🔬
Agricultural Research & Testing
Eurofins, SGS, Intertek
Agricultural Technicians
Agricultural technicians collect samples, inspect crops or animals for problems, run field and lab tests, and keep equipment and records in order. The work is a mix of hands-on farm activity and careful documentation, so the big tradeoff is that you get variety and practical science experience, but you also spend a lot of time in dirty, weather-dependent, and physically demanding conditions where small mistakes can affect research or production results.
Also known as Agricultural Research TechnicianAgriculture TechnicianCrop TechnicianField TechnicianFarm Technician
Median Salary
$46,790
Mean $49,680
U.S. Workforce
~14K
2.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.3%
18.6K to 19.4K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Agricultural Technicians sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~14K workers, with a median annual pay of $46,790 and roughly 2.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 18.6 K in 2024 to 19.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, or a related science, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Field/Lab Assistant and can progress toward Lead Agricultural Technician. High-value skills usually include Crop Scouting & Disease Identification, Tractor, Sprayer & Farm Equipment Operation, and Sample Collection & Field Testing, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Gather plant, soil, or animal samples from fields, barns, or test plots.
- Check crops or livestock closely for disease, pests, damage, or other signs of trouble.
- Set up, clean, and make sure field and lab equipment is ready to use.
- Drive and operate tractors, sprayers, and other farm machines for fieldwork.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Gather plant, soil, or animal samples from fields, barns, or test plots.
02 Check crops or livestock closely for disease, pests, damage, or other signs of trouble.
03 Set up, clean, and make sure field and lab equipment is ready to use.
04 Drive and operate tractors, sprayers, and other farm machines for fieldwork.
05 Prepare land for planting by plowing, leveling, and other ground-prep work.
06 Keep detailed notes and data from tests, experiments, and routine farm or animal care.
Industries That Hire
🌱
Seed & Crop Science
Corteva, Bayer, Syngenta
🚜
Farm Equipment & Precision Agriculture
John Deere, AGCO, Trimble
🥛
Food Production & Agribusiness
Cargill, Land O'Lakes, Archer Daniels Midland
🌿
Greenhouse, Nursery & Specialty Crops
Costa Farms, Driscoll's, NatureSweet
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
You can get started without a long graduate-school path; the role commonly uses an associate's degree, and 25.02% of workers have only a high school diploma plus training.
+
The work is varied, from sampling and testing to machine operation and recordkeeping, so the day rarely looks the same twice.
+
Pay is solid for a hands-on technical job, with a median of $46,790 and a mean of $49,680.
+
Job openings are steady, with about 2.9 thousand annual openings projected.
+
The role can be a practical stepping-stone into agronomy, farm operations, crop science, or research support.
Challenges
-
The pay ceiling is not especially high; even the mean wage is only $49,680, so the job is best viewed as a middle-income technical role rather than a high-earner track.
-
Growth is modest at 4.3% from 2024 to 2034, which suggests only limited expansion in the number of jobs.
-
Most work has to happen on-site in fields, greenhouses, barns, or labs, so remote work is rare and weather can disrupt schedules.
-
The job can be physically tough, with early starts, lifting, mud, heat, and long periods outdoors or around machinery.
-
A lot of the work is routine sampling, observation, and documentation, which can be standardized or automated and can limit advancement unless you move into specialization or supervision.
Career Progression
Field/Lab Assistant
0-2 years
$34K-$42K
Supports sample collection, basic measurements, and equipment cleanup while learning field routines and safety practices.
Agricultural Technician
2-5 years
$43K-$54K
Works more independently on crop, livestock, or research tasks, and this tier includes the occupation's median pay of $46,790.
Senior Agricultural Technician THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$55K-$68K
Handles more complex trials, troubleshoots equipment or sample issues, and may train newer staff.
Lead Agricultural Technician
8+ years
$69K-$84K
Coordinates field schedules, checks data quality, and serves as the main technical point person for a team or project.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, or a related science
A common path, held by 26.48% of workers in the occupation.
Associate's degree in agricultural technology, crop science, or a related field
A common entry route, held by 21.81% of workers in the occupation.
High school diploma plus moderate-term on-the-job training
A common practical route, held by 25.02% of workers in the occupation, especially for people who learn equipment and field procedures on the job.
Post-secondary certificate in agricultural technology or lab support
An alternative route, held by 8.70% of workers in the occupation, and often paired with hands-on experience.
Key Skills
Technical
Crop Scouting & Disease Identification 72%
Tractor, Sprayer & Farm Equipment Operation 71%
Sample Collection & Field Testing 70%
Agricultural Recordkeeping & Data Entry 69%
Lab Equipment Setup & Calibration 67%
Equipment Maintenance & Safety Checks 66%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingActive Learning Job Outlook and Trends
+4.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 18.6K to 19.4 K over the next decade, representing 4.3% growth. Around 2.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.