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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $46,790 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.51 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include agricultural equipment, mechanics, resolve equipment malfunctions, maintain agricultural machinery, operate welding equipment.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £28,210 a year for Laboratory technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £24,975 to £34,028 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3111). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Agricultural technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Agriculture — B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture (four years)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG, MHT CET, KCET, AP EAPCET, TS EAPCET
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
Entrance exams on this route — Dates, eligibility and cut-offs for the exams on the way to this career:
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Food Production
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Education and Training
A day in the life
You start the morning at the research farm checking the tractor and sprayer, topping up fluids and fixing a loose hose before heading into the fields. You prepare trial plots by ploughing and levelling the soil, then sow new crop varieties in careful rows so they can be compared. Mid-morning you walk the older plots, collecting leaf and soil samples and looking closely for signs of pests or disease. After lunch you set up field equipment to measure moisture and growth, then help the scientists with an experiment on fertiliser use. Later you record observations and measurements in the research log, making sure every plot and sample is labelled correctly. The days are long, hot and physical, and weeding by hand is dull, repetitive work. But watching a trial crop grow strong, and knowing your careful data will help farmers choose better seeds, is deeply rewarding.
In India: In India many agricultural technicians work at government farm research stations, agricultural universities and district farm science centres, where the job often includes demonstrations and advice for local farmers alongside field trials.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
- Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
- Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
- Collect animal or crop samples.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Agricultural technicians do?
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 does a typical day look like in Agricultural technicians?
You start the morning at the research farm checking the tractor and sprayer, topping up fluids and fixing a loose hose before heading into the fields. You prepare trial plots by ploughing and levelling the soil, then sow new crop varieties in careful rows so they can be compared. Mid-morning you walk the older plots, collecting leaf and soil samples and looking closely for signs of pests or disease.
How much does Agricultural technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Agricultural technicians in the US is $46,790.
What is the job outlook for Agricultural technicians?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 18,600 workers.
How do I become agricultural technicians?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Agricultural technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include agricultural equipment, mechanics, resolve equipment malfunctions, maintain agricultural machinery, operate welding equipment, record test data. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Agricultural technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Agricultural technicians a score of 0.51 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Agricultural technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.