Farming & Outdoors

How much does a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers make?

The median first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers in the United States earns $59,320 per year, about $28.52 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers earn more, and half earn less.

Median annual salary
$59,320
Median hourly wage
$28.52 /hr
Employed in the U.S.
27,960

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 45-1011.

First-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers salary range

Pay for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $38,990 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $91,770. The average (mean) wage of $62,730 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th percentile $38,990 $18.75 Lowest paid
25th percentile $46,670 $22.44
Median (50th) $59,320 $28.52 Midpoint
75th percentile $75,290 $36.20
90th percentile $91,770 $44.12 Highest paid

Figures are national wage estimates for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers (SOC 45-1011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.

First-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers salary by state

Where you work changes the paycheck. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers earn the most in Minnesota at $81,480 a year, and the least in New Mexico at $50,160. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.

State Median annual Employed
Minnesota $81,480 230
Indiana $75,460 220
New Hampshire $74,420 40
Georgia $70,560 770
Idaho $69,360 530
Vermont $68,630 40
Delaware $66,550 70
New York $66,460 520
Washington $66,200 1,220
Colorado $66,030 640
Montana $64,990 260
Arizona $64,900 480
Maine $64,290 100
Arkansas $62,790 240
Nebraska $62,620 90
Wisconsin $62,610 330
Maryland $62,230 200
Oklahoma $62,040 220
Kentucky $62,030 320
Nevada $61,180 130
Missouri $60,950 430
Mississippi $60,890 440
Alabama $60,710 590
Hawaii $60,050 230
Massachusetts $59,640 390
Wyoming $59,640 40
Connecticut $59,460 60
Iowa $59,150 360
Illinois $59,030 510
Louisiana $59,020 490
Florida $58,780 940
North Carolina $58,700 560
Kansas $58,670 270
Pennsylvania $58,570 530
Oregon $57,940 840
South Dakota $57,880 110
New Jersey $57,240 270
Virginia $56,990 670
South Carolina $56,730 370
California $56,280 10,450
Michigan $55,460 500
Ohio $54,940 380
Rhode Island $53,770 60
West Virginia $53,190 70
Texas $53,170 1,150
Tennessee $52,960 170
Utah $52,760 160
New Mexico $50,160 220

State median wages for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers (SOC 45-1011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.

Job outlook for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

The BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 57,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 59,800 by 2035.

Across the decade, the BLS expects about 7,200 openings a year for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).

How to become a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

The typical entry-level education for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation.

A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .

Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.

What affects how much a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers earns

Employer, season, region, and level of responsibility shape pay. Supervisory and specialized roles pay above seasonal and entry-level work.

Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Minnesota, $81,480) and the lowest (New Mexico, $50,160) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.

About 27,960 people work as first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers in the United States. At $59,320 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.

First-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers salary FAQ

How much does a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers make an hour?

The median hourly wage for a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers is $28.52. The middle half of first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers earn between $22.44 and $36.20 per hour.

What is the highest first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers salary?

The highest paid 10 percent of first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers earn more than $91,770 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.

How much does a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers make a year?

The median annual salary for a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers is $59,320. The average (mean) wage of $62,730 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Is being a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers a well paid job?

At $59,320 a year, a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 27,960 people work as first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers in the United States.

Which state pays first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers the most?

Minnesota has the highest median salary for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers at $81,480 a year. Indiana ($75,460) and New Hampshire ($74,420) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.

Is being a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers a good career?

Employment of first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 7,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.

Do you need a degree to become a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers?

No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.

Related salaries

See more in Farming & Outdoors salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.

Sources. National and state wage and employment figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 and the OEWS state files. Growth, openings, education, and training: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2025–2035). Every figure on this page is published by the BLS and is shown without adjustment. View the originals at bls.gov/oes and bls.gov/emp. Last updated 2026-05-15.