How to Hire an Agricultural Sciences Professor

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

The hiring market for agricultural sciences professors

There are about 10,900 agricultural sciences professors employed in the U.S., with roughly 800 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.9% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.

Pay benchmarks for offers

*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.

What to look for

Where to find agricultural sciences professors

• College education programs and student-teaching placements
• Alternative certification and residency programs
• Substitute and paraprofessional pools
• Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
• Job postings that use common alternate titles: Agriculture Professor, Animal Science Professor, Agronomy Professor, Agricultural Economics Professor

Screening checklist

• State license or certification verification where required
• Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
• CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
• A sample lesson or classroom observation

Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.

1. “Describe your research.”

What a strong answer includes: Explain impact.

2. “How do you work with extension?”

What a strong answer includes: Share.

3. “What courses can you teach?”

What a strong answer includes: List.

4. “How do you mentor students?”

What a strong answer includes: Explain.

5. “Describe your funding plan.”

What a strong answer includes: Explain.

Practical skills checks

A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:

• Present Research at a Field Day (see the steps)
• Design a Field Trial for a Class (see the steps)
• Write an Extension Fact Sheet (see the steps)

Red flags

• Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
• Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
• Unfamiliar with core terms such as Land-grant university, Extension, Agronomy
• Negative talk about every past employer or coworker

Onboard for retention

The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Agricultural Sciences Professor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Agricultural Sciences Professor training. Show them the path forward: Graduate Researcher → Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor or Department Head.

Hiring agricultural sciences professors: FAQ

How much should I pay an agricultural sciences professor?

The U.S. median wage for agricultural sciences professors is $98,700 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($66,410), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($126,850). Adjust for your local market.

What qualifications should an agricultural sciences professor have?

BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Ph.D. in agricultural science and Certified Crop Adviser where relevant, plus skills such as agronomy or animal science, field research design, and statistics.

How long does it take to train a new agricultural sciences professor?

Becoming qualified typically takes 5–7 years after a bachelor’s. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”