Agricultural Engineer Salary & Career Insights

What is the average salary for an agricultural engineer in the United States?

$88,750 per year

According to BLS.gov, the average salary for an agricultural engineer in the United States is $88,750 annually. The lowest salary is $62,150 annually, and the highest is $127,590 annually.

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

IndustryAverage 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
Annual mean wages.

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.

Average Education

According to onetonline.org, 75% of agricultural engineers have a Bachelor’s degree, 10% have a Master’s degree, and another 10% have a Doctoral degree.

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.

CityAverage Salary
Lafayette, IN$84,460
Porterville, CA$84,070
Oklahoma City, OK$78,630
Annual mean wages.

Look at the average agricultural engineer salaries from top-paying states according to Bls.gov data.

StateAverage Salary
Texas$111,050
Ohio$101,930
California$100,990
Arkansas$95,050
Florida$94,980
Annual mean wages.

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

Job Openings in the United States


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