What Does it Take to Be an Agricultural Technician?
Position Description 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.
List of Agricultural Technician Job Duties
- Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants.
- Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.
- Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing.
- Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.
- 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.
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Agricultural Technician?
Agricultural Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Other Agricultural Technician Job Titles
- Seed Lab Technician
- Research Associate
- Horticultural Technician
- Cattle Tester
- Agricultural Researcher
Are There Job Opportunities for Agricultural Technicians?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 27,500 jobs in the United States for Agricultural Technician. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,700 new jobs for Agricultural Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,000 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Agricultural Technician are Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Hawaii, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Agricultural Technicians Salary
The typical yearly salary for Agricultural Technicians is somewhere between $26,980 and $64,020.
Agricultural Technicians who work in New Jersey, Massachusetts, or New York, make the highest salaries.
How much do Agricultural Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,960 |
| Arizona | $42,000 |
| Arkansas | $40,800 |
| California | $45,400 |
| Colorado | $45,670 |
| Florida | $40,230 |
| Georgia | $41,780 |
| Hawaii | $44,730 |
| Idaho | $38,510 |
| Illinois | $41,750 |
| Indiana | $44,190 |
| Iowa | $49,940 |
| Kansas | $43,210 |
| Kentucky | $44,720 |
| Louisiana | $37,510 |
| Maine | $36,430 |
| Maryland | $40,390 |
| Massachusetts | $54,500 |
| Michigan | $38,010 |
| Minnesota | $42,580 |
| Mississippi | $37,800 |
| Missouri | $46,660 |
| Montana | $43,650 |
| Nebraska | $39,140 |
| New Jersey | $58,440 |
| New Mexico | $41,170 |
| New York | $51,940 |
| North Carolina | $43,380 |
| North Dakota | $49,640 |
| Ohio | $42,360 |
| Oklahoma | $33,970 |
| Oregon | $43,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,950 |
| South Dakota | $29,370 |
| Tennessee | $39,440 |
| Texas | $46,390 |
| Utah | $36,940 |
| Vermont | $44,810 |
| Virginia | $38,130 |
| Washington | $41,830 |
| West Virginia | $53,260 |
| Wisconsin | $39,730 |
What Tools do Agricultural Technicians Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Agricultural Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Spreadsheet software
- Statistical software
- Desktop publishing software
- Microsoft operating system
How to Become an Agricultural Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become an Agricultural Technician?
What work experience do I need to become an Agricultural Technician?
Where Agricultural Technicians Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Agricultural Technicians employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Muhammad Irshad Ansari via CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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