture | 127 |
| Dairy Husbandry and Production | 60 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
