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First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they do

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $59,320 Median per year · $28.52/hr Most earn $38,990–$91,770

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Requisition or purchase supplies, such as insecticides, machine parts or lubricants, or tools.
  • Coordinate dismantling, moving, and setting up equipment at new work sites.
  • Calculate or monitor budgets for maintenance or development of collections, grounds, or infrastructure.
  • Train workers in tree felling or bucking, operation of tractors or loading machines, yarding or loading techniques, or safety regulations.
  • Coordinate the selection and movement of logs from storage areas, according to transportation schedules or production requirements.
  • Drive or operate farm machinery, such as trucks, tractors, or self-propelled harvesters, to transport workers or supplies or to cultivate or harvest fields.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 7,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Crop production38.8%
  • Animal production and aquaculture21.4%
  • Self-employed (their own business)6.3%
  • Logging4.0%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods3.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This isn't usually a first job. Most people work as farm, ranch, or forestry workers for about 2 to 4 years, learning the work and showing they can lead, before stepping into a supervisor role. A certificate or apprenticeship can help you get there faster.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong science and math, and take any agriculture, biology, or shop classes you can, since they build the base for hands-on farm or forestry work.

  2. Farm Worker

    2-4 years

    Work on a farm, ranch, orchard, tree crew, or fishing operation to learn the daily work, equipment, safety rules, and how a crew runs.

  3. Agricultural certificate or apprenticeship

    About 1 year, often done while working

    Complete a certificate or apprenticeship in agriculture, forestry, or aquaculture to build technical skills and show employers you are serious about advancing.

  4. First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

    Ongoing role

    Direct and coordinate the daily work of a crew, assign tasks, check quality and safety, and report to a farm or operation manager.

Where it can lead

  1. Farm Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You move from directing one crew to running the whole farm or operation, including planning, budgets, staffing, and working with buyers and suppliers.

  2. Operations Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You oversee several sites or departments, which requires strong business, planning, and people-management skills, often gained through more schooling or training.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take agriculture, biology, or environmental science classesThese classes teach plant, animal, and land basics that you will use every day on a farm or forestry crew.
  • Join an agriculture or natural resources clubClubs like a school FFA-style chapter build leadership, public speaking, and hands-on project skills.
  • Get a summer or weekend job on a farm, nursery, or landscaping crewPaid work teaches you the routine, safety habits, and teamwork that supervisors rely on.
  • Volunteer at a local farm, community garden, or park trail crewVolunteering shows you the variety of outdoor work and gives you references for future jobs.

In college

  • Study agriculture, forestry, or a related certificate programA focused program in crop, livestock, forestry, or aquaculture science gives you technical knowledge that supervisors need.
  • Complete an internship or co-op at a farm, forestry company, or fisheryHands-on placements let you learn real operations and often lead to job offers.
  • Take a campus job at a university farm, greenhouse, or research forestThese jobs build practical skills and let you work with experienced staff who can teach supervision.
  • Earn a state-recognized license or certificationCredentials like a pesticide applicator license or equipment safety certificate make you more competitive for supervisor roles.
  • Lead a student agriculture or environmental clubBeing in charge of events, budgets, or teams gives you real supervision experience to talk about in job interviews.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local farm, orchard, or tree service if you can volunteer or work part-time. Real hands-on experience is what supervisors are expected to have.
  • Look up what licenses your state requires for work like pesticide application or equipment operation. Starting these early makes you more hireable.
  • Practice leading in small ways now, like organizing a team project or running a club meeting. Supervisors need to direct people, not just do the work.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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