Career
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
Lead crews on farms, fisheries and forests.
$59,320
Median pay
+3.8%
Job growth, 2025–35
7,200
Openings a year
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education
None required
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.
- Record the numbers and types of fish or shellfish reared, harvested, released, sold, and shipped.
- Monitor workers to ensure that safety regulations are followed, warning or disciplining those who violate safety regulations.
- Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior, notifying veterinarians or managers as warranted.
- Observe fish and beds or ponds to detect diseases, monitor fish growth, determine quality of fish, or determine completeness of harvesting.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on persuasion & leadership, then objects & tools?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Critical Thinking, Coordination, Monitoring, Speaking.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $59,320 a year and 7,200 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Animal ScienceSee the degree →
- Agricultural BusinessSee the degree →
- Agricultural Business and Management, GeneralCIP 01.0101
- Farm/Farm and Ranch ManagementCIP 01.0104
- Agricultural Business and Management, OtherCIP 01.0199
- Agricultural Production Operations, GeneralCIP 01.0301
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450 · +1.8%
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,860 · +4.1%
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920 · +5.0%
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$58,430 · +4.0%
- First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
Not sure this fits who you are? Start with Vocational Finder →
Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.