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Agricultural Engineer Salary & Career Insights
What is the average salary for an agricultural engineer in the United States?
Our salary data comes from BLS.gov. The salaries presented here are the 2023 median pay.
Job Outlook & Work Environment
Job Outlook
🚀 1,900; estimated number of agricultural engineering jobs in 2023. This number is expected to grow by 100 new jobs between now and 2033.
☀️ The projected job outlook for agricultural engineers is 8%, which is faster than average.
Work Environment
💼 Agricultural engineers typically work in offices but may spend time at outdoor worksites.
🏢 19% of agricultural engineers work in the federal government, excluding the postal service.
Agricultural Engineer Salary in Comparison to Patent Law Salaries
How Does an Agricultural Engineer Salary Stack Up?
Both patent agents ($130K) and patent attorneys ($185K) make significantly more money than agricultural engineers ($88K).
If you pass the patent bar exam as an agricultural engineer, expect a major upgrade in your pay when you transition to a career in patent law.
Top Agricultural Engineer Salaries by Industry
Industry | Average Salary |
---|---|
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $121,160 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $101,380 |
Federal, State, and Local Government | $99,010 |
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $92,580 |
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $83,110 |
Salary by Agricultural Engineer Industry
In the U.S., the average agricultural engineering salary is $88,750.
Agricultural engineers in the Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services industry earn the highest average salary at $121,160.
Scientists working in Scientific Research and Development Services earn an average salary of $101,380, while government positions offer an average of $99,010.
Lower average salaries are found in Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services and educational institutions, at $92,580 and $83,110, respectively.
Experience & Education
Here are some typical daily activities of an agricultural engineer:
- Working with Computers — Engaging with computer systems and software to program, develop software, configure functions, input data, or manage information.
- Analyzing Data or Information — Breaking down data or information into separate elements to uncover the underlying principles, reasons, or facts.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Evaluating information and outcomes to determine the best solution and effectively addressing issues.
- Getting Information — Gathering, observing, and acquiring information from all relevant sources.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Staying current with technical developments and applying new insights to your work.
Here are the typical skills you need to work as an agricultural engineer:
- Active Listening — Fully focusing on others’ words, grasping their points, asking relevant questions when needed, and avoiding interruptions at unsuitable moments.
- Reading Comprehension — Grasping the meaning of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Speaking — Communicating information clearly and effectively to others through speech.
- Writing — Conveying ideas effectively in written form, tailored to the audience’s needs.
- Complex Problem Solving — Detecting intricate issues and analyzing related information to devise, assess, and implement solutions.
Knowledge required to work as an agricultural engineer:
- Engineering and Technology — Expertise in practically applying engineering science and technology, including using principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment for designing and producing various products and services.
- Computers and Electronics — Understanding circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic devices, and hardware and software systems, including programming and application development.
- Design — Proficiency in design methods, tools, and principles for creating precise technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Mathematics — Mastery of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their practical uses.
- Physics — Comprehension and application of physical principles and laws, including their connections and use in understanding dynamics of fluids, materials, atmospheres, and mechanical, electrical, atomic, and subatomic systems.
Top Agricultural Engineer Salaries by Location
Factors that Impact Pay
Lafayette, IN, offers the highest average salary for agricultural engineers at $84,460. Porterville, CA, follows closely with an average salary of $84,070. In Oklahoma City, OK, agricultural engineers earn an average of $78,630.
In Texas, agricultural engineers earn the highest average salary among the states listed, at $111,050. Ohio and California follow, with average salaries of $101,930 and $100,990, respectively. Arkansas and Florida offer slightly lower average salaries, at $95,050 and $94,980.
Take a look at the average agricultural engineer salaries from top-paying cities according to Bls.gov data.
City | Average Salary |
---|---|
Lafayette, IN | $84,460 |
Porterville, CA | $84,070 |
Oklahoma City, OK | $78,630 |
Look at the average agricultural engineer salaries from top-paying states according to Bls.gov data.
State | Average Salary |
---|---|
Texas | $111,050 |
Ohio | $101,930 |
California | $100,990 |
Arkansas | $95,050 |
Florida | $94,980 |
Related Careers
Patent Agent
Patent agents practice patent law before the USPTO.
Average of $130,168/year
Patent Attorney
Patent attorneys can practice patent law in addition to practicing law in jurisdictions where they are currently admitted.
Average of $185,351/year
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical engineers plan and design tools, machines, and other mechanical equipment.
Average of $99,510/year