What Does it Take to Be an Agricultural Engineer?
Job Description & Duties 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.
Life As an Agricultural Engineer
- Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
- Design and supervise environmental and land reclamation projects in agriculture and related industries.
- Conduct educational programs that provide farmers or farm cooperative members with information that can help them improve agricultural productivity.
- Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
- Design agricultural machinery components and equipment, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology.
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Skills Needed to be an Agricultural Engineer
When polled, Agricultural Engineers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Agricultural Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Permaculture Designer
- Research Leader
- Conservation Engineer
- Product Technology Scientist
Job Demand for Agricultural Engineers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 2,700 jobs in the United States for Agricultural Engineer. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 200 new jobs for Agricultural Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 200 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Agricultural Engineer are North Carolina, Washington, and Alabama. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Oregon, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Agricultural Engineers Salary
The average yearly salary of an Agricultural Engineer ranges between $46,500 and $116,850.
Agricultural Engineers who work in Illinois, Iowa, or Ohio, make the highest salaries.
How much do Agricultural Engineers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $75,350 |
| Florida | $76,100 |
| Illinois | $86,690 |
| Indiana | $78,710 |
| Iowa | $85,320 |
| Kentucky | $67,010 |
| Ohio | $83,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,060 |
| South Dakota | $65,650 |
What Tools do Agricultural Engineers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Agricultural Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- SAS
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Oracle software
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- PTC Creo Parametric
- SAP software
How do I Become an Agricultural Engineer?
Education needed to be an Agricultural Engineer:
How Long Does it Take to Become an Agricultural Engineer?
Agricultural Engineers Sector
Agricultural Engineers work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those interested in being an Agricultural Engineer may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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