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Skills in demand  

By engaging industry associations, commodity commissions, and governing agencies, the Agriculture Center of Excellence is able to stay abreast of the skills demanded by the Ag Industry. The Center shares this information with Agriculture Educators throughout the state to ensure collegiate Ag programs provide relevant, up-to-date curriculum.
If you are considering pursuing a career in the Agriculture Industry, Washington State offers the most comprehensive collection of Ag programs around. Scroll down to the "Get Started" section to explore your endless opportunities in Agriculture Education throughout Washington State Community and Technical Colleges.

  


 

  

Grow Your Future with a Career in Agriculture

 Agricultural Economist
Agricultural economists use communication, analytical, and business skills to find success in sales, marketing, management, and finance careers. Many agricultural economists start their careers as sales representatives to gain knowledge about a firm's products and customers.
~ $69,800 Annual Average Salary

Agricultural Engineer

Agricultural engineers design agricultural machinery and facilities such as tractors, implements, storage and handling facilities, irrigation and drainage systems, and soil conservation measures.

~$60,400 Annual Average Salary

  

Agronomist

Agronomists deal with interactions among plants, soils, and the environment. They use sophisticated research tools and techniques to develop new crop hybrids and varieties that grow more efficiently and are more beneficial to society.

~$60,370 Annual Average Salary

 

Animal Nutritionist

Animal nutritionists formulate diets for food, companion, and zoo animals. They work with mammals, birds, and fish. The diets they create must be nutritionally sound, good-tasting, and economical for the ages and types of animals that will use them.

~ $53,800 Annual Average Salary

 

Aquaculturist

Aquaculturists raise a diverse array of aquatic plants and animals in controlled or settings.

~ $43,230 Annual Average Salary

 

Botanist

A botanist (plant biologist) studies microorganisms and giant trees - all plant life.

~ $60,370 Annual Average Salary


Biochemist

Biochemists explore the chemical events that cause biological phenomena in living organisms. The knowledge that biochemists gain in their research provides a basic understanding of the marvelous workings of the vast array of life forms.

~ $76,320 Annual Average Salary

 

Horticulturist

Horticulturists improve crop yield, quality, nutritional value, and resistance to insects, diseases, and environmental stresses. They make plants more adaptable to different climates and soils and better fit for food uses or processes. And they grow and improve plants used for medicines or spices.

~$60,370 Annual Average Salary

 

Food Process Engineer

Food process engineers research and develop new and existing products and processes. They also design processing, handling, and packaging equipment.

~53,810 Annual Average Salary

 

Environmental Scientist

Many environmental scientists protect the environment through jobs in solid and hazardous waste management, land use, and air or water quality. Their understanding of biology, chemistry, and physics helps them assess environmental quality and find ways to protect air, water, and land.

~$55,190 Annual Average Salary

 

Fisheries Scientist

Fisheries scientists can hold research or management positions dealing with species or habitat evaluation. They can be federal biologists monitoring commercial harvests of fishes, crabs, shrimps, or oysters, or state biologists studying sportfish populations.

~$55,140 Annual Average Salary

 

Florist

A flower shop employee processes incoming flowers, designs floral arrangements, works with customers, and delivers flowers. Those in management positions develop advertising programs, determine what products they will sell, create display themes, and supervise employees.

~$35,000 Annual Average Salary

 

Food Scientist

Food scientists preserve our food supply by assuring its flavor, color, texture, nutritional quality, and safety. They use their knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and engineering to convert grain, livestock, milk, fruit, and vegetables into new food products.

~$56,110 Annual Average Salary

 

Forester

Foresters may spend one day in the laboratory and the next in the field. Some days they speak with executives in board rooms and other days they talk with tree farmers. Therefore, foresters must be highly trained technically, but they must also be good communicators.

~$49,730 Annual Average Salary

 

Geneticist

Geneticists fall into many categories. Some try to understand how genes work (functional genomics) or where genes are (structural genomics), or they follow the flow of genes between and within populations to understand forces of evolution (population genetics).

