Agriculture, Water, & Environmental Technologies
As California’s population continues to grow, the state’s agricultural, water and environmental resources are more important than ever. Agriculture alone is a $49 billion-dollar industry in California, making our state the most prolific agricultural producer in the U.S. To meet the growing demand for these resources, companies are rapidly adopting new technologies and sustainable practices, and need workers to drive improvements in the sector. Careers in this sector range from turf management at municipal golf courses to research in biological sciences. Employees may work in a lab, on a farm, ranch, dairy, orchard, greenhouse, plant nursery, or in a veterinary office.
San Diego County Career Pathways & Salary Info - Hourly Rate (Salary)*
HS Diploma + Postsecondary Training (e.g., Certificate)
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers $16 ($33K)
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers $17 ($35K)
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $20 ($42K)
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $28 ($58K)
Associate Degree or Higher
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians $19 ($40K)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians $19 ($40K)
- Agricultural and Food Science Technicians $20 ($42K)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians $25 ($52K)
*Entry-level hourly rates have been rounded up and salaries are provided as examples of what workers would make if they worked full-time (2080 hours a year)
SAMPLE OF LOCAL EMPLOYERS
- Environmental Science Associates
- Lynker Technologies
- Snipes-Dye Associates
- San Diego County Water Authority
- U.S. Forest Service
- Planck Aerosystems
Imperial County Career Pathways & Salary Info - Hourly Rate (Salary)*
HS Diploma + Postsecondary Training (e.g., Certificate)
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers $10 ($21K)
- Pest Control Workers $13 ($27K)
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers $17 ($35K)
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $23 ($48K)
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers $25 ($52K)
Associate Degree or Higher
- Agricultural Inspectors $17 ($35K)
- Agricultural and Food Science Technicians $17 ($35K)
- Soil and Plant Scientists $26 ($54K)
*Entry-level hourly rates have been rounded up and salaries are provided as examples of what workers would make if they worked full-time (2080 hours a year)
SAMPLE OF LOCAL EMPLOYERS
- Nutrien Ag Solutions
- Grimmway Farms
- Asa Braga Ranch
- Imperial Wastewater Plant
- El Centro Wastewater Treatment
- Tom’s Hay Farm
Fast Facts
- 26,492 people employed
- 5% (1,258) 5-year projected job growth
- 1,750 businesses
- 4% of the sector's employment in California
- $64,090 average earnings per job
- 6% of the sector's businesses in California
Programs & Schools
Cuyamaca College
APPLY- Aboriculture
- Backflow and Cross Connect Cont
- Basic Ornamental Horticulture
- Environmental Health & Safety Management
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Technician
- Golf Course & Sports Turf Management
- Irrigation Technology
- Landscape Designs
- Landscape Technology
- Nursery Technology
- OSHA Management
- OSH Technician
- Surveying
- Sustainable Urban Landscapes
- Wastewater Collection Systems
- Wastewater Treatment Operator
- Water Dist Systems Operations
- Water Resources Management
- Water Treatment Plant Operator
- Water/Wastewater Technology
Imperial Valley College
APPLY- Agriculture Business for Transfer AS-T
- Apprenticeship-Hydro Operator
- Agriculture Plant Science
- Wastewater Treatment Specialization
- Water Treatment Systems Technology
MiraCosta College
APPLY- Irrigation Technology
- Landscape Architecture
- Nursery/Horticulture Crop Production
- Pest Control Adviser
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Sustainable Landscape and Turf Management
- Viticulture and Enology
Palomar College
APPLY- Getting Started with Drone Careers and Safety *
- Wastewater Technology Education
- Water Technology Education
- * Designates noncredit classes
San Diego City College
APPLY- Sustainable Urban Agriculture
- Urban Farming Professional
- Urban Gardening
- Organic Gardening for the Culinary Arts
Southwestern College
APPLY- Environmental Management
- Floral Design
- Golf and Turf Management
- Landscape Architecture
- Landscape Occupations
- Retail Nursery and Plant Production
- Sustainable Landscape Practices
Want to know more? Find the college and program that fuels your success.
student success story
Student Story: Christian Lopez
With little family support, Christian was working two shifts a day just to get by. Looking around his hometown, he saw how important the farming industry was in providing jobs that paid well. So, Christian started taking career education classes in agriculture, and is now choosing which job offer he will be accepting once he graduates. Watch now to get inspired by Christian’s story.
