Agricultural Technicians
Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.
15,130 people do this job in the US. $49,630 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 9%
- 0%
- 91%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 3%. Today's estimate: 3%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 26 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 33% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.Done daily by most who do it. | 14% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.Done daily by most who do it. | 9% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| 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.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 6% | 2.1 work days3.3 h to 1.7 work weeks | Stays with people | |
| Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 1 work week | 2%Half by Apr 2028 | |
| Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 2% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 1 work day | 43%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 1.7 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 38 min13 min to 1.7 h | 95%Half by now | |
| 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.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 1.7 work days5 h to 3.1 work days | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Agricultural Engineers1% now, 23% by 2028
- Biological Technicians7% now, 9% by 2028
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers12% now, 45% by 2028
- Precision Agriculture Technicians42% now, 72% by 2028
- Food Science Technicians25% now, 25% by 2028
- Food Scientists and Technologists2% now, 58% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools3,730 people
- Scientific Research and Development Services2,260 people
- Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only)2,150 people
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services1,410 people
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services810 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).