~$60,370 Annual Average Salary

 

 

 

Agriculture Career Titles

 

Management and Business

  • Account Executive 
  • Banker 
  • Business Manager 
  • Customer Service Manager 
  • Economist 
  • Financial Manager 
  • Food Broker 
  • Forest Products Merchandiser 
  • Human Resources Manager 
  • Insurance Agent 
  • Landscape Manager 
  • Market Analyst 
  • Real Estate Broker 
  • Risk Manager 
  • Sales Representative

 

 Scientific and Engineering

  • Animal Physiologist 
  • Biochemist 
  • Bioprocess Engineer 
  • Entomologist 
  • Environmental Scientist 
  • Fisheries Scientist 
  • Food Engineer 
  • Forest Scientist 
  • Nanotechnologist 
  • Nutritionist 
  • Plant Breeder 
  • Quality Assurance Specialist 
  • Research Technician 
  • Resource Economist 
  • Veterinarian

  

Agricultural and Forestry Production

  • Animal Breeder 
  • Aquaculturist 
  • Equine Operator 
  • Farm Manager 
  • Farmer 
  • Feedlot Manager 
  • Forest Manager 
  • Fruit and Vegetable Grower 
  • Greenhouse Manager 
  • Nursery Operator 
  • Rancher 
  • Seed Producer 
  • Tree Farmer 
  • Turf Producer 
  • Viticulturist

  

Education, Communication, and Governmental Services

  • Agricultural Science Teacher
  • Business Teacher 
  • Agricultural Science Reporter 
  • Conservation Officer 
  • Cooperative Extension Educator 
  • Environmental Impact Analyst 
  • Farm and Ranch Advisor 
  • Farm Service Agency Manager 
  • Food Inspector 
  • Forest Service Administrator 
  • Land-Use Planner 
  • Naturalist 
  • Nutrition Counselor 
  • Park Manager 
  • Plant and Animal Inspector 
  • Public Relations Specialist

 


Career Planning

Visit the Workforce Explorer website provided by the Washington State Employment Security Department to begin your career exploration.

  • Strategies for Career Planning
  • Assess your skills and interests
  • Find occupational descriptions, wages and projections
  • Job hunting tips

(Back to Top)


Get Started

Agriculture

Agriculture Production - Big Bend Community College
Clyde Rasmussen 
509- 793-2053 
clyder@bigbend.edu

Agriculture/Horticulture - Clark College
Herbert Orange 
360-992-2302 
horange@clark.edu

Agriculture - Columbia Basin College
Kerrin Molton
509-542-4785 
kmolton@columbiabasin.edu

Agriculture Science - Walla Walla Community College
Jerry Kjack 
509-527-4225
jerry.kjack@wwcc.edu 

Agriculture - Wenatchee Valley College
George Ruddell 
509-860-2108 
gruddell@wvc.edu 



Ag Business 

Agriculture Business - Spokane Community College
Cindy Deffe 
509-533-7260 
cdeffe@scc.spokane.edu 

Agriculture Business - Walla Walla Community College
Debbie Frazier 
509-527-4689 
debora.frazier@wwcc.edu

Agriculture Business - Yakima Valley Community College
Trent Ball 
509-882-7007 
tball@yvcc.edu

 

Ag Equipment Repair

Agriculture & Industrial Equipment Technology - Columbia Basin College
Dan Von Holten 
509-542-4770 
dvonholten@columbiabasin.edu

Ag & Diesel Mechanics - Walla Walla Community College
Dave Bailey
509-529-2600
david.bailey@wwcc.edu

John Deere - Walla Walla Community College
Del Wilde 
509-527-4251 
del.wilde@wwcc.edu

 

Enology & Viticulture

Wine Making, Marketing, Sales - South Seattle Community College
Regina Daigneault 
206-764-7942 
rdaigneault@sccd.ctc.edu 

Enology and Viticulture - Walla Walla Community College
Wanda Williams 
509-524-5170 
wanda.williams@wwcc.edu

 



Environmental Conservation

Environmental Conservation - Skagit Valley College
Claus R. Svendsen 
360-416-7816 
claus.svendsen@skagit.edu 



Farrier Science 

Farrier Science - Walla Walla Community College
Jeff Engler 
509-527-4291 
j
eff.engler@wwcc.edu



Fisheries

Fisheries Technology - Bellingham Technical College
Earl N Steele 
360-752-8352 
esteele@btc.ctc.edu

