How to become a first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
What first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers do
- 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.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Active Learning
Is first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 16% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Minnesota $81,480
- Indiana $75,460
- New Hampshire $74,420
- Georgia $70,560
- Idaho $69,360
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.