Best paying farming and forestry jobs

The highest-paying occupations in farming and forestry, ranked with median wage weighted heaviest.

How this ranking is scored

score = .70·pay + .10·growth + .10·employment + .10·openings

Each factor is scaled to the strongest occupation on this list, then weighted and summed. Weights differ by list type. Full methodology.

Wages — OEWS May 2025

Growth & openings — EP 2024–34

Rank by Overall score ·Pay ·Growth ·Openings

Compare · management·business and finance·technology

#

Occupation

MEDIAN PAY

P25–P75

Growth

Employed

Open/yr

Score

01

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 45-1011

$59,320

+2.5%

27,960

8,500

100

02

Animal Breeders · High school diploma or equivalent · 45-2021

$51,130

+2.4%

1,330

1,200

84

03

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse · No formal educational credential · 45-2092

$35,660

-3.3%

265,500

71,700

82

04

Agricultural Equipment Operators · No formal educational credential · 45-2091

$41,730

+7.7%

28,500

10,500

82

05

Agricultural Inspectors · Bachelor's degree · 45-2011

$49,940

+1.5%

14,410

2,200

82

06

Fallers · High school diploma or equivalent · 45-4021

$52,100

-7.3%

3,130

700

82

07

Logging Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent · 45-4029

$50,840

-4.7%

1,700

400

80

08

Logging Equipment Operators · High school diploma or equivalent · 45-4022

$49,740

-1.4%

21,060

4,200

80

09

Log Graders and Scalers · High school diploma or equivalent · 45-4023

$46,330

-0.7%

3,070

600

73

10

Forest and Conservation Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 45-4011

$43,680

-4.7%

6,050

2,000

69

11

Agricultural Workers, All Other · No formal educational credential · 45-2099

$39,850

+2.3%

3,620

1,500

67

12

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals · No formal educational credential · 45-2093

$36,670

-5.0%

32,810

31,200

65

13

Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products · No formal educational credential · 45-2041

$35,730

-5.4%

25,180

5,100

58

All 13 scored occupations shown.

Fastest-growing farming and forestry careers

01 Agricultural Equipment Operators +7.7%

02 First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers +2.5%

03 Animal Breeders +2.4%

04 Agricultural Workers, All Other +2.3%

05 Agricultural Inspectors +1.5%

farming and forestry careers without a four-year degree

01 First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers $59,320

02 Animal Breeders $51,130

03 Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse $35,660

04 Agricultural Equipment Operators $41,730

05 Fallers $52,100

Live jobs in farming and forestry

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About farming and forestry careers

How many farming and forestry careers are there?

Jobs.best ranks 13 farming and forestry occupations with published wages, from OEWS May 2025.

What is the highest-paying farming and forestry job?

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, with a national median of $59,320.

Can you enter farming and forestry without a degree?

Yes — 5 of the ranked farming and forestry occupations typically need no four-year degree, including First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers.