Precision Agriculture Technicians in North Carolina
Want to work as a Precision Agriculture Technicians in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. 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.
What do Precision Agriculture Technicians Make in North Carolina?
For precision agriculture technicians working in North Carolina, the typical annual salary is $48,910 per year (or roughly $23.51/hour).Annual wages span from $33,900 at the 10th percentile to $62,300 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,900 | $16.30 |
| 25th percentile | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| Median (50th) | $48,910 | $23.51 |
| 75th percentile | $54,440 | $26.17 |
| 90th percentile | $62,300 | $29.95 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina compared to the national average — is 0.91.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, precision agriculture technicians earn a median of $56,932 per year ($27.37/hour), below the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 156,518 precision agriculture technicians across the United States. In North Carolina alone, about 410 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 220 precision agriculture technicians.
Top North Carolina Metros for Precision Agriculture Technicians
The metro areas below employ the most precision agriculture technicians in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 280 | $48,910 |
Top States for Precision Agriculture Technicians Employment
The table below shows the states where the most precision agriculture technicians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 3,100 |
| Iowa | 1,080 |
| Minnesota | 810 |
| Idaho | 580 |
| Missouri | 540 |
| Georgia | 510 |
| Wisconsin | 500 |
| Nebraska | 500 |
| Oregon | 420 |
| Washington | 420 |
| Illinois | 420 |
| North Carolina | 410 |
| South Dakota | 380 |
| Maryland | 340 |
| Arkansas | 330 |
| Indiana | 250 |
| Michigan | 250 |
| Virginia | 230 |
| Mississippi | 220 |
| Kansas | 220 |
Highest-Paying States for Precision Agriculture Technicians
Where precision agriculture technicians earn the most: precision agriculture technicians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $63,340 |
| Wyoming | $60,490 |
| California | $58,330 |
| West Virginia | $55,560 |
| Minnesota | $55,190 |
| Colorado | $51,380 |
| Montana | $51,170 |
| Tennessee | $51,170 |
| Florida | $49,280 |
| Delaware | $49,030 |
Skills
Key precision agriculture technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for precision agriculture technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Precision Agriculture Technicians typically:
- Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
- Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- 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.
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
- Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
- Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.
- Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
- Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.
- Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
- Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Getting Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Selling or Influencing Others
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: ESRI ArcGIS software In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- General Biology
- Animal Science
- General Agriculture
- Plant Sciences
- Soil Sciences
- Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to precision agriculture technicians include:
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Data Scientists
- Agricultural Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Also Known As
Agriculture Specialist, Agriculture Technician (Agriculture Tech), Agrintelligence Specialist (Agriculture Intelligence Specialist), Agronomist, Agronomy Consultant, Agronomy Specialist, Certified Crop Specialist, Crop Consultant, Crop Specialist, Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist, Field Agronomist, Field Sales Agronomist, GPS Field Data Collector (Global Positioning System Field Data Collector), Migration Specialist, Precision Agriculture Analyst (Precision Ag Analyst).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 19-4012.01
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