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Agriculture professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $50,870lowest 10% earn less
- $66,41025th percentile
- $98,700median
- $126,85075th percentile
- $163,150top 10% earn more
Agriculture professors (the BLS title is agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary) earned a median of $98,700 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2.9% by 2035, a little slower than the all-occupations rate[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.9%[2]
- Openings per year
- 800[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[7]
How much do agriculture professors make?
The median wage for an agriculture professor was $98,700 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $102,050[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5].
Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $50,870, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $163,150[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentiles, not a starting salary[9].
| Measure | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4] | $50,870 | |
| 25th percentile[4] | $66,410 | |
| Median[1] | $98,700 | |
| 75th percentile[4] | $126,850 | |
| 90th percentile[4] | $163,150 |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[10]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out self-employed people and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].
Pay by state and city
Michigan had the highest median wage among the 39 states with published data, at $136,130[12]. New Jersey ($131,380) and Maryland ($129,920) followed[12]. Ohio was last on that list at $46,160[12].
Texas had the most jobs, with 1,170[13]. North Carolina (500), Oklahoma (410), California (400) and Georgia (380) came next[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area had the highest median at $129,920[14]. College Station-Bryan, TX was second at $126,050[14]. College Station-Bryan also had the most jobs of any metro area, at 530[15].
Show median pay in 39 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan[12] | $136,130 | 240 |
| New Jersey | $131,380 | 50 |
| Maryland | $129,920 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $128,270 | 350 |
| Delaware | $126,770 | 70 |
| Connecticut | $125,350 | 80 |
| Kansas | $112,480 | 200 |
| California | $109,930 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $108,290 | 80 |
| North Dakota | $108,130 | 90 |
| Vermont | $106,680 | 60 |
| Idaho | $105,690 | 80 |
| Illinois | $105,440 | 340 |
| Texas | $105,370 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $105,330 | 230 |
| Georgia | $104,330 | 380 |
| North Carolina | $102,560 | 500 |
| Iowa | $101,080 | 230 |
| Oregon | $100,930 | 290 |
| Minnesota | $100,410 | 280 |
| Wyoming | $98,660 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $98,220 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $97,640 | 250 |
| Montana | $93,470 | 160 |
| Maine | $92,480 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $84,100 | 200 |
| Washington | $82,960 | 160 |
| Wisconsin | $82,950 | 370 |
| Colorado | $81,920 | 160 |
| Alabama | $80,030 | 280 |
| Missouri | $78,730 | 210 |
| Indiana | $74,480 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $74,340 | 170 |
| Arizona | $73,500 | 80 |
| Mississippi | $69,930 | 230 |
| Utah | $64,500 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $64,080 | 410 |
| Florida | $62,420 | 120 |
| Ohio | $46,160 | 60 |
How to become an agriculture professor
The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers postsecondary teachers as a wider group, not only this job[16].
- First: earn a doctoral or professional degree. BLS lists this as the typical education for the job, with no work experience or on-the-job training required[7].
- Next: expect several years of doctoral study. Doctoral programs usually take several years and often end with a dissertation of original research[17].
- Then: consider extra experience. Some teachers work as graduate teaching assistants, and in fields such as biological science, some teachers have postdoctoral research experience that usually lasts 2 to 3 years[18][19].
- Later: some professors seek tenure, which may take up to 7 years[20].
A master's degree may be enough at some community colleges, although some schools prefer a doctorate[21]. In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 55% said a doctoral degree was required, 27% said post-doctoral training and 14% said a master's degree[22].
What agriculture professors do
They teach courses in fields such as agronomy, dairy sciences, horticulture and soil conservation. Some mainly teach, and others split their time with research[23]. Typical tasks include:
- Giving lectures on topics like crop production, plant genetics and soil chemistry[24].
- Running lab sessions and field work[24].
- Preparing syllabi, homework and handouts[24].
- Grading papers, lab work and assignments[24].
- Advising students on courses and careers, and holding office hours[24].
- Supervising student teaching, internship and research work[24].
- Doing research and publishing the results[24].
- Keeping up with the field through reading and conferences[24].
Where they work
Colleges, universities and professional schools run by the state were the largest employer group for postsecondary teachers in 2025, at 41%[25]. Many teachers work full time, though part-time work is common[26].
Classes are generally held during the day, with some evening and weekend courses[27]. Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, and otherwise set their own time[28]. Summers vary by school: some teachers teach, and others do research or professional development[29].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 10,900 to 11,200 jobs[2]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].
About 800 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to another occupation[30].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is well above the all-occupations median, but the range is wide[1][5][4]. The typical path starts with a doctoral degree, which takes several years[7][17]. Growth is projected slightly below the all-occupations rate, and openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations[2][3][6]. It may suit someone who likes teaching and research and is ready for a long education path.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an agriculture professor make?
- The median was $98,700 a year in May 2025, and the average was $102,050[1][8].
- What degree do you need to be an agriculture professor?
- BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[7].
- Is agriculture professor a growing job?
- Employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, versus 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
- What is the highest paying state for agriculture professors?
- Michigan, with a median of $136,130 a year[12].
- Does an agriculture professor get paid by the hour?
- BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[10].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $98,700 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 10,900 to 11,200 jobs (a change of +300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $50,870, 25th percentile $66,410, 75th percentile $126,850, 90th percentile $163,150. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 800 openings for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary was $102,050 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: Texas 1,170; North Carolina 500; Oklahoma 410; California 400; Georgia 380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $129,920; College Station-Bryan, TX $126,050; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $105,790; Lubbock, TX $105,370; Raleigh-Cary, NC $102,560; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $101,550; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $100,410; Madison, WI $98,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: College Station-Bryan, TX 530 (median $126,050); Raleigh-Cary, NC 380 (median $102,560); Madison, WI 240 (median $98,920); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 220 (median $100,410); Auburn-Opelika, AL 210 (median $80,030); Lincoln, NE 140 (median $98,160). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-1041.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 55%, Post-Doctoral Training 27%, Master's Degree 14% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.