Career comparison
Agricultural Engineer vs. Mechanical Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Mechanical engineers earn more at the median ($104,110 vs. $98,590), while agricultural engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Agricultural engineers design farm equipment, irrigation and systems that grow food better. Mechanical engineers design machines, engines, tools and products that move and work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Agricultural Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $98,590 ($47.40/hr) | $104,110 ($50.05/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $68,060 – $166,460 | $73,990 – $164,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.9% (faster than average) | +11.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 100 | 17,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 4 years |
| Key credential | PE license | Engineer in Training (EIT) |
| Work setting | Agricultural engineers work in offices, labs and fields.. | Mechanical engineers work in offices, labs and plants.. |
What each job does
Agricultural Engineer
- Design farm machinery
- Design irrigation
- Design structures
- Develop precision ag tools
- Conserve soil and water
Mechanical Engineer
- Design mechanical systems and products
- Create CAD models
- Analyze stress, heat and fluids
- Build and test prototypes
- Develop manufacturing processes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, in-demand, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, agriculture, landscaping & animal care and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as problem-solving and problem solving.
Which should you choose?
Choose agricultural engineer if…
- I grew up around farms
- I like engineering
- I like field work
Choose mechanical engineer if…
- I love how machines work
- I enjoy math and physics
- I like designing products
Still torn? Take the Agricultural Engineer fit quiz and the Mechanical Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, agricultural engineer or mechanical engineer?
Mechanical Engineers earn more at the median: $104,110 versus $98,590 for agricultural engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Agricultural Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than mechanical engineers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mechanical engineers to grow +11.2% from 2025–35, compared with +6.9% for agricultural engineers.