99
everything from planting, fertilizing, and harvesting crops to raising
and herding animals.
The pay: The annual median salary for farmers, ranchers, “and other
agricultural managers” in the U.S. is just over $83,770, per the BLS.
The prospects: Over the past several decades, the size of the
farming profession has been dropping—not because the need for
agricultural products is declining but because increasing efficien-
cies in farming and growing costs of operation are combining to
drive consolidation throughout the ag industry. BLS is predicting
that this trend will continue and projects that there will be a five
percent decline in available jobs in this career path between 2022
and 2032—a drop in more than 42,000 jobs. An important caveat
to note, however, is that the farming industry as a whole is aging,
with not enough young farmers to replace those who are reaching
retirement age. This fact means there are opportunities here for
younger workers willing to seek them.
The education: The educational path for farmers and ranchers can
vary significantly. Many of the independent farms that remain in
operation are family businesses dating back decades. These farms
are often passed down from one generation to the next, with the
younger generation learning the art of farming by working with their
parents and then eventually taking over. First-generation farmers
are more likely to get their start by pursuing degrees in crop and soil
sciences, agribusiness management, animal science, biosystems
engineering, horticulture, and more.
Note that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
consistently taking steps to help make farming more economical,
helping new farmers finance their purchases of land and equip-
ment, create business plans, and more.
Landscaping
The job: Jobs in landscaping can vary from grounds maintenance
workers (those who take care of yards, parks, golf courses, sporting