Occupation · 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.
Median wage
$59,330
$39,610–$90,840
Projected growth
+2.5%
Slower than average
Annual openings
160
per year
Employed (US)
29,530
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
686 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingCoordinationSpeakingMonitoringTime ManagementReading ComprehensionManagement of Personnel ResourcesSocial PerceptivenessOperations MonitoringInstructingActive ListeningLearning StrategiesJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingWritingQuality Control AnalysisSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisPersuasionOperation and ControlNegotiationActive LearningMathematicsTroubleshootingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesService OrientationEquipment SelectionEquipment MaintenanceScienceRepairingTechnology DesignProgrammingOperations AnalysisInstallation
Knowledge areas
Administration and ManagementProduction and ProcessingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageMechanicalEducation and TrainingBiologyMathematicsFood ProductionPublic Safety and SecurityTransportationAdministrativePersonnel and Human ResourcesPsychologyBuilding and ConstructionSales and MarketingComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyEconomics and AccountingChemistryLaw and GovernmentPhysicsGeographyDesignTelecommunicationsForeign LanguageCommunications and MediaSociology and AnthropologyMedicine and DentistryTherapy and CounselingPhilosophy and TheologyHistory and ArcheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Atlassian ConfluenceBCS Woodlands Software The Logger TrackerCattlesoft CattleMaxDatabase softwareEmployee scheduling softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareLandmark Sales LOG-isticsLion Edge Technologies Ranch ManagerMapping softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMidwest MicroSystems Cow SensePayroll softwareSage 50 AccountingSpreadsheet softwareTradeTec Computer Systems TallyWorks LogsValley Agricultural Software DairyCOMP 305Valley Agricultural Software Feed WatchWeb browser softwareWord processing softwareWork scheduling software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleControlling Machines and ProcessesScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesHandling and Moving ObjectsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsProcessing InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersCoaching and Developing OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationThinking CreativelyPerforming Administrative ActivitiesWorking with ComputersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentAssisting and Caring for OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentSelling or Influencing Others
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Daily crew assignments — hand out under a senior supervisor's direction on a row-crop or orchard farm.Time and attendance tracking — record accurately for piece-rate or hourly crews.Safety briefings (PPE, heat illness, equipment) — deliver consistently at start-of-shift.Tools, parts, and consumables — issue and account for at a farm or forestry yard.Worker check-ins on quality and pace — conduct during routine field rounds.Incident-report intake — collect from crew members and route to the manager.First-aid and emergency procedures — execute per company protocol on a remote work site.Communication with non-English-speaking crew members — conduct with respect and the company's interpreter resources.Routine equipment walk-arounds — perform with operators before daily use.Daily production logs and field maps — maintain to the operation's standards.
developing
Crew of 8–20 workers — supervise across a single block, parcel, or harvest line.Piece-rate, hourly, and overtime tracking — calculate and explain to crew members.Equipment scheduling and routine PM — coordinate with mechanics on tractors, sprayers, or harvesters.Pesticide-application timing windows — execute per the licensed applicator's plan.H-2A or seasonal-labor compliance basics — apply with HR partners on housing, transport, and pay.Quality-control sampling and packout standards — enforce at packing sheds or on the line.Crew conflict and grievance issues — resolve at the field level with documented follow-up.Recordkeeping (spray logs, harvest yields, mortality) — maintain accurately and completely.Equipment failures and downtime — troubleshoot with operators and dispatch a mechanic when needed.Junior leads and crew chiefs — train on safety, leadership, and recordkeeping.
proficient
Multi-crew operations across an entire farm, ranch, or logging unit — lead through planting, growing, and harvest.Labor planning across a season — hire, schedule, and retain across H-2A, domestic, and contract sources.Equipment fleets and capital budgets — manage at the operating-unit level.Compliance with OSHA, EPA, USDA, and state-ag rules — own with documented programs and audits.Crew safety culture and near-miss programs — establish with measurable reduction in injuries.Production and yield targets — plan and adjust against weather, pests, and market conditions.Direct conversations with owners, agronomists, and processors — lead with operational data.Cost controls (labor, inputs, repairs) — manage against budget at the field-operation level.Junior supervisors and crew bosses — develop on leadership and operational ownership.Continuous-improvement projects (mechanization, harvest aids) — pilot and scale across the operation.
advanced
Farm-, ranch-, or forestry-operation general management — set direction across multiple sites, crops, or stands.Capital plans and major-equipment purchases — author and defend with the owner or board.Multi-state labor and contractor strategy — own with HR, legal, and agency partners.Industry forums (commodity boards, Farm Bureau, processor councils) — represent the operation.Land-use, water-rights, and conservation planning — lead with NRCS, irrigation districts, and counsel.Workforce-development pipelines — build with community colleges and apprenticeship programs.Major contracts (packers, processors, logging buyers) — negotiate at executive level.Succession and family-business planning — facilitate with owners and advisors.Disaster response (fire, flood, drought) — command across crews, equipment, and agencies.Legacy mentorship of the next generation of supervisors — institutionalize across an operation.
Also known as
122 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Agricultural and Forestry SupervisorAgriculture ManagerAgronomy Location ManagerAgronomy ManagerAnimal Care SupervisorAnimal Caretaker SupervisorAnimal Husbandry SupervisorAnimal Maintenance SupervisorAnimal Research Facility SupervisorAnimal Shelter ManagerAquacultural Worker SupervisorArea SupervisorArtificial Breeding Ranch SupervisorBarn BossBarn ManagerBison Herd ManagerBoom BossBoom MasterBroiler SupervisorBrood Hatchery ManagerCamp BossCattle ManagerChristmas Tree Farm Crew BossChristmas Tree Farm ManagerCorn Crop SupervisorCorral BossCotton Gin Yard SupervisorCranberry Bog SupervisorCrew ChiefCrew ForemanCrew SupervisorDairy Farm SupervisorDetasseling Crew SupervisorDistillery ManagerDistillery SupervisorDiversified Crops SupervisorFacility ManagerFacility SupervisorFarm BossFarm Supervisor