Why Teach Agriculture?
LEAD A LIFE OF PURPOSE
Agriculture teachers lead a life of purpose, experiencing new meaningful adventures every day of their career. There are over 95,000 ag students in the state with the potential to become tomorrow's leaders in agriculture, business and industry. Each day brings new and exciting opportunities to influence the next generation of agriculturalists, that will ultimately shape our nations future. Agriculture teachers have a profound impact on the lives of young people, in a way that very few other professions can.
SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR AGRICULTURE
Agriculture teachers inspire young people through hands on learning experiences, all while sharing their passion for agriculture. Through the successful integration of classroom and laboratory instruction, leadership development, and experiential learning you will never have the same day twice as an ag teacher. Enjoy the daily variety that accompanies teaching career technical skills, science, math, communications, leadership, management and technology.
ENJOY A VARIETY OF DAILY SETTINGS
- High School Classrooms, Colleges and Universities
- Fabrication Shops
- Industry and Business Settings
- Nurseries and Greenhouses
- School Farms, Orchards and Gardens
- Science Labs
- Destination Leadership Conferences & Events
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EARN A COMPETITIVE SALARY
The average base salary for California ag teachers in 2023-2024 was $81,079. The total average salary in 2023-2024 was $95,197. Ag teachers earn an additional $15,000 in fringe benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.) increasing total average annual earnings to over $100,000. The average total salary for first year teachers in 2023-2024 was $66,338. The highest ag teacher salary in 2023-2024 was $218,667. Salary statistics are based on available data reported to the Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET).
FIND THE RIGHT FIT
Whether you prefer the rich agricultural flatlands of the San Joaquin Valley, or the mountainous Redwoods of California's North Coast, there are agriculture teaching positions spanning every corner of the state. In 2023, California added 10 additional agriculture programs, increasing the total number of agriculture programs to an impressive 359 school sites. In addition, California added 47 new teaching positions, impacting the already critical demand for high quality teachers to fill those positions. This pressing need for teachers often allows applicants the flexibility to find positions that fit their geographical desire and specialized skillsets.