Also called: Water Management Engineer, Agricultural Water Engineer
Designs systems that water crops efficiently, from giant center pivots to drip lines and canals.
You use satellite maps and soil data to design a drip system for a 500-acre almond orchard. Then you drive out to check pressure at the far end of the field and adjust valves so every tree gets the same amount of water.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in agricultural, civil or biological engineering; Irrigation Association certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Agricultural Engineering, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Civil Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Tracks agricultural engineers (BLS 2024-34); a very small occupation.
Low risk for 10 years. Sensors and AI decide when to water; designing systems and field work with farmers stays human.
Classes: Earth science, Physics, Agriculture CTE, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2021.
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