Agricultural Production
Quick Facts: Agricultural Production Training
Where it's offered
Agricultural Production programs are offered at 12 schools across 9 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $33,954/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 7 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Agricultural Production — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 12 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 43/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Agricultural Production Graduates Do
Your career will be rooted in the land and powered by technology. As a farm or ranch manager, your days will involve operating tractors with GPS guidance, using drones to monitor crop health, and making critical business decisions based on market data. You might also step into a supervisor role, leading a team to plant, irrigate, and harvest, ensuring everything runs smoothly and safely.
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The path often begins with hands-on work, learning the fundamentals of animal care or crop cycles. With experience, you can advance to a first-line supervisor or manager, overseeing larger operations. For those with a scientific interest, specialized paths in soil and plant science are growing quickly, offering work in labs and fields. While entry-level pay reflects this learning curve, experienced managers and specialized scientists command significantly higher salaries. Technology will be a key partner; AI tools may help with planning and analysis, but the core, hands-on expertise required to grow our food and manage the land remains a fundamentally human skill.
If Agricultural Production doesn't fit your goals, programs like Plant Sciences, Animal Sciences, and Food Science & Technology draw from adjacent skill sets.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 7 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Agricultural Production. 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% |
|
Fish Hatchery Worker
RAPIDS 1024 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $31K – $36,150 – $44K | -5.0% |
|
Horticulturist
RAPIDS 236 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $58K – $71,410 – $98K | 5.4% |
|
Soil Conservation Technician
RAPIDS 450 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $67,950 – $88K | 3.4% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Agricultural Production Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Agricultural Production is offered at 12 schools across 9 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Agricultural Production Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Agricultural Production programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
12 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA |
62 59–63 |
| 2 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA |
58 55–60 |
| 3 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD |
55 51–57 |
| 4 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI |
50 47–52 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC |
49 45–51 |
| 6 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH |
49 44–51 |
| 7 | Niagara County Community College Sanborn, NY |
49 46–51 |
| 8 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI |
49 46–50 |
| 9 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA |
48 43–50 |
| 10 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH |
47 42–49 |
| 11 | Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Curtis, NE |
45 38–47 |
| 12 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE |
41 35–43 |
Highest Earning Agricultural Production Programs
Schools where Agricultural Production graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkwood Community College | $42,392/yr | 58 |
| Mitchell Technical College | $40,871/yr | 55 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | $38,924/yr | 62 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $36,083/yr | 48 |
| Michigan State University | $35,978/yr | 50 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $35,198/yr | 49 |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | $33,940/yr | 49 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | $33,940/yr | 47 |
| Niagara County Community College | $33,131/yr | 49 |
| Northcentral Technical College | $28,132/yr | 49 |
Best ROI for Agricultural Production
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Agricultural Production.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Iowa Community College | 58.0x | $38,924/yr | 62 |
| Kirkwood Community College | 38.0x | $42,392/yr | 58 |
| Northcentral Technical College | 35.4x | $28,132/yr | 49 |
| Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture | 35.4x | $24,427/yr | 45 |
| Mitchell Technical College | 31.9x | $40,871/yr | 55 |
| Niagara County Community College | 25.5x | $33,131/yr | 49 |
| Michigan State University | 21.5x | $35,978/yr | 50 |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | 21.2x | $33,940/yr | 49 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 19.7x | $24,427/yr | 41 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 18.8x | $35,198/yr | 49 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Agricultural Production degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.