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
Scientific and Engineering
Agricultural and Forestry Production
Education, Communication, and Governmental Services
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Agricultural Science Teacher
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Business Teacher
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Agricultural Science Reporter
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Conservation Officer
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Cooperative Extension Educator
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Environmental Impact Analyst
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Farm and Ranch Advisor
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Farm Service Agency Manager
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Food Inspector
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Forest Service Administrator
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Land-Use Planner
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Naturalist
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Nutrition Counselor
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Park Manager
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Plant and Animal Inspector
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Public Relations Specialist
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
jeff.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.
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