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Extension agent: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $37,650lowest 10% earn less
- $46,99025th percentile
- $60,220median
- $73,13075th percentile
- $85,060top 10% earn more
Extension agents, which BLS calls farm and home management educators, had a median pay of $60,220 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall 3.2% from 2025 to 2035[2].
How much do extension agents make?
The median wage for farm and home management educators was $60,220 a year, or $28.95 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $61,060 a year, or $29.35 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].
Pay varies a lot across the range[3]:
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[3][8] | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| 25th[3][8] | $46,990 | $22.59 |
| 75th[3][8] | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| 90th[3][8] | $85,060 | $40.89 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,650, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $85,060[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].
These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 8,220 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[11].
Pay by state and city
Among the 34 states with published data[12], California was listed first with a median of $98,770[12], though it had only about 40 jobs[12]. Oregon came next at $80,030, then Maryland at $79,780[12]. Texas ($33,260) and Georgia ($33,510) were at the bottom of the list[12].
The states with the most jobs were North Carolina (910), Florida (710), Wisconsin (670), and Iowa and Virginia (520 each)[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area had the highest median at $79,780[14]. Raleigh-Cary, NC followed at $64,280, then Madison, WI at $60,920[14]. Raleigh-Cary had the most jobs at 720, and Madison had 660[15].
Show median pay in 34 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| California[12] | $98,770 | 40 |
| Oregon | $80,030 | n/a |
| Maryland | $79,780 | 150 |
| Virginia | $76,710 | 520 |
| Arizona | $73,210 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $66,920 | 40 |
| Colorado | $66,230 | 90 |
| Maine | $65,780 | 70 |
| Indiana | $65,740 | 360 |
| Michigan | $65,030 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $64,280 | 910 |
| North Dakota | $63,480 | 90 |
| Washington | $63,440 | n/a |
| Delaware | $63,300 | 80 |
| Vermont | $62,830 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $62,730 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $61,190 | 420 |
| Wisconsin | $60,920 | 670 |
| Nebraska | $60,670 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $60,440 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $59,480 | n/a |
| Alabama | $58,330 | 260 |
| New Jersey | $57,810 | n/a |
| Kansas | $52,870 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $50,930 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $50,510 | 140 |
| Arkansas | $49,640 | 200 |
| Florida | $49,090 | 710 |
| New York | $48,860 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $48,340 | 30 |
| Iowa | $48,200 | 520 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,970 | n/a |
| Georgia | $33,510 | 200 |
| Texas | $33,260 | 470 |
How to become an extension agent
BLS lists the typical path into this occupation like this[6]:
- First: earn a master's degree, which is the typical education for entry.
- Next: no work experience in a related occupation is listed as needed.
- Then: no typical on-the-job training is listed.
In an O*NET survey of 27 workers, 70% said a master's degree was required and 15% said a bachelor's degree[16]. This is a small survey, so read it as a rough guide.
O*NET lists job titles that workers report, such as Extension Agent, Extension Educator, Agricultural Extension Educator and 4-H Youth Development Educator[17].
What extension agents do
Extension agents teach and advise people in farming and home management. They apply research findings to help with practical problems[18]. O*NET lists these tasks[19]:
- Advise farmers and show them methods for livestock care, growing and harvesting, and financial planning.
- Teach classes or give talks on topics like nutrition, home management and farming methods.
- Work with producers to find and prevent problems in management and production.
- Look up information that farmers ask for.
- Gather and review data to learn what a community needs.
- Run field demonstrations of new products, methods or services.
- Keep records of the help given and what came of the advice.
- Make handouts and visual aids for teaching.
Some work is on home topics such as budgeting, nutrition and child development, and some is on farm topics such as pest management and food safety[18].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to decline 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,700 jobs to 9,400[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[20]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the 8,220 wage and salary jobs counted in the wage survey[11][2].
BLS still expects about 800 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.9% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to a different occupation[21].
BLS names one factor behind the decline. Consolidation in agriculture means fewer farmers, so fewer advisors are needed[22].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is above the all-occupations median, and it ranges widely by state[1][4][12]. The usual entry education is a master's degree[6]. That education step is worth weighing against the pay. Employment is projected to shrink slightly while openings continue to appear from workers leaving[2][5]. The work suits people who like teaching and advising farmers and families[18].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an extension agent make a year?
- The median pay for farm and home management educators was $60,220 a year in May 2025, and the average was $61,060[1][7].
- How much does an extension agent make an hour?
- The median was $28.95 an hour and the average was $29.35 an hour[1][7].
- What degree do you need to be an extension agent?
- BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[6]. In an O*NET survey of 27 workers, 70% said a master's degree was required[16].
- Are extension agents in demand?
- Employment is projected to decline 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][20]. About 800 openings a year are still expected[5].
- What is the highest paying state for extension agents?
- California is listed first with a median of $98,770, followed by Oregon at $80,030 and Maryland at $79,780[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Farm and Home Management Educators in the US was $60,220 per year and $28.95 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Farm and Home Management Educators is projected to decline 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,700 to 9,400 jobs (a change of -300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Farm and Home Management Educators: 10th percentile $37,650, 25th percentile $46,990, 75th percentile $73,130, 90th percentile $85,060. 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 Farm and Home Management Educators 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 Farm and Home Management Educators: education needed for entry: Master's 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 Farm and Home Management Educators was $61,060 per year and $29.35 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Farm and Home Management Educators: 10th percentile $18.10, 25th percentile $22.59, 75th percentile $35.16, 90th percentile $40.89. 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 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 8,220 people were employed as Farm and Home Management Educators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Farm and Home Management Educators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Farm and Home Management Educators jobs: North Carolina 910; Florida 710; Wisconsin 670; Iowa 520; Virginia 520. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Farm and Home Management Educators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $79,780; Raleigh-Cary, NC $64,280; Madison, WI $60,920; Ames, IA $60,840; San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $53,620; Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $51,670; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $49,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Farm and Home Management Educators jobs: Raleigh-Cary, NC 720 (median $64,280); Madison, WI 660 (median $60,920); San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR 320 (median $53,620); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 230 (median $79,780); Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA 120 (median $51,670); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 110 (median $49,990). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 25-9021.00 survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 70%, Bachelor's Degree 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-9021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 4-H Youth Development Educator, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, 4-H Youth Educator, Agricultural Extension Educator, Community Educator, Extension Agent, Extension Educator, Extension Specialist. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Farm and Home Management Educators. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Farm and Home Management Educators. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Farm and Home Management Educators: 4.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Farm and Home Management Educators: Demand change - share decreases as continued industry consolidation in agriculture reduces the number of farmers, and by extension the needed number of farm and home management advisors. 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.