Agricultural Engineers
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
- Median pay
- $98,590
- Doing it now
- 1,500
- By 2035
- Up 6.9%
- Usually needs
- Bachelor's degree
a year
across the country
100 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
- Design agricultural machinery components and equipment, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology.
- Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
- Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
- Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- Conduct educational programs that provide farmers or farm cooperative members with information that can help them improve agricultural productivity.
- Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Agricultural EngineeringSee 38 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Hands-on and practical
Analytical and curious
Organised and precise
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $98,590 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.