Career comparison
Agricultural Sciences Professor vs. Farm Manager
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. $89,900), while farm managers usually get to work faster (5+ years of farm experience of training). Agricultural sciences professors teach and research crops, livestock, soils and food production. Farm managers run farms and ranches, from planting and livestock to budgets and sales.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Agricultural Sciences Professor | Farm Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $98,700 | $89,900 ($43.22/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $50,870 – $163,150 | $54,320 – $160,020 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.9% (about as fast as average) | -3.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 800 | 70,800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 5+ years of farm experience |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in agricultural science | Private pesticide applicator license |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, research farms and in the field.. | Farm managers work outdoors in fields and barns and in farm offices, in all weather.. |
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
Farm Manager
- Plan crop and livestock production
- Manage planting, harvesting and animal care
- Hire and supervise workers
- Maintain equipment and facilities
- Manage budgets, loans and insurance
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, working independently, problem-solving, 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 decision making.
Which should you choose?
Choose agricultural sciences professor if…
- I love agriculture
- I like field research
- I enjoy teaching
Choose farm manager if…
- I love land and animals
- I want to run my own business
- I can handle risk
Still torn? Take the Agricultural Sciences Professor fit quiz and the Farm Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, agricultural sciences professor or farm manager?
Agricultural Sciences Professors earn more at the median: $98,700 versus $89,900 for farm managers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Farm Managers typically train faster (5+ years of farm experience) than agricultural sciences professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects agricultural sciences professors to grow +2.9% from 2025–35, compared with -3.4% for farm managers.