# Agricultural Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agricultural-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2021.00
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $98,590 (10th percentile $68,060, 90th percentile $166,460)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.9%
- Openings a year: 100
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 94 |
| Investigative (I) | 88 |
| Artistic (A) | 20 |
| Social (S) | 12 |
| Enterprising (E) | 22 |
| Conventional (C) | 46 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 93/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 89/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 86/100)
- Processing Information (importance 84/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 83/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 83/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 83/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation, Mathematics, Systems Analysis

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics, Design, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Mechanical, English Language, Food Production, Chemistry

## Also called

Agricultural Engineer, Agricultural Equipment Design Engineer, Agricultural Equipment Test Engineer, Agricultural Production Engineer, Agricultural Research Engineer, Agricultural Systems Specialist, Agriculture Consultant, Agriculture Engineer, Agriculture Scientist, Conservation Engineer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Agricultural Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1403) (CIP 1403, 44 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-maryland-college-park-main-campus-2949) | Agricultural Engineering | $78,885 | $93,440 | $21,500 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Agricultural Engineering | $85,019 | $92,603 | $25,000 |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Agricultural Engineering | $66,386 | $89,400 | $18,361 |
| [Iowa State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/iowa-state-university-1305) | Agricultural Engineering | $74,047 | $88,576 | $18,750 |
| [Clemson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clemson-university-572) | Agricultural Engineering | not reported | $88,338 | $22,875 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Agricultural Engineering | $73,824 | $88,315 | $27,000 |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | Agricultural Engineering | $63,187 | $86,498 | $24,276 |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Agricultural Engineering | $71,807 | $86,306 | $22,153 |

## Related careers

- [Soil and Plant Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/soil-and-plant-scientists): $78,850 median pay
- [Precision Agriculture Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/precision-agriculture-technicians): $49,630 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Environmental Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-engineers): $107,110 median pay
- [Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-biodiesel-technology-and-product-development-managers): $171,270 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.