All careersEngineering & science

Agricultural Engineer

$98,590
median / year
$68,060 – $166,460
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Design machinery, structures, sensors, and water or energy systems for agriculture and food production.

You may also see this posted as: Engineer, Project Engineer, Research Agricultural Engineer, Agricultural Systems Specialist, Conservation Engineer, Field Engineer.

Where you work

Offices, laboratories, farms, and manufacturing facilities.

The hours

Usually full-time; travel to project sites may occur.

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • 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.

Good fit if you like…

Realistic

working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

O*NET job zone 4 of 5

High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

Attention to DetailInnovationDependabilityIntellectual Curiosity

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Adobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAutodesk AutoCADDassault Systemes SolidWorksMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Excel

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$98,590
per year
Hourly median
$47.40
per hour
What most earn
$68,060–$166,460
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~100
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+5.9%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
1,480
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree in agricultural or biological engineering.

Related work experience: None.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

A professional engineer license is optional early on and required for some public-facing work.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Engineering designCADSystems thinkingProblem solving

The honest take

Designs equipment and systems for food production, water use, storage, and farm automation.

Standard Occupational Classification 17-2021. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.