First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.
- Median pay
- $59,320
- Doing it now
- 57,600
- By 2035
- Up 3.8%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
a year
across the country
7,200 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.
- Record the numbers and types of fish or shellfish reared, harvested, released, sold, and shipped.
- Monitor workers to ensure that safety regulations are followed, warning or disciplining those who violate safety regulations.
- Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior, notifying veterinarians or managers as warranted.
- Observe fish and beds or ponds to detect diseases, monitor fish growth, determine quality of fish, or determine completeness of harvesting.
- Train workers in tree felling or bucking, operation of tractors or loading machines, yarding or loading techniques, or safety regulations.
- Treat animal illnesses or injuries, following experience or instructions of veterinarians.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- ForestrySee 58 colleges that teach it
- Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and ManagementSee 22 colleges that teach it
- Agricultural Business and ManagementSee 137 colleges that teach it
- Animal SciencesSee 105 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Leading and persuading
Hands-on and practical
Organised and precise
Careers like this one
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$89,900
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,530
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,080
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$58,430
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
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 $59,320 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.