Career Pathways
[NEW] Explore a brand new tool that will allow you to discover Ag, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) career pathways and learn about the career options in each path. You can get tips to plan your education as well as take a reality check tool that will help you explore whether or not you can achieve your desired lifestyle based on your career of interest. You can also use the tool to learn how to achieve your goals through specific career and education choices. In addition, we have teacher resources avaialble to guide students through career exploration in AFNR. Those resources can be found here.
Scroll below so we can guide you in the right direction for your future in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
AFNR Career Pathway Brochures
(available in 4 languages)
Download English Brochure (2.25 MB) - UPDATED 9/2023
Download Spanish Brochure (2.3 MB) - UPDATED 11/2023
Environmental Service Systems
Fields
- Hydrology
- Soil Science
- Meteorology
- Environmental Science
- Law / Regulation / Compliance
- Aquatic Biology
Jobs
- Environmental Waste Chemist:
$45,000 - $59,000 - Water Treatment Technician:
$33,000 - $48,000 - Environmental Engineer:
$84,000 - $123,000 - Managers of Agricultural Construction Services:
$86,000 - $113,000 - Environmental Regulatory Compliance Specialist:
$78,000 - $109,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for environmental system occupations is about $94,000.
Pathway Description
Manage recycling operations, control water and air pollution, and dispose of waste to address public health issues, develop regulations to prevent environmental mishaps, analyze and research environmental projects.
Biotechnology Systems
Fields
- Biofuels
- Genetics
- Physics
- Life Science / Evolutionary Biology
- Biology and Biotechnology
- Ecology
Jobs
- Chief System Operator:
$99,000 - $120,000 - Lab Animal Technician:
$48,000 - $68,000 - Poultry, Swine, Dairy Animal Research Technician:
$40,000 - $50,000 - Wet Chemical Analyst / Lab Technician:
$36,000 - $53,000 - Chemical Plant Operator:
$40,000 - $50,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for biofuel system occupations is about $65,000.
Pathway Description
Make use of range of tools, including breeding techniques, to make or modify products or organisms, improve plants or animals, or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses.
Power, Structural and Technical Systems
Fields
- Robotics / UAS / UAV Technology
- Power Systems / Wind and Solar Energy
- Welding and Fabrication
- Applied Engineering / Drafting
- Precision Agriculture / GIS / GPS
- Diesel / Heavy Equipment Mechanics
Jobs
- Plant Maintenance Technician:
$48,000 - $62,000 - Quality Assurance Technician:
$37,000 - $44,000 - Nuclear Interface Transmission Coordinator:
$50,000 - $75,000 - Wind Turbine Technician:
$46,000 - $65,000 - Wind/Solar Collections Engineer:
$98,000 - $119,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for power, structural, and technical system occupations is about $72,000.
Pathway Description
Apply knowledge of engineering, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, power, structures and controls to agriculture. Innovate, design and build solutions.
Natural Resources Systems
Fields
- Forestry
- Wildlife Ecology
- Urban Forestry
- Land Surveying / Geospatial Analysis
- Forestry / Natural Resources
- Natural Resources Law Enforcement
Jobs
- Environmental Maintenance Technician:
$49,000 - $62,000 - Conservation Technician:
$36,000 - $47,000 - Land Surveyor:
$55,000 - $85,000 - Parks Construction Supervisor:
$65,000 - $87,000 - Environmental Coordinator:
$80,000 - $109,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for natural resource system occupations is about $60,500.
Pathway Description
Maintain and manage natural environment; work in urban and rural settings, in the field and in the lab. Protecting wildlife, maintaining parks.
Agribusiness Systems
Fields
- Agricultural Science
- Law / Regulation / Compliance
- Agribusiness Management
- Agricultural Education
- Sales / Marketing
- Accounting / Finance / Insurance
Jobs
- Product Demonstrator:
$30,000 - $39,000 - Application Support Specialist:
$50,000 - $70,000 - Agronomy Location Manager:
$61,000 - $95,000 - Service Coordinator / Customer Service Manager:
$52,000 - $70,000 - Marketing/Product Manager:
$110,000 - $165,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for agribusiness occupations is about $77,000.
