by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 10 degrees and certificates in Agricultural Production Operations. Certificates are the most popular award, at 40% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing, rising to $50,144 after four years.
A degree in Agricultural Production Operations explores Agricultural Production Operations, Other. Any Instructional Program In Agricultural Production Operations Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., agricultural production operations is a widely-pursued major, with 10 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award agricultural production operations degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 6.
By level, the 10 awards include 4 certificates, 2 associate degrees and 4 master’s degrees.
Women earned 30% of agricultural production operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (3 of 10).
The most common agricultural production operations credential is the certificate: 4 of the 10 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agricultural production operations call most for Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, Administration and Management and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an agricultural production operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agricultural production operations, at 49.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 49.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.1% |
| Master’s degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Agricultural Production Operations, with an average median salary of $62,795; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Horticulture Manager, Plant Sciences Professor, Instructor and Sericulture Teacher.
The occupation related to agricultural production operations 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% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing their program, $50,144 after four years and $47,551 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $50,144 |
| 5 years | $47,551 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to agricultural production operations, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Agricultural Production Operations has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 3,812 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Production Operations, General (970), Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production (862) and Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture (774). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Production Operations, General | 970 |
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production | 862 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 774 |
| Crop Production | 526 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 485 |
| Aquaculture | 132 |
| Dairy Husbandry and Production | 63 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.