Agricultural Business
What Agricultural Business Graduates Do
Your office could be the cab of a pickup truck, where you’ll spend your days checking irrigation systems, analyzing soil data on a tablet, and negotiating prices for your crops. Or you might be on the road as a wholesale sales representative, visiting farms and co-ops to demonstrate new seed varieties, manage client accounts, and write up orders.
Many graduates begin as first-line supervisors of farming crews, learning the business from the ground up. With a few years of experience, you can advance into a full agricultural manager role or build a lucrative sales territory. Top earners often manage large-scale commercial farms or become senior economists specializing in agricultural markets. While overall growth is modest, the high number of annual openings for managers and sales reps creates consistent demand for new talent.
You’ll likely use AI-powered software for planning tasks like crop yield forecasting or optimizing supply chains. However, the hands-on work of managing land, leading teams, and building relationships with suppliers remains firmly in human hands.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 4 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Agricultural Business. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Beekeeper
RAPIDS 886 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
|
Bison Herd Manager
RAPIDS 1136 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,330 – $77K | 2.5% |
|
Dairy Grazier
RAPIDS 2019HY |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Hybrid | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
|
Farmer, General (Agric)
RAPIDS 177 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Agricultural Business
18 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ridgewater College Willmar, MN |
79 73–82 |
$44,875/yr | 90.3x |
| 2 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE |
75 70–77 |
$42,642/yr | 66.9x |
| 3 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA |
73 70–76 |
$40,955/yr | 61.1x |
| 4 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND |
72 68–74 |
$48,646/yr | 43.3x |
| 5 | Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND |
71 63–74 |
$38,623/yr | 56.0x |
| 6 | Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE |
71 64–74 |
$36,223/yr | 66.6x |
| 7 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA |
70 67–72 |
$47,472/yr | 36.3x |
| 8 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA |
70 64–73 |
$40,506/yr | 49.1x |
| 9 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SD |
66 62–69 |
$41,340/yr | 34.6x |
| 10 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA |
66 63–68 |
$40,835/yr | 33.1x |
| 11 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC |
64 60–67 |
$41,966/yr | 26.3x |
| 12 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH |
60 54–62 |
$34,747/yr | 23.5x |
| 13 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH |
58 52–61 |
$34,747/yr | 16.7x |
| 14 | North Central Missouri College Trenton, MO |
55 52–57 |
$26,927/yr | 26.2x |
| 15 | Crowder College Neosho, MO |
53 49–55 |
$25,932/yr | 20.0x |
| 16 | Stautzenberger College-Maumee Maumee, OH |
46 41–48 |
$22,309/yr | 5.7x |
| 17 | Stautzenberger College-Brecksville Brecksville, OH |
46 41–48 |
$22,309/yr | 5.7x |
| 18 | Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford, IL |
46 41–48 |
$22,309/yr | 5.7x |
Highest Earning Agricultural Business Programs
Schools where Agricultural Business graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State College of Science | $48,646/yr | 72 |
| Hawkeye Community College | $47,472/yr | 70 |
| Ridgewater College | $44,875/yr | 79 |
| Southeast Community College Area | $42,642/yr | 75 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $41,966/yr | 64 |
| Lake Area Technical College | $41,340/yr | 66 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | $40,955/yr | 73 |
| Kirkwood Community College | $40,835/yr | 66 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | $40,506/yr | 70 |
| Bismarck State College | $38,623/yr | 71 |
Best ROI for Agricultural Business
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Agricultural Business.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgewater College | 90.3x | $44,875/yr | 79 |
| Southeast Community College Area | 66.9x | $42,642/yr | 75 |
| Northeast Community College | 66.6x | $36,223/yr | 71 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | 61.1x | $40,955/yr | 73 |
| Bismarck State College | 56.0x | $38,623/yr | 71 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | 49.1x | $40,506/yr | 70 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | 43.3x | $48,646/yr | 72 |
| Hawkeye Community College | 36.3x | $47,472/yr | 70 |
| Lake Area Technical College | 34.6x | $41,340/yr | 66 |
| Kirkwood Community College | 33.1x | $40,835/yr | 66 |
Related Majors
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Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Agricultural Business degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.