Management
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
Also called: Aquaculture Director, Farm Manager, Farm Operations Technical Director, Fish Hatchery Manager
US median pay
$89,900
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-3.4%
declining
Openings a year (US)
70,800
788,700 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities.
What they do day to day
- Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
- Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
- Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
- Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
- Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
- Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
- Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries.
- Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers.
- Prepare reports required by state and federal laws.
- Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Management of Personnel Resources3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Time Management3.4/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
Knowledge
- Administration and Management4.1/5
- Production and Processing3.9/5
- Biology3.8/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.4/5
- English Language3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.