Mid-Level

Accredited Farm Manager (AFM)

The certified agricultural leader — managing farm operations with professional credentials demonstrating expertise.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
R
C
I
S
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Accredited Farm Manager (AFM)s
Employment concentration · ~33 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Accredited Farm Manager (AFM)

As an Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), you manage agricultural operations with the professional credential that demonstrates advanced expertise in farm management. You might manage farms for absentee owners, oversee operations for agricultural companies, or provide farm management consulting. The AFM designation signals professional standing.

Your day involves comprehensive farm management. You might plan crop rotations, manage farm employees, oversee equipment and inputs, handle marketing decisions, prepare financial reports for owners, and make operational decisions. You need agricultural expertise and business management skills.

The hardest part is managing the many variables in agriculture — weather, markets, input costs, labor — while delivering results for owners who may not understand the business. You're accountable for outcomes heavily influenced by factors outside your control. The people who thrive here love agriculture, are skilled business managers, and can communicate effectively with non-farming owners.

IndependenceAbove avg
AchievementModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
RelationshipsModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Farm typeOwnership structureGeographic regionScale of operationsSpecialization
Farm management varies by operation type and region. Row crop operations differ from livestock or specialty crops. Managing for institutional owners differs from family farms. Regional differences in crops, climate, and markets significantly affect the work.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Accredited Farm Manager (AFM)s (SOC 11-9013.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Portfolio management
Managing multiple farms expands opportunity
2
Investor relations
Institutional farmland investment is growing
3
Technology adoption
Precision agriculture requires technical leadership
What types of operations would I manage?
What is the ownership structure of managed farms?
What is the geographic scope?
How is performance measured?
What support and resources are available?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$52K–$157K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
6K
U.S. Employment
-1.3%
10yr Growth
86K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingManagement of Personnel ResourcesCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningTime Management
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-9013.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.