by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Agricultural & Food Products Processing involves the study of Agricultural And Food Products Processing. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Receive, Inspect, Store, Process, And Package Agricultural Products In The Form Of Human Food Consumables, Animal Or Plant Food, Or Other Industrial Products. Includes Instruction In The Nutrient And Industrial Properties Of Various Agricultural Products; Logistics And Storage Procedures; Chemical And Mechanical Processing Operations; Packaging; Safety And Health Requirements; And Related Technical And Business Principles. Continue reading for the important information every agricultural & food products processing major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural & food products processing programs.
Across the country, agricultural & food products processing is a popular field of study, with 168 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural & Food Products Processing Schools ranking analyzes these 16 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural & food products processing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural & food products processing programs later in this article.
Programs in Agricultural & Food Products Processing develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural & food products processing graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a agricultural & food products processing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a agricultural & food products processing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural & food products processing 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 | 22 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 29 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 52 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 65 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural & food products processing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 27.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.6% |
| Some college courses | 7.6% |
| Master’s degree | 7.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural & food products processing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in agricultural & food products processing can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural & food products processing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural & food products processing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Inspectors | 311,559 | -3.9% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Food Science Technicians | 135,157 | 7.3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of agricultural & food products processing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,677 |
| 4 years | $68,082 |
| 5 years | $73,285 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agricultural & food products processing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural & food products processing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
| Agricultural Inspectors | $24,614 |
With 16 different agricultural & food products processing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural & food products processing school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