Pathway Description
Coordinate activities that contribute to the production, processing and distribution of agricultural commodities and resources, promote agricultural products, and help finance agricultural businesses.
Animal Systems
Fields
- Animal Medicine
- Equine Science
- Animal Science
- Biology
- Aquaculture
- Dairy / Lamb / Poultry / Swine Management
Jobs
- Animal Caretaker:
$32,000 - $36,000 - Small Animal Technician:
$42,000 - $55,000 - Animal Breeding Technician:
$39,000 - $52,000 - Veterinarian:
$80,000 - $103,000 - Lab Animal Technician:
$50,000 - $58,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for animal system occupations is about $54,000.
Pathway Description
Working with and caring for animals of all sizes; opportunities to work directly with animals or to work with products from animals.
Plant Systems
Fields
- Agronomy
- Plant Science / Genetics
- Commodity Marketing
- Grounds Management
- Horticulture / Green House Management
- Landscape Design / Construction / Technology
Jobs
- Agriculture Field Service Technician:
$41,000 - $51,000 - Pilot Plant Technologist:
$88,000 - $130,000 - Arborist / Tree Worker:
$48,000 - $63,000 - Groundskeeper:
$32,000 - $40,000 - Agriculture Equipment Operator:
$41,000 - $55,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for plant system occupations is about $48,000.
Pathway Description
Study plants and how they impact our world. Feed our growing population; monitor food quality and safety; develop insect resistant crops; grow more food with less space; conserve natural resources.
Food Products and Processing Systems
Fields
- Culinary Arts / Food Science
- Data Management
- Accounting / Finance
- Food Processing Safety
- Food Service Management
- Quality Control / Quality Assurance
Jobs
- Grain Production Supervisor:
$50,000 - $76,000 - Grain Facility Maintenance Mechanic:
$45,000 - $60,000 - Food Process Engineer:
$107,000 - $139,000 - Quality Assurance Specialist:
$59,000 - $82,000 - Poultry Plant / Grain Operations Manager:
$48,000 - $72,000
Pay
The median advertised salary in Minnesota for food system occupations is about $49,000.
Pathway Description
Study the physical, biological and chemical makeup of foods to improve food safety, create better processes, and enhance nutritional value and shelf-life: develop new flavors.
Source: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster - August 2023
Growing Opportunities
Are you going in the right direction?
Explore a future career in Agriculture!
- According to USDA/Purdue University Study Agricultural students make up about 1% of the total number of students enrolled in postsecondary education.
- But there are 2x as many diverse job opportunities as there are qualified graduates to fill them!
- According to AgCareers.com 59% of agricultural companies expect their workforce to increase in size in the next 2 years.
Agricultural Education
Top 3 Majors for two year programs
- Horticulture
- Ag Business
- Ag Production/Operations
Top 3 Majors for four year programs
- Animal Science
- Ag Business
- Food Science
Agriculture Is The Nation’s Largest Employer
with more than 23 Million Jobs [that’s 17% of the civilian workforce] involved in some facet of American agriculture.
(Data by National FFA Organization)
Agricultural Career Pathways
Critical Foundation Knowledge and Skills Identified by Employers:
Problem Solving - Ethics - Critical Thinking - Integrity - Teamwork - Technology Application - Safety, Health, & Environment - Organizational & Global Systems - Leadership - Cultural Competence - Lifelong Learning - Creativity - Communications - Innovation
Campus Locations
Thanks to our partner, AgCentric, here is a listing of Minnesota State College Post Secondary Ag, Food and Natural Resources instructors along with their contact information.
Contact Us
Nathan Hanel
Call: 507-389-7435
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Shyanne Rodning
Call: 507-389-7301
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tina LeBrun
Call: 507-389-7391
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.