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Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies

California faces many environmental challenges, especially in the North Far North region. Wildfires, drought, flooding, and climate change pose real threats in California and worldwide. The agriculture, water, and environmental technology (Ag WET) industry is at the forefront of research into potential solutions to these challenges.

Ag WET innovations include developing technologies and methods for growing and irrigating crops, and handling, disposing, or recycling farm waste or other hazardous materials in responsible, sustainable, and environmentally friendly ways.

As the environment changes, the Ag WET innovation will increase. Occupations in high demand include forest conservation technicians, agricultural equipment operators, veterinarians, maintenance and repair workers, and pest control workers. Top employers in the region include the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Department of Agricultural, and the National Park Service.

Browse Programs

View data from the:

Region
39,081
2020 Jobs
+9%
2020–2025 Projected Change
26.94/hr.
2020 Avg. Median Wage

Top jobs that Require Community College Credentials

How much will I make per hour?

What can I train for? Job openings per year Entry-level Median Experienced Programs
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers 225 $14.95 $17.32 $18.45 View programs
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers 220 $18.80 $23.67 $36.52 View programs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers 108 $15.05 $19.89 $28.75 View programs
Forest and Conservation Technicians 93 $16.57 $19.27 $26.77 View programs
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians 74 $18.19 $22.11 $23.56 View programs
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers 67 $18.82 $22.17 $26.98 View programs
Agricultural Inspectors 45 $14.79 $18.67 $24.35
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians 35 $18.35 $22.56 $29.15 View programs
Floral Designers 29 $14.72 $17.81 $19.29 View programs
Agricultural Technicians 28 $17.97 $23.25 $29.79 View programs
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation 28 $17.34 $19.53 $24.26 View programs

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Job openings per year:

225

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $14.95/hr.
  • Median: $17.32/hr.
  • Experienced: $18.45/hr.

View programs

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

Job openings per year:

220

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $18.80/hr.
  • Median: $23.67/hr.
  • Experienced: $36.52/hr.

View programs

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Job openings per year:

108

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $15.05/hr.
  • Median: $19.89/hr.
  • Experienced: $28.75/hr.

View programs

Forest and Conservation Technicians

Job openings per year:

93

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $16.57/hr.
  • Median: $19.27/hr.
  • Experienced: $26.77/hr.

View programs

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Job openings per year:

74

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $18.19/hr.
  • Median: $22.11/hr.
  • Experienced: $23.56/hr.

View programs

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Job openings per year:

67

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $18.82/hr.
  • Median: $22.17/hr.
  • Experienced: $26.98/hr.

View programs

Agricultural Inspectors

Job openings per year:

45

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $14.79/hr.
  • Median: $18.67/hr.
  • Experienced: $24.35/hr.

Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians

Job openings per year:

35

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $18.35/hr.
  • Median: $22.56/hr.
  • Experienced: $29.15/hr.

View programs

Floral Designers

Job openings per year:

29

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $14.72/hr.
  • Median: $17.81/hr.
  • Experienced: $19.29/hr.

View programs

Agricultural Technicians

Job openings per year:

28

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $17.97/hr.
  • Median: $23.25/hr.
  • Experienced: $29.79/hr.

View programs

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

Job openings per year:

28

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $17.34/hr.
  • Median: $19.53/hr.
  • Experienced: $24.26/hr.

View programs

Top Employers & Skills

Employers

  • VCA Animal Hospitals
  • Banfield Pet Hospital
  • University of California, Davis
  • Ethos Veterinary Health
  • US Forest Service
  • BrightView Landscape Services
  • TruGreen
  • State of California
  • US Department of Agriculture
  • PetCo
  • Pets And Vets
  • California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Hawx Services
  • ACRT Pacific
  • Mercy Pet Hospital
  • Sacramento Cat Hospital
  • California Public Utilities Commission
  • Mars Incorporated
  • Airport Pet Clinic

Specialized skills

  • Surgery
  • Anesthesias
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Venipuncture
  • Irrigation (Landscaping And Agriculture)
  • Medical Records
  • Radiology
  • Safe Restraining Techniques (Veterinary)
  • Radiography
  • Animal Care

Technology & software skills

  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Microsoft Word
  • Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
  • Apple IOS
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Software Systems
  • Medical Software

Employability skills

  • Communications
  • Management
  • Customer Service
  • Valid Driver's License
  • Detail Oriented
  • Leadership
  • Lifting Ability
  • Operations
  • Multitasking
  • Compassion

Source: Lightcast 2022.3; QCEW, non-QCEW, Self-Employed. Compiled by the North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research.

The North region encompasses seven counties (El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba).

The Far North region encompasses 15 counties (Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity).

Specialized skills are specific to the occupation, or group of occupations, and represent job-specific competencies.

Technical skills refer to the specific software and technology regularly encountered on the job.

Employability skills (sometimes referred to as “common skills”) are foundational skills that cross occupations and industries. Many common skills, like, communication and team work, are also considered soft skills.

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Industries

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Advanced Transportation and Logistics
  • Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Education and Human Development
  • Energy, Construction and Utilities
  • Health
  • Information and Communication Technologies – Digital Media
  • Life Sciences – Biotechnology
  • Public Safety
  • Retail, Hospitality and Tourism
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This website is funded fully or in part by a Carl D. Perkins Title I, Part B State Leadership Grant,# 18-150-001, awarded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.