by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 9 U.S. colleges awarded 125 degrees and certificates in Agricultural Power Machinery Operation. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 66% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Power Machinery Operation Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,065 one year after completing, rising to $67,757 after four years.
A major in Agricultural Power Machinery Operation covers Agricultural Power Machinery Operation. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Operate Specialized Farm, Ranch, And Agribusiness Power Equipment Of A Stationary, Mobile, Or Hand-Operated Nature. Includes Instruction In Operating Specialized Equipment Such As Terrestrial And Airborne Crop-Spraying Equipment; Tractors And Hauling Equipment; Planting And Harvesting Equipment; Cutting Equipment; Power Sources And Systems For Silos, Irrigation, Pumping, And Applications Such As Dairy, Feeding And Shearing Operations; Processing Equipment; And Applicable Electrical, Mechanical, And Safety Principles. Examples: [Farm Equipment Operator].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, agricultural power machinery operation draws strong interest, with 125 degrees awarded annually. 9 colleges award agricultural power machinery operation degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 37.
By level, the 125 awards include 23 certificates, 82 associate degrees and 4 master’s degrees.
Women earned 5% of agricultural power machinery operation degrees and certificates in the latest year (6 of 125). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (117) and Hispanic or Latino (2).
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Power Machinery Operation Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees. It also ranks agricultural power machinery operation schools within 1 state. In all, 9 colleges offer agricultural power machinery operation programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agricultural Power Machinery Operation Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agricultural power machinery operation credential is the associate degree: 82 of the 125 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agricultural power machinery operation call most for Critical Thinking, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Mechanical, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Problem Sensitivity and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an agricultural power machinery operation degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 23 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 82 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agricultural power machinery operation, at 25.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 25.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 17.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 13.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.4% |
| Master’s degree | 6.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Agricultural Power Machinery Operation, with an average median salary of $41,965; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians, at 9.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Floriculture Professor, Professor, Floriculture Teacher and Animal Science Instructor.
The occupation related to agricultural power machinery operation with the most projected jobs is Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 297,433.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | 211,822 | 9.4% |
| Agricultural Equipment Operators | 145,100 | 0.8% |
Agricultural Power Machinery Operation graduates earn a median $55,065 one year after completing their program, $67,757 after four years and $65,945 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,065 |
| 4 years | $67,757 |
| 5 years | $65,945 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to agricultural power machinery operation, with a median salary of $66,903.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | $33,324 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operators | $25,669 |
Agricultural Power Machinery Operation has 3 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 1,366 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician (866), Agricultural Mechanization, General (473) and Agricultural Mechanization, Other (27). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician | 866 |
| Agricultural Mechanization, General | 473 |
| Agricultural Mechanization, Other | 27 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
