First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Career Overview

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.

Also Known As

  • Farm Supervisor
  • Harvesting Supervisor
  • Hatchery Manager
  • Logging Supervisor

Alternate Job Titles

  • Agricultural and Forestry Supervisor
  • Agriculture Manager
  • Agronomy Location Manager
  • Agronomy Manager
  • Animal Care Supervisor
  • Animal Caretaker Supervisor
  • Animal Husbandry Supervisor
  • Animal Maintenance Supervisor
  • Animal Research Facility Supervisor
  • Animal Shelter Manager
  • Aquacultural Worker Supervisor
  • Area Supervisor
  • Artificial Breeding Ranch Supervisor
  • Barn Boss
  • Barn Manager

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • 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.
  • Train workers in tree felling or bucking, operation of tractors or loading machines, yarding or loading techniques, or safety regulations.
  • Treat animal illnesses or injuries, following experience or instructions of veterinarians.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Administration and Management
  • Production and Processing
  • Customer and Personal Service

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Critical Thinking
  2. Coordination
  3. Speaking
  4. Monitoring

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Oral Expression
  • Speech Recognition
  • Near Vision
  • Speech Clarity
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Far Vision
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Information Ordering

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Leadership Orientation
  • Dependability
  • Perseverance
  • Cooperation
  • Attention to Detail

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Independence
  • Support
  • Achievement
  • Relationships
  • Working Conditions

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Atlassian Confluence
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment

  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Aeration pumps
  • Air compressors
  • Animal injection syringes
  • Animal trailers
  • Animal vaccination syringes
  • Artificial insemination syringes
  • Automated feed batch mixers
  • Automatic fish feeders
  • Automatic watering devices
  • Axes
  • Backhoes
  • Balling guns
  • Blast chillers

Work Environment

  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • Contact With Others

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$39,610
Median$59,330
Top Earners (90th percentile)$90,840

Workers Employed Nationally: 29,530

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Median Salary: $71,190

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

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Median Salary: $78,300

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)

Median Salary: $78,690

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

Education: Bachelor's Degree

Median Salary: $56,170

First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators

Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Median Salary: Varies


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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.

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