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Career overview · SOC 45-1011

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.

Also called: Animal Research Facility Supervisor · Cattle Manager · Farm Supervisor · Fish Hatchery Manager · Harvesting Supervisor · Hatchery Manager

Median pay (national)
$59,330
$39,610–$90,840 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
29,530
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.5%
~8,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $90,840 versus $39,610 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $59,330 leaves roughly 53% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.5% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 8,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 50 states with released data, Maryland pays the most for this role (median $76,670, +29% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $27,950 — a 174% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Speaking, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Critical Thinking
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Learning Strategies
  • Writing
  • Active Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Monitor workers to ensure that safety regulations are followed, warning or disciplining those who violate safety regulations.
  • Train workers in tree felling or bucking, operation of tractors or loading machines, yarding or loading techniques, or safety regulations.
  • Coordinate dismantling, moving, and setting up equipment at new work sites.
  • Coordinate the selection and movement of logs from storage areas, according to transportation schedules or production requirements.
  • Communicate with forestry personnel regarding forest harvesting or forest management plans, procedures, or schedules.
  • Schedule work crews, equipment, or transportation for several different work locations.
  • Train workers in techniques such as planting, harvesting, weeding, or insect identification and in the use of safety measures.
  • Inspect facilities to determine maintenance needs.
  • Confer with managers to evaluate weather or soil conditions, to develop plans or procedures, or to discuss issues such as changes in fertilizers, herbicides, or cultivating techniques.
  • Inspect crops, fields, or plant stock to determine conditions and need for cultivating, spraying, weeding, or harvesting.

Tools & technology

  • Atlassian Confluence
  • BCS Woodlands Software The Logger Tracker
  • Cattlesoft CattleMax
  • Database software
  • Employee scheduling software
  • Landmark Sales LOG-istics
  • Lion Edge Technologies Ranch Manager
  • Mapping software
  • Midwest MicroSystems Cow Sense
  • Payroll software
  • Sage 50 Accounting
  • TradeTec Computer Systems TallyWorks Logs
  • Valley Agricultural Software DairyCOMP 305
  • Valley Agricultural Software Feed Watch
  • Web browser software
  • Work scheduling software

Knowledge areas

  • Administration and Management
  • Production and Processing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Mechanical
  • Education and Training
  • Biology
  • Food Production