Fisheries and Aquaculture - Peninsula College
Jack Ganzhorn
360-417-6493 
jackg@pcdamin.ctc.edu

 

Floral 

Floral Design - Spokane Community College
Cindy Deffe
509-533-7260 
cdeffe@scc.spokane.edu

 

Greenhouse/Nursery 

Greenhouse and Nursery - Spokane Community College
Cindy Deffe
509-533-7260
cdeffe@scc.spokane.edu

 

 

Horticulture 

Agriculture/Horticulture - Clark College
Herbert Orange
360-992-2302 
horange@clark.edu


Ornamental Horticulture - Edmonds Community College
Tim Hohn 
425-640-1454 
thohn@edcc.edu


Environmental Horticulture - Lake Washington Technical College
Don Marshall
425-739-8356
don.marshall@lwtc.edu


Horticulture Technology - South Puget Sound Community College
Brent Chapman
360-596-5219 
bchapman@spscc.ctc.edu

 

Landscape/Turf 
Landscape Management - Clover Park Technical College
Dan Roberts
253.589.5743 
dan.roberts@cptc.edu


Landscape Technology - South Seattle Community College
Michael Ryan
mryan@sccd.ctc.edu


Landscaping - Spokane Community College
Cindy Deffe
509-533-7260 
cdeffe@scc.spokane.edu


Turf Management - Walla Walla Community College
Bill Griffith
509-527-4269 
bill.griffith@wwcc.edu

 

Natural Resources 

Natural Resources Technology - Grays Harbor College
Joel Green 
360-538-4177 
jgreen2@ghc.edu

Natural Resources Technology - Green River Community College
Dick Hopkins 
253-833-9111 x 4509 
dhopkins@greenriver.edu


Natural Resources Management - Spokane Community College
Monica Spicker 
509-533-7265 
mspicker@scc.spokane.edu

 

Sustainable Agriculture 

Sustainable Agriculture Education - Seattle Central Community College
Grace Sparks 
206-587-3859 
gsparks@sccd.ctc.edu

 

 

Vet Tech 

Veterinary Technology - Bellingham Technical College
Lisa Dzyban 
360-752-8577 
ldzyban@btc.ctc.edu


Veterinary Technology - Pierce College
Salvador Hurtado
253- 964-6665 
shurtado@pierce.ctc.edu


Veterinary Technology - Yakima Valley Community College
Sue Wedam 
509-574-4759 
swedam@yvcc.edu

 

 

Water Resources 

Water Resources Technology - Spokane Community College
Erin Rudders 
509-533-7266
erudders@scc.spokane.edu

Water Management - Walla Walla Community College
Greg Farrens 
509-527-4250 
greg.farrens@wwcc.edu

 

 


 

 

Major Factors Affecting the Market for Graduates

As reported by a 2004 USDA national study*, "Many factors will affect the market for college graduates in the U.S. food, agricultural, and natural resources system during 2005-2010. We believe the most important ones are:

Consumers and their preferences dictate that products and services derived from agricultural and forest raw materials must help maintain contemporary lifestyles. Population growth, changing ethnic and age demographics, and evolving food and health literacy strongly influence both what is produced and the expertise required to meet consumer demands.
The evolving business structures that support the U.S. food system continue to be influenced by globalization and consolidation. Expertise needs will evolve and will create a need for graduates with excellent business skills, international understanding, and leadership qualities. Graduates must deal with increasing market uncertainty, risk analysis, petroleum dependence, niche business opportunities, and global food production and distribution systems.
New developments in science and technology are being driven by changes in biosecurity, the expanding global population, health concerns, shrinking natural resources, and climate change. Emerging biotechnologies and nanotechnologies are powerful tools to increase food system efficiency. Other scientific developments help us maintain renewable natural resources. All of these require graduates with basic science skills and the ability to solve problems with scientific applications.
Public policy choices and food system security affect the market for graduates who provide public services in education, natural resource management, food assistance, and recreation. Public concerns regarding diet and health, food safety, and the environment dictate the number and kinds of graduates needed to manage regulatory programs and provide services to assist producers and others working in the food and natural resources system."

* 2004 national study conducted under Cooperative Agreement 2004-38837-01875 between the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Purdue University College of Agriculture.