Agricultural Engineers
Agricultural Engineers (SOC 17-2021) earn a median $98,590 a year ($47.40 an hour) in the United States, with 1,480 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Ohio.
What agricultural engineers do
Agricultural engineers apply engineering and biological science to problems in farming and food production. Their work covers farm machinery and power systems, electrical systems, agricultural buildings and structures, soil and water conservation, irrigation and drainage, and the processing of agricultural products. A typical assignment involves meeting with clients such as farmers, developers, and regional councils to understand a need, then preparing sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for a project. Agricultural engineers also visit sites to look at environmental problems, consult with contractors, and check on progress, and they talk through plans with other engineers and consultants. The occupation is separate from agricultural and food scientists, who study crops, animals, and food through biological research rather than design equipment and systems, and from civil engineers, who handle general infrastructure. They also test agricultural machinery to confirm it performs adequately, design structures for crop storage and animal shelter, and advise on water quality and pollution management.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Agricultural Engineer, Agricultural Equipment Design Engineer, Agricultural Production Engineer, Agricultural Research Engineer, Agricultural Equipment Test Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $32.72 | $39.55 | $47.40 | $60.04 | $80.03 | $52.04 | 1,480 |
| Annual | $68,060 | $82,260 | $98,590 | $124,880 | $166,460 | $108,230 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where agricultural engineers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $33.64 | $45.57 | $57.33 | $62.21 | $68.62 | $53.99 | 60 | 0.01 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $69,970 | $94,790 | $119,250 | $129,400 | $142,730 | $112,300 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $42.88 | $50.34 | $55.74 | $60.20 | $60.38 | $53.87 | 60 | 0.02 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $89,190 | $104,710 | $115,940 | $125,210 | $125,590 | $112,050 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $40.13 | $42.63 | $46.29 | $65.38 | $74.88 | $52.39 | 100 | 0.06 | 6.56 |
| Annual | $83,470 | $88,670 | $96,290 | $135,980 | $155,760 | $108,960 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $39.10 | $42.11 | $45.78 | $51.12 | $84.50 | $50.93 | 50 | 0.00 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $81,330 | $87,600 | $95,220 | $106,330 | $175,760 | $105,930 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $32.33 | $41.50 | $45.54 | $50.69 | $67.25 | $48.33 | 150 | 0.05 | 5.01 |
| Annual | $67,250 | $86,320 | $94,730 | $105,440 | $139,880 | $100,520 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $32.33 | $41.50 | $45.54 | $50.69 | $67.25 | $48.33 | 150 | 0.05 | 5.01 |
| Annual | $67,250 | $86,320 | $94,730 | $105,440 | $139,880 | $100,520 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.04 | 4.27 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $26.27 | $32.72 | $41.81 | $53.34 | $67.31 | $46.46 | 120 | 0.07 | 7.50 |
| Annual | $54,650 | $68,060 | $86,970 | $110,940 | $140,010 | $96,630 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $40.13 | $42.63 | $46.29 | $65.38 | $74.88 | $52.39 | 100 | 0.06 | 6.56 |
| Annual | $83,470 | $88,670 | $96,290 | $135,980 | $155,760 | $108,960 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $42.88 | $50.34 | $55.74 | $60.20 | $60.38 | $53.87 | 60 | 0.02 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $89,190 | $104,710 | $115,940 | $125,210 | $125,590 | $112,050 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| St. Louis, MO-IL | Hourly | $38.82 | $50.48 | $59.78 | $71.85 | $100.49 | $62.05 | 100 | 0.08 | 7.93 |
| Annual | $80,750 | $104,990 | $124,340 | $149,440 | $209,030 | $129,070 | ||||
| Oklahoma City, OK | Hourly | $26.27 | $32.72 | $41.81 | $53.34 | $67.31 | $46.27 | 110 | 0.16 | 17.04 |
