Careers / Agricultural Engineers
Agricultural Engineers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$98,590
United States, 2025
Employment
1,480
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
- O*NET code
- 17-2021.00
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation.
- Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$68,060
25th percentile
$82,260
75th percentile
$124,880
90th percentile
$166,460
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Mathematics3.8
- Science3.4
- Active Learning3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 20 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
20
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Agricultural EngineersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | $124,340 | 100 | 2025 |
| OH | $119,250 | 60 | 2025 |
| MN | $115,940 | 60 | 2025 |
| IA | $96,290 | 100 | 2025 |
| TX | $95,220 | 50 | 2025 |
| IN | $94,730 | 150 | 2025 |
| MS | $91,560 | 40 | 2025 |
| CO | $88,650 | 30 | 2025 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $86,970 | 110 | 2025 |
| OK | $86,970 | 120 | 2025 |
| Lafayette, IN | $86,320 | 50 | 2025 |
| MI | $80,490 | — | 2025 |
| PA | $80,300 | — | 2025 |
| AR | $57,740 | 40 | 2025 |
| PR | $40,690 | 40 | 2025 |
| San Juan, PR | $40,690 | 30 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Agricultural Engineers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.