How to Become a Agricultural Engineer in 2026
Quick answer: Becoming a agricultural engineer requires a 4-year degree - typically a ABET-accredited bachelor’s in agricultural or biological engineering. The national median pay is $98,590 per year, and BLS projects +5.9% employment change from 2024 to 2034 (BLS OEWS, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Agricultural Engineer at a Glance
| Metric | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $98,590 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Typical wage range | $68,060 (10th pct) - $166,460 (90th pct) | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected growth (2024-34) | +5.9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
| Typical education | ABET-accredited bachelor’s in agricultural or biological engineering | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| License / certification | PE license for public-works and consulting sign-off | State licensing boards |
What Does a Agricultural Engineer Do?
Agricultural engineers design farm equipment, irrigation and drainage systems, grain-handling facilities, and ag-processing plants - the engineering behind the machinery that diesel and equipment mechanics keep running.
Skills That Make a Great Agricultural Engineer
- Equipment and machine design
- Irrigation and drainage engineering
- Precision-agriculture technology
- Hydraulics and power systems
- Agricultural structures basics
How to Become a Agricultural Engineer
1. Earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s
Agricultural engineering or biological systems engineering, typically at a land-grant university.
2. Leverage equipment experience
Dealer and field-service backgrounds are prized by ag-equipment manufacturers.
3. Start with a manufacturer or co-op
Equipment makers, irrigation firms, and USDA agencies hire at the bachelor’s level.
4. Pass the FE exam
The EIT starts the PE clock for consulting and public-works design.
5. Specialize
Precision agriculture, irrigation design, or equipment R&D.
Why an Online Degree Works for This Career
Diesel techs and ag-equipment mechanics bring exactly the machine knowledge this field is built on. An agricultural or biological engineering bachelor’s (several land-grant universities offer online options) moves you from repairing the equipment to designing it - with precision-ag and automation driving demand.
Agricultural Engineer Salary
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,060 |
| 25th | $82,260 |
| 50th (median) | $98,590 |
| 75th | $124,880 |
| 90th | $166,460 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,700 |
| 2034 projected | 1,800 |
| Percent change | +5.9% |
Cost and Time to Complete the Degree
For agricultural engineers, the credential is: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in agricultural or biological engineering. A bachelor’s degree is typically 120 credit hours: four years full-time, and commonly five to six years part-time while working. Transfer credit is the other lever: prior college, military training, apprenticeship coursework, and industry certifications can be worth a year or more at transfer-friendly schools, so get a written transfer evaluation before enrolling anywhere. Costs vary widely by school type; in-state public online programs are usually the value benchmark, and employer tuition assistance is common for working adults in this field.
Pros and Cons of Becoming a Agricultural Engineer
Pros
- Median pay of $98,590 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- BLS projects +5.9% employment growth through 2034
- Field experience from the trades is a genuine hiring advantage
- Accredited online and hybrid degree paths exist for working adults
Cons
- Requires a 4-year degree (typically 120 credit hours)
- Entry-level pay starts near $68,060 at the 10th percentile
- Licensing hurdle: PE license for public-works and consulting sign-off
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a diesel mechanic become an agricultural engineer?
Yes - ag-equipment manufacturers specifically value engineers with dealership or field-service backgrounds; the requirement is the ABET-accredited bachelor's.
How much do agricultural engineers make?
The national median annual wage for agricultural engineers is $98,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The top 10% earn $166,460 or more, while entry-level pay starts around $68,060.
What is the job outlook for agricultural engineers?
BLS projects employment of agricultural engineers to change by +5.9% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Agricultural Engineer Salary and Requirements by State
Arkansas · Colorado · Indiana · Iowa · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Texas
Related Trade Careers
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Agricultural Engineers (SOC 17-2021)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Agricultural Engineer Salary by State
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |