How to become a Postsecondary Agricultural Sciences Teacher
Official title: Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Agriculture Instructor, Agriculture Professor, Agronomy Professor, Animal Science Professor, Associate Professor, Horticulture Instructor, Horticulture Professor, Instructor, Plant Science Professor, Professor
Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Main tasks
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Supervise laboratory sessions and field work and coordinate laboratory operations.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as crop production, plant genetics, and soil chemistry.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
How to become one
Educational requirements vary by subject and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges, and others may need work experience in their field of expertise.
Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
- College: Science degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $98,700 a year The middle half earn $66,410 to $126,850.
- About 10,900 people work in this job now, and about 11,200 are projected by 2035. (+2.9%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Related jobs
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Postsecondary Agricultural Sciences Teacher?
Educational requirements vary by subject and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges, and others may need work experience in their field of expertise.
How much does a Postsecondary Agricultural Sciences Teacher earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $98,700 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $66,410 to $126,850.
Is a Postsecondary Agricultural Sciences Teacher a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 10,900 to about 11,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Postsecondary Agricultural Sciences Teacher?
Usually. 94% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Postsecondary Agricultural Sciences Teacher?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.