Career comparison
Agricultural Technician vs. Farm Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Farm managers earn more at the median ($89,900 vs. $49,630), while agricultural technicians usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Agricultural technicians support crop, soil and livestock research in fields and labs. 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 Technician | Farm Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $49,630 ($23.86/hr) | $89,900 ($43.22/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,980 – $76,480 | $54,320 – $160,020 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.4% (faster than average) | -3.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 2,800 | 70,800 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 2 years | 5+ years of farm experience |
| Key credential | Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) | Private pesticide applicator license |
| Work setting | Technicians split time between fields, greenhouses and labs, working outdoors in heat and weather during the season.. | Farm managers work outdoors in fields and barns and in farm offices, in all weather.. |
What each job does
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
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, hands-on work, and in-demand. Both are part of the agriculture, landscaping & animal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose agricultural technician if…
- I like science and farming
- I enjoy both field and lab work
- I’m careful with measurements
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 Technician fit quiz and the Farm Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, agricultural technician or farm manager?
Farm Managers earn more at the median: $89,900 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 farm managers (5+ years of farm experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects agricultural technicians to grow +5.4% from 2025–35, compared with -3.4% for farm managers.