In the first half of 2026, agricultural companies most often reviewed the pay for agronomists and engineers: among the enterprises that raised salaries in these areas, the typical increase was 10–20%. Overall, 81% of the surveyed companies raised salaries, and another 13% plan to do so by the end of the year. This is reported by Agroportal citing research from Agrohub. Against the backdrop of salary growth in the agricultural sector, this demonstrates how companies are changing pay in specific departments.
Sixteen agricultural holdings with a land bank of 2.2 million hectares participated in the survey. They employ approximately 68,500 to 77,000 people.
Salaries for agronomists and engineers are rising due to staff shortages
In agricultural services, 85% of companies that reviewed pay increased it by 10–20%. At the same time, there are more specialized positions in the industry: agricultural holdings are developing precision farming, field monitoring, and research and development. Digital tools help specialists work with larger areas, but the demand for experienced agronomists remains.
In engineering teams, salaries were raised by 85% of the companies that provided data. The most common increase was up to 15%, but some employers raised wages by more than 20%. Engineers and workers in skilled trades are harder to find, so for the same positions, different companies may offer noticeably different pay. Overall, the labor shortage in Ukraine forces employers to compete for specialists.
There is also a long-term challenge: only 5% of employees in engineering services are under 25 years old, while 18% are aged 55–65, and another 5% are over 65. Companies are starting to prepare replacements on their own: this year, researchers noted interns in engineering teams for the first time. There is also growing demand for specialists with GPS equipment and monitoring systems.
Land services are raising pay more cautiously
In the land direction, 77% of the surveyed companies raised salaries. The most common increases were up to 10%, 15%, or 20%; another 23% of employers kept pay unchanged. Salary levels here depend on the workload and responsibility of the employee.
Data from Agrohub indicates a more targeted approach to pay: companies consider market salaries, the labor shortage in specific departments, and their own financial capabilities. Salaries for agricultural sector workers are also increasing in the market. The largest increases are directed to areas where it is more difficult to find specialists and where job requirements are changing.