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How to Become an Agricultural Engineer

Apply engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems related to power, machinery, structures, and food processing. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $98,590 per year and faster than average projected job growth.

Median pay

$98,590/yr

Middle half

$82,260 to $124,880

Job growth

Faster than average

Openings / yr

100

Majors that lead here

Key skills

  • Agricultural Systems Design
  • Irrigation Engineering
  • Environmental Compliance
  • CAD
  • Data Analysis

Helpful certifications

  • PE (Professional Engineer)
  • FE (Fundamentals of Engineering)
  • CCA (Certified Crop Adviser)

Is this career a fit?

Remote-friendly

30/100

Work-life balance

65/100

Stress level

35/100

Satisfaction

74/100

Related careers

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Agricultural Engineer make?

The median pay for an Agricultural Engineer is $98,590 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $82,260 and $124,880 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.

What degree do you need to become an Agricultural Engineer?

The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Agricultural Engineering, Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

Is Agricultural Engineer a growing field?

Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 100 U.S. openings a year.

What skills does an Agricultural Engineer use most?

Common skills for this role are Agricultural Systems Design, Irrigation Engineering, Environmental Compliance, CAD, and Data Analysis.

Planning to become a Agricultural Engineer?

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Where these pay figures come from

Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).

All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.

Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).