Career Outlook
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
BLS employment projections 2023–2033 · SOC 45-1011
Projected Growth
+2.5%
2023–2033
Annual Openings
8.5
projected/year
Median Salary
$59K
annual (BLS 2025)
Current Employment
27,960
workers (2023)
The First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers career outlook (SOC 45-1011) combines two separate BLS data products: Employment Projections for 2023-2033 trajectory, and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from May 2025 for current pay. Projected employment change is +2.5% over the decade, which BLS classifies as slower than average versus the 5% all-occupations baseline. That places it 2.5 percentage points below the national average across all occupations. Annual openings combining growth, retirement replacement, and transfers are projected at 8.5 per year.
Current workforce size for this occupation stands at approximately 27,960 based on the BLS OEWS May 2025 count. Median pay sits at $59,320 per year ($28.52/hr/hour), with a 10th-to-90th percentile spread from $38,990 to $91,770 — enough range that the choice between entry and senior positioning can change total earnings by 2-3× over a career. Typical entry-level credential is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally expected.
Growth projections are directional indicators, not guarantees. BLS revises these every two years based on updated demographic, technology, and policy inputs — the 2023-2033 projections already factor in assumptions about AI adoption, remote-work normalization, demographic aging, energy transition, and post-pandemic industry shifts, but unforeseen disruptions (recessions, breakthrough technologies, policy changes) can reshape 5-year-out numbers. When treating this page as career-decision evidence, pair the growth percentage with annual openings (small occupations growing fast can still offer few actual entry points, while large occupations growing slowly can offer thousands of replacement opportunities), look at the percentile pay band to understand realistic entry and senior compensation, and check whether the credential requirements match your current educational investment. The "Similar Occupations" list below highlights adjacent SOC codes worth considering as comparison anchors or alternative pathways.
Job Growth Projection
+2.5%
Slower than average
vs. national average (5%)
-2.5% below
Entry Requirements
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience Required
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
None
Salary Data (BLS 2025)
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (Entry) | $38,990 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,670 |
| Median (50th) | $59,320 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,290 |
| 90th Percentile (Senior) | $91,770 |
| Mean (Average) | $62,730 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers a growing field?
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers is projected to grow by 2.5% from 2023 to 2033, which is slower than average. The national average for all occupations is about 5%.
What education is needed to become a First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers?
The typical entry-level education requirement for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers is: High school diploma or equivalent. Work experience required: Less than 5 years. On-the-job training: None.
How many First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers jobs will be available?
There are approximately 8.5 annual job openings projected for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, which includes new positions due to growth plus openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
What is the median salary for a First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers?
The median annual salary for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers is $59,320 ($28.52/hr), based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. Half of workers earn more and half earn less than this amount.
Similar Career Paths
Occupations in SOC major group 45 with comparable growth and entry requirements.
Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2023–2033. Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.