Career Overview
Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.
Also Known As
- 4-H Youth Development Specialist
- Extension Agent
- Extension Educator
- Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent
Alternate Job Titles
- 4-H Agent
- 4-H Club Agent
- 4-H Youth Development Educator
- 4-H Youth Development Specialist
- 4-H Youth Educator
- Adjunct Instructor
- Agricultural Agent
- Agricultural Extension Agent
- Agricultural Extension Educator
- Agriculture Consultant
- Agriculture Extension Agent
- Agriculture Extension Specialist
- Community Educator
- Cooking Instructor
- Cooperative Extension Agent
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Advise farmers and demonstrate techniques in areas such as feeding and health maintenance of livestock, growing and harvesting practices, and financial planning.
- Conduct classes or deliver lectures on subjects such as nutrition, home management, and farming techniques.
- Collaborate with producers to diagnose and prevent management and production problems.
- Research information requested by farmers.
- Collect and evaluate data to determine community program needs.
- Act as an advocate for farmers or farmers' groups.
- Conduct field demonstrations of new products, techniques, or services.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Food Production
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Social Perceptiveness
- Instructing
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Originality
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
- Cooperation
- Leadership Orientation
- Intellectual Curiosity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
- ServiceNow
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Laptop computers
- Overhead display projectors
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $36,780 |
| Median | $58,120 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $85,230 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 10,260
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $86,350
Management Analysts
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,190
Range Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Soil and Plant Scientists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $71,410
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $61,490
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.