Agricultural Engineers
Also called Agricultural Engineer, Engineer, Project Engineer, or Research Agricultural Engineer
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Agricultural Engineers do
You design the machines, barns, irrigation and drainage systems that farms run on, mixing engineering with how soil, water, plants and animals actually behave.
Agricultural engineers solve farm and land problems with engineering. That might mean designing a building to store grain or shelter animals, planning pipes and ditches to move water onto or off fields, testing a new piece of farm machinery, or advising on water quality and flood control. Some design the sensors and recording devices scientists use to study crops and livestock.
Much of the work happens at a desk and computer, indoors with heating and air conditioning, writing reports, drawings, budgets, and specifications (written instructions saying exactly what materials and standards a job must meet). Then you go out: to a site to see a drainage problem, or to meet farmers, developers, contractors, and the local government bodies that plan land and water projects. It is a small field, with about 100 openings per year in the US.
A day in the life
You start with email, then open the drawings for a crop storage building you are designing. You double-check the math on how far the roof beams can stretch without support, because a mistake here gets built. Mid-morning you drive out to a field where water keeps pooling, walk the low ground in boots, and talk through options with the contractor. Back at the office, two other engineers ask questions and you rework part of the plan. In the afternoon you call a farmer and explain in plain language what the new irrigation layout will cost. You end the day writing up the site visit and updating the budget. Some weeks you spend more time testing equipment or teaching a short session for farm groups.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓enjoy math, physics and figuring out why something failed
- ✓like being outside on sites but do not mind a desk and a computer for much of the week
- ✓can explain a technical plan to a farmer or a local government planner without using technical words
- ✓care about soil, water, crops and animals as much as machines
- ✓keep drawings, budgets and deadlines accurate and orderly
You might not like it if you…
- –want to avoid writing, since reports, proposals and written instructions for contractors are a big part of the job
- –prefer to work alone, because you are regularly meeting clients, contractors and other engineers
- –need a wide choice of employers nearby, since this is a small field with roughly 100 openings a year in the US
- –dislike four or more years of school before you start
How people get in
- 1Take as much math, physics, biology and computer work as you can in high school, and get hands-on time with tools, machinery, plants or animals if you can.
- 2Earn a bachelor's degree; agricultural engineering is the usual program, and related engineering degrees can also lead here.
- 3Use summer jobs, internships, or paid work placements that count toward your degree (often called co-ops) on farms, with equipment makers, or with water and conservation agencies to see the work up close.
- 4Build the writing and speaking side on purpose, since you will be explaining plans to farmers, contractors and local government bodies.
- 5Start in a junior or project engineer role under experienced engineers, checking designs and visiting sites.
- 6If you want to put your name on designs for public projects, which is legally required for some jobs, many engineers go on to get licensed by their state, which usually means exams and supervised experience.
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Official task list
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. (O*NET)
- Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
- Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
- Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
- Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
- Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
- Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation.
- Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
What you'll need to know
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Design
- Mathematics
- Physics
How much Agricultural Engineers make
The median pay for Agricultural Engineers in the U.S. is $98,590 a year ($47.40 an hour). Most earn between $68,060 and $166,460. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in Ohio ($119,250) and lowest in Puerto Rico ($40,690).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $57,740 | 40 |
| Colorado | $88,650 | 30 |
| Indiana | $94,730 | 150 |
| Iowa | $96,290 | 100 |
| Michigan | $80,490 | — |
| Minnesota | $115,940 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $91,560 | 40 |
| Ohio | $119,250 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $86,970 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,300 | — |
| Puerto Rico | $40,690 | 40 |
| Texas | $95,220 | 50 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Agricultural Engineering 43 colleges
Related careers
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Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.
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Conservation Scientists
Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.
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Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities.
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 17-2021.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 17-2021. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.