A first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers oversees daily operations and leads teams in agriculture and natural resource industries. It is leadership-focused, requires a bachelor's degree, and you manage both people and processes.
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You oversee workers in farming, fishing, or forestry operations, making decisions about work schedules, equipment use, and safety practices. You communicate with your team and supervisors regularly, inspect equipment and materials to ensure quality, and monitor ongoing work to keep operations on track. You coordinate activities across your crew, solve problems as they arise, and stay informed about production processes and customer needs. Your role bridges frontline workers and upper management.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers earn a median of $59,320 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 8,500 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a bachelor's degree to enter this role. Your education should cover administration, management, and production processes relevant to agriculture or natural resources. Beyond coursework, gain hands-on experience in farming, fishing, or forestry work before moving into supervision. This foundation helps you understand the work your team does and builds credibility. Look for entry-level positions in your chosen field, then pursue supervisory roles as opportunities open.
Most people reach this role by combining a bachelor's degree with experience working in agriculture, fishing, or forestry. If you're deciding between different educational paths or timing your entry into the field, Pathly can map the first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers path that fits you with your counselor to build a plan that fits your situation.
You do not need a license to work as a first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to leadership and business outcomes. You enjoy making decisions, solving problems, and building teams. You communicate clearly and think critically about how to improve operations.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).