Agricultural Production Operations
What Agricultural Production Operations 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.
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.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 7 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Agricultural Production Operations. 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.
Best Schools for Agricultural Production Operations
12 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA |
62 59–63 |
$38,924/yr | 58.0x |
| 2 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA |
58 55–60 |
$42,392/yr | 38.0x |
| 3 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD |
55 51–57 |
$40,871/yr | 31.9x |
| 4 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI |
50 47–52 |
$35,978/yr | 21.5x |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC |
49 45–51 |
$35,198/yr | 18.8x |
| 6 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH |
49 44–51 |
$33,940/yr | 21.2x |
| 7 | Niagara County Community College Sanborn, NY |
49 46–51 |
$33,131/yr | 25.5x |
| 8 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI |
49 46–50 |
$28,132/yr | 35.4x |
| 9 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA |
48 43–50 |
$36,083/yr | 14.8x |
| 10 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH |
47 42–49 |
$33,940/yr | 15.1x |
| 11 | Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Curtis, NE |
45 38–47 |
$24,427/yr | 35.4x |
| 12 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE |
41 35–43 |
$24,427/yr | 19.7x |
Highest Earning Agricultural Production Operations Programs
Schools where Agricultural Production Operations 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 Operations
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Agricultural Production Operations.
| 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
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Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Agricultural Production Operations degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.