| Annual | $54,650 | $68,060 | $86,970 | $110,940 | $140,010 | $96,250 | ||||
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | Hourly | $25.90 | $32.33 | $41.50 | $52.03 | $67.25 | $47.05 | 50 | 0.51 | 53.93 |
| Annual | $53,880 | $67,250 | $86,320 | $108,210 | $139,880 | $97,860 | ||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | $18.28 | $18.51 | $19.56 | $22.14 | $25.57 | $21.48 | 30 | 0.05 | 5.16 |
| Annual | $38,020 | $38,500 | $40,690 | $46,060 | $53,180 | $44,680 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oklahoma City, OK | Hourly | $26.27 | $32.72 | $41.81 | $53.34 | $67.31 | $46.27 | 110 | 0.16 | 17.04 |
| Annual | $54,650 | $68,060 | $86,970 | $110,940 | $140,010 | $96,250 | ||||
| St. Louis, MO-IL | Hourly | $38.82 | $50.48 | $59.78 | $71.85 | $100.49 | $62.05 | 100 | 0.08 | 7.93 |
| Annual | $80,750 | $104,990 | $124,340 | $149,440 | $209,030 | $129,070 | ||||
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | Hourly | $25.90 | $32.33 | $41.50 | $52.03 | $67.25 | $47.05 | 50 | 0.51 | 53.93 |
| Annual | $53,880 | $67,250 | $86,320 | $108,210 | $139,880 | $97,860 | ||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | $18.28 | $18.51 | $19.56 | $22.14 | $25.57 | $21.48 | 30 | 0.05 | 5.16 |
| Annual | $38,020 | $38,500 | $40,690 | $46,060 | $53,180 | $44,680 | ||||
Top industries employing agricultural engineers
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 20.3% of agricultural engineers nationally (300 jobs) at a median $101,480 a year ($48.79 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (13.5%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (8.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 300 | 20.3% | $101,480 | $48.79 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 200 | 13.5% | $86,970 | $41.81 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 120 | 8.1% | $122,770 | $59.02 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 100 | 6.8% | $103,230 | $49.63 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling NAICS 311200 | 60 | 4.1% | $96,260 | $46.28 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,480). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $82,640 for agricultural engineers in May 2021 and $98,590 in May 2025, with employment of 1,120 and 1,480.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $82,640 | $39.73 | 1,120 |
| May 2022 | $83,260 | $40.03 | 1,500 |
| May 2023 | $88,750 | $42.67 | 1,860 |
| May 2024 | $84,630 | $40.69 | 1,680 |
| May 2025 | $98,590 | $47.40 | 1,480 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
13 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio profile | $57.33 | $119,250 | $69,970 | $142,730 | 60 | 0.01 | 1.19 |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $55.74 | $115,940 | $89,190 | $125,590 | 60 | 0.02 | 1.98 |
| 3 | Iowa profile | $46.29 | $96,290 | $83,470 | $155,760 | 100 | 0.06 | 6.56 |
| 4 | Texas profile | $45.78 | $95,220 | $81,330 | $175,760 | 50 | 0.00 | 0.40 |
| 5 | Indiana profile | $45.54 | $94,730 | $67,250 | $139,880 | 150 | 0.05 | 5.01 |
| 6 | Mississippi profile | $44.02 | $91,560 | $48,870 | $133,200 | 40 | 0.04 | 3.66 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $42.62 | $88,650 | $73,920 | $107,160 | 30 | 0.01 | 1.17 |
| 8 | Oklahoma profile | $41.81 | $86,970 | $54,650 | $140,010 | 120 | 0.07 | 7.50 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $38.70 | $80,490 | $75,200 | $143,110 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Pennsylvania profile | $38.61 | $80,300 | $60,530 | $117,540 | ** | ** | ** |
| 11 | Arkansas profile | $27.76 | $57,740 | $37,090 | $106,980 | 40 | 0.03 | 2.86 |
| – | Illinois profile | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.01 | 0.67 |
| – | Missouri profile | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.04 | 4.27 |
Part of Architecture and Engineering Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 17-2021 Agricultural Engineers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 17-2021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 17-2021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.