Agricultural Engineers
SOC Code: 17-2021 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Agricultural Engineers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $75,046 | $99,653 | $124,280 | $148,886 |
| Kankakee, IL | $71,386 | $96,387 | $121,410 | $146,411 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
| Abilene, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
| Amarillo, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $81,952 | $99,653 | $117,374 | $135,075 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| QCWORLDFRUIT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | 9 | $57,706 |
| Texas A&M AgriLife Research | 8 | $85,955 |
| PINEBLOOM PACKING, LLC | 7 | $15,542 |
| Sortpack Inc. | 4 | $58,492 |
| Paramount Export Company | 4 | $94,453 |
| Kansas State University | 4 | $64,111 |
| NATURIPE FARMS IMPORTS, INC | 4 | $82,375 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | 4 | $79,581 |
| Cornell University | 3 | $89,377 |
| Dayka and Hackett LLC | 3 | $73,964 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | $69,109 |
| 2021 | 12 | $78,043 |
| 2022 | 11 | $72,171 |
| 2023 | 33 | $80,180 |
| 2024 | 61 | $78,828 |
| 2025 | 72 | $91,413 |
| 2026 | 12 | $81,852 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | |
| Mathematics | 3.8 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Engineering and Technology | 4.8 |
| Computers and Electronics | 4.5 |
| Design | 4.3 |
| Mathematics | 4.2 |
| Physics | 4.2 |
| Biology | 4.1 |
| Mechanical | 3.9 |
| English Language | 3.9 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 75.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Post-first professional | 10.0% |
| Associate's degree | 5.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
- Design agricultural machinery components and equipment, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology.
- Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
- Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
- Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- Conduct educational programs that provide farmers or farm cooperative members with information that can help them improve agricultural productivity.
- Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
- Design and supervise environmental and land reclamation projects in agriculture and related industries.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Autodesk AutoCAD Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Word Oracle Database Oracle Java SAP software
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