Career comparison
Agricultural Sciences Professor vs. Agricultural Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Agricultural sciences professors earn more at the median ($98,700 vs. $49,630), while agricultural technicians usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Agricultural sciences professors teach and research crops, livestock, soils and food production. Agricultural technicians support crop, soil and livestock research in fields and labs.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Agricultural Sciences Professor | Agricultural Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $98,700 | $49,630 ($23.86/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $50,870 – $163,150 | $35,980 – $76,480 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.9% (about as fast as average) | +5.4% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 800 | 2,800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 2 years |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in agricultural science | Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, research farms and in the field.. | Technicians split time between fields, greenhouses and labs, working outdoors in heat and weather during the season.. |
What each job does
Agricultural Sciences Professor
- Teach agriculture courses
- Run field and lab research
- Work with extension programs
- Advise students and clubs
- Write grants
Agricultural Technician
- Plant and maintain research plots
- Collect soil, plant and water samples
- Measure growth, yield and quality
- Run lab tests and prepare samples
- Operate plot planters and harvesters
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors and hands-on work. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and agriculture, landscaping & animal care, but share transferable skills such as communication with farmers and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose agricultural sciences professor if…
- I love agriculture
- I like field research
- I enjoy teaching
Choose agricultural technician if…
- I like science and farming
- I enjoy both field and lab work
- I’m careful with measurements
Still torn? Take the Agricultural Sciences Professor fit quiz and the Agricultural Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, agricultural sciences professor or agricultural technician?
Agricultural Sciences Professors earn more at the median: $98,700 versus $49,630 for agricultural technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Agricultural Technicians typically train faster (2 years) than agricultural sciences professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects agricultural technicians to grow +5.4% from 2025–35, compared with +2.9% for agricultural sciences professors.