Agricultural Technicians

AI & job outlook

What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.

Exposure to current AI

Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.

OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.2), with simple added tooling (β 0.3), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.4). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.

How AI is actually used in this job

Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.

Job outlook

Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.

“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.

Tasks

All 26 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.

• Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring. Supplemental · importance 4.3
• Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks. Supplemental · importance 4.3
• Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care. Core · importance 4.2
• Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness. Supplemental · importance 4.0
• Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification. Supplemental · importance 3.9
• Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively. Core · importance 3.9
• Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing. Core · importance 3.9
• Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops. Supplemental · importance 3.9
• Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability. Supplemental · importance 3.9
• Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results. Core · importance 3.9
• Collect animal or crop samples. Core · importance 3.7
• Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests. Supplemental · importance 3.7
• Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems. Core · importance 3.7
• Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application. Core · importance 3.7
• Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing. Core · importance 3.6
• Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers. Core · importance 3.6
• Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent. Supplemental · importance 3.5
• Conduct insect or plant disease surveys. Supplemental · importance 3.5
• Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions. Supplemental · importance 3.4
• Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Supplemental · importance 3.4
• Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas. Supplemental · importance 3.2
• Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants. Supplemental · importance 3.2
• Prepare culture media, following standard procedures. Supplemental · importance 3.1
• Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public. Core · importance 3.0
• Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations. Supplemental · importance 2.9
• Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows. Supplemental · importance 2.5

Work activities

• Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
• Record research or operational data.
• Measure ingredients.
• Set up laboratory or field equipment.
• Prepare biological samples for testing or analysis.
• Examine characteristics or behavior of living organisms.
• Collect biological specimens.
• Manage agricultural or forestry operations.
• Provide technical information or assistance to public.
• Cultivate land.
• Operate laboratory or field equipment.
• Test quality of materials or finished products.
• Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
• Research crop management methods.
• Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
• Research diseases or parasites.
• Care for plants or animals.
• Operate farming equipment.
• Develop sustainable industrial or development methods.
• Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
• Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
• Supervise scientific or technical personnel.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).

Abilities

Knowledge

Essential skills

Transferable skills

Skills in demand

Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.

• Biology Specialized Skill
• Microsoft Excel Common Skill
• Chemistry Specialized Skill
• Reading Comprehension Common Skill
• Deductive Reasoning Common Skill
• Information Ordering Specialized Skill
• Inductive Reasoning Common Skill
• Critical Thinking Common Skill
• Active Listening Common Skill
• Mathematics Common Skill
• Writing Common Skill
• Active Learning Common Skill
• Time Management Common Skill
• Speech Recognition Specialized Skill
• Microsoft Word Common Skill
• Microsoft PowerPoint Common Skill
• Microsoft Outlook Common Skill
• Microsoft Access Specialized Skill
• Instructing Specialized Skill
• English Language Common Skill
• Social Perceptiveness Common Skill
• Learning Strategies Specialized Skill
• Finger Dexterity Common Skill
• Complex Problem Solving Common Skill
• Visualization Specialized Skill
• Depth Perception Common Skill
• Physics Specialized Skill
• Systems Analysis Specialized Skill
• Negotiation Common Skill
• Geography Specialized Skill
• Telecommunications Specialized Skill
• Statistical Software Specialized Skill
• Equipment Selection Specialized Skill
• Equipment Maintenance Specialized Skill
• Email Software Specialized Skill
• Psychology Specialized Skill
• Foreign Language Common Skill
• Presentation Software Specialized Skill
• Installation Specialized Skill

Tools & technology

Work context

How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.

How to get in

Job zone

Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Typical entry-level education

Associate's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement

Related experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Preparation level

SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.

What to study: Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences , Biological and Biomedical Sciences . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.

Education of current workers

Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.

Interests & work styles

The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.

Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)

Interest areas

Work styles

Wages & employment

U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)

Industries that employ this occupation

Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.

Where this work is most concentrated

Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).

Related occupations

Part of the Agriculture career cluster.

• Agricultural Engineers · 17-2021.00 Compare →
• Biological Technicians · 19-4021.00 Compare →
• Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers · 11-9013.00 Compare →
• Precision Agriculture Technicians · 19-4012.01 Compare →
• Food Science Technicians · 19-4013.00 Compare →
• Food Scientists and Technologists · 19-1012.00 Compare →
• Biofuels Processing Technicians · 51-8099.01 Compare →
• First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers · 45-1011.00 Compare →
• Forest and Conservation Technicians · 19-4071.00 Compare →
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians · 29-2012.00 Compare →
• Soil and Plant Scientists · 19-1013.00 Compare →
• Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse · 45-2092.00 Compare →

Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.

What you can do with this

Options the data surfaces for Agricultural Technicians — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

• O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
• BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
• Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
• “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

@misc{singulariki-role-19-4012-00,
  title  = {Agricultural Technicians},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4012-00}
}