Careers in Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural Engineer Agricultural engineers work in many different areas. An agricultural engineer may work in biofuel development, nature conservation, aquaculture, forestry, habitat planning, food processing, or land farming. Agricultural engineers are sometimes called biological and agricultural engineers.

Agricultural engineers improve farming practices using science and technology. They design enhanced navigation and control systems for farming machinery. Working with scientists who specialize in plant production and use (called agronomists), agricultural engineers help to develop improved crops using biological applications. They also assist in managing the environmental impact of large farms, and in conserving water resources. In addition, agricultural engineers are working on developing certain kinds of algae and other biomass which can be used as fuel.

Many agricultural engineers focus on a single specialty, like food and bioprocess engineering, machinery design, or environmental engineering. They may work in the areas of management, production, research and development, or sales.

Work Environment

Agricultural engineers hold over 2, 700 jobs.

The table below shows how agricultural engineering jobs are distributed among different industries:

• Architectural, engineering, and related services – 17%
• Federal government, excluding postal service – 17%
• Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery manufacturing – 12%
• Food manufacturing – 11%
• Educational services; state, local, and private – 7%

Agricultural engineers do much of their work outdoors, visiting farms and other sites to ensure that equipment is working properly and safely, in accordance with governmental regulations. They often work on job sites, managing water resources and supervising environment restoration.

Agricultural engineers may also work in offices, laboratories, and classrooms.

How to Become an Agricultural Engineer

High school students who want to become an agricultural engineer should study mathematics (like trigonometry, algebra, and calculus) and science (like chemistry, biology, and physics).

A bachelor's degree is typically required to start out in agricultural engineering. Undergraduate students of agricultural engineering study in classrooms, laboratories, and the field for 4 years before receiving a bachelor's degree. They study subjects like mathematics, engineering principles, and science. Cooperative programs, which are available in most universities and colleges, let students finish their degree while simultaneously receiving valuable experience in their field.

These university programs are evaluated by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Licensing

Licenses are required for agricultural engineers who work with the public directly. Agricultural engineers who have received their license are called professional engineers (PEs). To receive a license, an engineer must have:

• A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
• A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
• Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years
• A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam

Several exams are required for licensure. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam comes first, and can be taken as soon as an engineer has a bachelor's degree. If the engineer passes this exam, he or she becomes known as an engineer intern (EI), or an engineer in training (EIT). The next exam is called the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, and can only be taken after the EI has gained enough experience on the job.

Every state's licensing requirements are different. In some states, professional engineers must take further courses in their field, or else they lose their license. State licenses are typically valid in other states, depending on the particular requirements for licensure in that state.

The median salary of an agricultural engineer is more than $71, 000. The median salary is the salary at which 50% of the workers earned more and 50% earned less. The lowest 10% of engineers earn less than $42, 000, and the highest 10% earn more than $115, 000.

The following table shows the industries which employ the most agricultural engineers, as well as the median salary of agricultural engineers in those industries:

• Architectural, engineering, and related services – $78, 940
• Food manufacturing – $77, 670
• Federal government, excluding postal service – $74, 770
• Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery manufacturing – $63, 310
• Educational services; state, local, and private – $52, 450

Scheduling is a special concern for agricultural engineers, since so much of their work is dependent on weather conditions. When the weather is favorable, they may need to work especially quickly, or work long hours, in order to get the job done.

Job Outlook

It's estimated that job prospects for agricultural engineers will grow by 9% in the next decade. This growth is slower than usual, when compared to the average occupation.

The technologies being developed by agricultural engineers are redefining the way we make food and other products, the way we manage our water resources, and the way we get and use fuel. Also, agricultural machinery and equipment is continually being rethought and redesigned, which creates more jobs for agricultural engineers.