Agricultural Technicians
The short answer
Parts of this job are expected to change. AI can already assist with some of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to hold steady over the next decade, with about 50 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the middle fifth for how much AI could touch it—right around the middle.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about a third of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the middle fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.
AI can help with or automate about 65% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
AI could do much of this on its own
Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
AI could help, but needs extra software
Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
AI could do much of this on its own
Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Food Science Technicians
Very similar work+21% pay136 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 21% more—$57,023 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
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New skills to build
- Production and Processing
Biological Technicians
Very similar work+34% pay636 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 34% more—$62,920 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
New skills to build
- Biology
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Chemical Technicians
Very similar work+33% pay355 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 33% more—$62,603 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
New skills to build
- Science
- Chemistry
- Quality Control Analysis
Microbiologists
Very similar work+77% pay100 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 77% more—$83,363 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Computers and Electronics
- Inductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Biology
- Science
- Category Flexibility
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
Chemists
Similar work+98% pay355 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 98% more—$93,136 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Computers and Electronics
- Inductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Chemistry
- Science
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Category Flexibility
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
Similar work+93% pay3,744 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 93% more—$90,868 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
New skills to build
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Management of Financial Resources
- Economics and Accounting
- Personnel and Human Resources
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
Similar work+45% pay233 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 45% more—$68,264 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Mechanical
- Problem Sensitivity
- Reading Comprehension
New skills to build
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Management of Financial Resources
- Coordination
Food Scientists and Technologists
Somewhat similar work+105% pay60 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 105% more—$96,701 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Food Production
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Chemistry
- Quality Control Analysis
- Science
- Problem Sensitivity
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Somewhat similar work+36% pay67 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 36% more—$64,290 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
New skills to build
- Quality Control Analysis
Plant and System Operators, All Other
Somewhat similar work+62% pay38 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 62% more—$76,408 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Reading Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Quality Control Analysis
- Equipment Maintenance
- Rate Control
- Explosive Strength
Industrial Production Managers
Somewhat similar work+182% pay457 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 182% more—$132,662 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Management of Financial Resources
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Management of Personnel Resources
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Somewhat similar work+53% pay264 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 53% more—$72,261 vs your $47,113 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Computers and Electronics
- Inductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Engineering and Technology
- Physics
- Design
- Technology Design
- Quality Control Analysis