15 High-Paying Jobs for Plant-Obsessed People
An aggie is someone who has a degree from an agricultural college. If you're an aggie looking for a job in agriculture, look no further. Here are 15 great jobs for aggies who have that green thumb of which the rest of us are envious.
1. Agricultural Operations Manager
Agricultural managers such as farmers and ranchers, for examples, operate establishments like farms that produce items like crops, livestock and dairy products. Their main responsibility to lead the staff and make sure that day-to-day operations run smoothly, but they also spend their days overseeing inventory. Typically, you need a high school diploma or equivalent to become an agricultural operations manager, as experience takes precedence. And you can earn about $67,950 per year, or about $32.67 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2. Animal Geneticist
An animal geneticist's average annual salary is $68,840, according to Career Addict. They start out with a pay this well because they do intense work — they study the genetic makeup of animals, crossbreeding different species to create stronger, more resilient animals, preventing genetic disorders and increasing endangered animals' chances of survival.
3. Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural engineers are responsible for solving problems regarding everything from machine efficiency and power supplies, to pollution, environmental issues, the uses of various structures and facilities, and agricultural product storage and processing. They can earn about $77,110 per year, or about $37.07 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
4. Food Scientist
A food scientist is someone who researches different ways to improve the efficiency and safety of both agricultural products and establishments. There were 35,600 job openings for food scientists in 2018, and the job the outlook is promising: The role is witnessing a seven percent growth rate, which is faster than average. Couple that with the fact that food scientists can earn $64,020 per year, or $30.78 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it's a promising career.
5. Bioinformatics Scientist
A Bioinformatics scientist earns an average annual salary of $80,200, according to Career Addict. They make this money by gathering and updating information on different plants and animals via technology and computer science. Their responsibilities include automated data mining and integration, among other data processing tasks.
6. Agronomy Sales Manager
An agronomy sales manager is someone who trains a team of professionals who travel around the world to educate farmers on properly caring for their land and crops. While doing this, they promote and sell their products, such as soils, fertilizers and seeds. This job earns around $76,470 annually, according to Career Addict.
7. Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers can earn the big bucks off the bat — like $87,620 per year, or $42.13 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's because their job entails using the principles of engineering, soil science, biology and chemistry to come up with solutions to various, multifaceted environmental problems. There were 55,400 open environmental engineer positions, a job that's growing at a rate of five percent.
8. Agricultural Economist
An agricultural economist is an economist who focuses on agriculture. They are responsible for researching and conducting market analyses, being business advisors and consultants, and sometimes even wearing the hat of land appraisers. They're basically in charge of everything from developing forecasts to helping clients with crop predictions and land pricing. That's why they're paid an average annual salary of $104,920, according to Career Addict.
9. Biochemist
Biochemists can earn about $93,280 per year, or $44.85 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for studying the chemical and physical principles of living organisms and biological processes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, biochemists and biophysicists alike typically need a Ph.D. in order to work in independent research and development. Though many Ph.D. holders kick off their careers in temporary postdoctoral research positions, while those who don't yet have Ph.D.s may still qualify for entry-level positions.
10. Agricultural Lawyer
Agricultural lawyers are in charge of handling land disputes and ensuring that land owners adhere to government regulations. They may also have to deal with agricultural infrastructure, intellectual property, insurance, labor laws, environmental protection and proper land use. To do all of this, they can earn an average salary of $115,820, according to Career Addict.
11. Landscape Architect
Landscape architects can earn about $68,230 per year, or about $32.80 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Landscape architects, in short, design parks and other outdoor spaces. While the spend a lot of their time outside on job sites, they spend a bulk of their time actually inside coming up with designs, preparing models and meeting with clients.
12. Interior Designer
An interior designer might mostly be dealing with furniture and aesthetic touches for homes, offices and other structures, they also have to deal a lot with plants — understanding what kinds of plants will thrive in what kinds of environments. They earn about $53,370 per year, or about $25.66 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
13. Gardener/Lawn Caretaker
A gardener or a lawn caretaker is someone who works in their local community, helping homeowners to plant and fertilize and/or cut the lawn. They may also offer services such as pest control. They usually set their own rates and typically charge hourly, depending on what services they're offering.
14. Nutritionist
A nutritionist can earn about $60,370 per year, or about $29.02 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their main role is to "advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their background in agriculture, of course, helps them because they understand different food groups, how they're grown and what benefits they can offer the human body.
15. Outreach Coordinator
An outreach coordinator is someone who works for an environmental protection agency, helping to spread the good word about keeping the planet clean. An outreach coordinator's salary depends largely on the type of agency for which they're working — whether it's a for-profit organization or a nonprofit organization, for example. They typically earn less than the other job titles on this list, but the job role attracts people who are passionate about the planet.
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AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about women’s empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram @her_report, Twitter @herreportand Facebook.
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