17 Series · SOC 17-2021

Agricultural Engineers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$98,590
Median / year
$166,460
Top 10% earn
+5.9%
Growth '23–'33
1,480
US workers

Agricultural Engineers earn a median of $98,590 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $98,590, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $68,060 (10th percentile) to $166,460 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,480 US workers. Ohio pays the most ($119,250), since pay varies by state and metro area.

17 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Agricultural Engineers earn a median of $98,590, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 82% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #19 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% by 2033.

$98,590
Median annual wage
Top 18%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#19 of 36
in Architecture and Engineering
2.4×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Ohio at $119,250. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Agricultural Engineers (SOC 17-2021) pays a national median of $98,590 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $68,060 at the 10th percentile to $166,460 at the 90th, with a mean of $108,230 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,480 Americans work in this occupation across 12 reporting states and 5 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Ohio pays the highest state median at $119,250, which is +21% above the national figure. The top metro is St. Louis, MO-IL at $124,340 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,480 jobs Median $98,590/yr

Median Salary

$98,590

per year

Median Hourly

$47.40/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$108,230

average

Employment

1,480

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Agricultural Engineers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$98,590 Top 18% higher than 82% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Agricultural Engineers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Agricultural Engineers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.9% growth and $98,590 median pay.

Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Agricultural Engineers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.9% growth and $98,590 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Agricultural Engineers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.9% growth and $98,590 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+5.9%

About average

Annual Openings

100

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

2/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Agricultural Engineers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Writing 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 3.9
Complex Problem Solving 3.9
Judgment and Decision Making 3.9
Systems Evaluation 3.9
Mathematics 3.8
Systems Analysis 3.8

Knowledge Areas

Engineering and Technology 4.8
Computers and Electronics 4.5
Design 4.3
Mathematics 4.3
Physics 4.3
Biology 4.1
Mechanical 3.9
English Language 3.9
Food Production 3.6
Chemistry 3.6

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
  • ▸ Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
  • ▸ Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
  • ▸ Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
  • ▸ Design food processing plants and related mechanical systems.
  • ▸ Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
  • ▸ Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation.
  • ▸ Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
  • ▸ Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
  • ▸ Conduct educational programs that provide farmers or farm cooperative members with information that can help them improve agricultural productivity.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$68,060$82,260$98,590$124,880$166,460
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$32.72$39.55$47.40$60.04$80.03
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$68,060

25th Percentile

$82,260

Median

$98,590

75th Percentile

$124,880

90th Percentile

$166,460

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Ohio $119,250 2. Minnesota $115,940 3. Iowa $96,290 4. Texas $95,220 5. Indiana $94,730

Lowest Paying States

8. Puerto Rico $40,690 9. Arkansas $57,740 10. Pennsylvania $80,300 11. Michigan $80,490 12. Oklahoma $86,970
View all 12 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Ohio $119,250 +21% above national
2 Minnesota $115,940 +18% above national
3 Iowa $96,290 2% below national
4 Texas $95,220 3% below national
5 Indiana $94,730 4% below national
6 Mississippi $91,560 7% below national
7 Colorado $88,650 10% below national
8 Oklahoma $86,970 12% below national
9 Michigan $80,490 18% below national
10 Pennsylvania $80,300 19% below national
11 Arkansas $57,740 41% below national
12 Puerto Rico $40,690 59% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. St. Louis, MO-IL $124,340 2. Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $93,090 3. Oklahoma City, OK $86,970 4. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $86,320 5. San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $40,690

Lowest Paying Metros

1. San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $40,690 2. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $86,320 3. Oklahoma City, OK $86,970 4. Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $93,090 5. St. Louis, MO-IL $124,340
View all 5 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 St. Louis, MO-IL $124,340 +26% above national
2 Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $93,090 6% below national
3 Oklahoma City, OK $86,970 12% below national
4 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $86,320 12% below national
5 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $40,690 59% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

SOC 17-3021

Aerospace Engineers

SOC 17-2011

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

SOC 17-1011

Architectural and Civil Drafters

SOC 17-3011

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

SOC 17-2031
Compare Agricultural Engineers side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Agricultural Engineers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Agricultural Engineers is $98,590 ($47.40/hour). The salary range spans from $68,060 at the 10th percentile to $166,460 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Agricultural Engineers the most? ▼
Ohio pays the highest median salary for Agricultural Engineers at $119,250/year, which is +21% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Agricultural Engineers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Agricultural Engineers is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Agricultural Engineers? ▼
Agricultural Engineers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 2 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Agricultural Engineers a good career? ▼
Employment for Agricultural Engineers is projected to grow 5.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 100 openings are projected each year.
How does Agricultural Engineers pay vary by state? ▼
Agricultural Engineers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Ohio at $119,250/year, while Oklahoma pays the least at $86,970/year. BLS data covers 12 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Agricultural Engineers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Agricultural Engineers is St. Louis, MO-IL at $124,340/year. BLS reports wage data for 5 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Agricultural Engineers pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $124,880/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Ohio leads at $119,250/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.