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:
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Speaking
- 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 Percentile | Annual 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:
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $71,190
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
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.

